Winning start for Loko, Amur on top in Ufa

Day two of the Republic of Bashkortostan Cup saw Amur go clear at the top of the standings after a 5-1 win over Barys. Host club Salavat Yulaev failed to build on an opening day win, losing 3-6 to Lada. In Tuesday’s sole warm-up game, Lokomotiv claimed victory in the first game of head coach Dmitry Kvartalnov’s second spell thanks to a shoot-out verdict against Torpedo.

Republic of Bashkortostan Cup

Salavat Yulaev Ufa 3 Lada Togliatti 6 (0-0, 1-4, 2-2)

After a winning start to its home tournament, Salavat Yulaev called on an experimental roster for Tuesday’s game against Lada. Vadim Shipachyov and Sheldon Rempal were rested along with captain Grigory Panin, while several players from the JHL and VHL were given a chance to impress.

Lada, meanwhile, handed debuts to American defenseman Doyle Somerby and goalie Nikita Podskrebalin. The visitor went on to make a bright start, with Ivan Zinchenko missing a glorious early chance. The game then settled into a battle for possession with few clear-cut opportunities in a goalless first period.

The deadlock was broken at the start of the middle frame when Lada captain Dmitry Kugryshev surprised home goalie Ilya Konovalov with a long-range effort. Further tallies from Andrei Altybarmakyan and Rasim Shakirov padded that lead to 3-0 by the 33rd minute. Maxim Kuznetsov got Ufa on the scoreboard at last, but the final word in the second period went to 24-year-old Shakirov with his second power play goal of the game.

For much of the third period it seemed that Lada would close out a win with little difficulty. But in the 52nd minute, Yegor Suchkov redirected Alexander Alexeyev’s shot into the net to give Salavat Yulaev hope. Moments later, Podskrebalin denied Kuznetsov his second of the game with a fantastic glove save. With three to play, Viktor Kozlov replaced Konovalov with a sixth skater and reaped the rewards when Alexander Zharovsky got it back to 3-4. But instead of a home fightback, the final stages brought two empty net goals as Nikita Setdikov and Ivan Romanov secured the win for the Motormen. 

Barys Astana 1 Amur Khabarovsk 5 (1-2, 0-1, 0-2)

The Tigers roared to a second five-goal performance in as many days, recording back-to-back wins at the start of its summer schedule.

Following a 5-0 thrashing of Lada, Amur beat Barys 5-1 to jump to the top of the standings in Ufa.

Forwards Ivan Klimovich and Artyom Shvaryov continued their impressive form with two goals apiece. Klimovich opened the scoring in the seventh minute and added a penalty shot on 51:49, adding to his double against Lada. Shvaryov restored Amur’s lead late in the opening frame after Samat Daniyar brought Barys level. Then he struck in the third period as the Tigers built a commanding lead. Alexander Dergachyov’s power play goal was the other marker for Amur; the former Neftekhimik man was assisted by Yaroslav Likhachyov, another summer signing. 

Warm-up game

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 2 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 1 SO (0-1, 1-0, 0-0, 0-0, 1-0)

Dmitry Kvartalnov deployed an experimental line-up for his first game since returning to Lokomotiv. With almost all the team’s leaders rested, the head coach put his youngsters into battle. By contrast, Torpedo was closer to full strength, including Pavel Kraskovsky in his first game against the Yaroslavl club where he learned his game.

The Loko youngsters made a lively start and created some dangerous chances early on. But Torpedo came into the contest and opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Sergei Golodnyuk found the top corner of Alexei Melnichuk’s net.

In the second period, the visitor seized the initiative for a time. However, Alexei Isakov’s men struggled to convert their chances. And when Golodnyuk was assessed a roughing minor, Giovanni Fiore tied the game on the power play.

That was the end of the scoring, with neither the third period nor overtime separating the teams. Lokomotiv enjoyed a power play in OT, but had to wait until the shoot-out before Matvei Kotkov secured the win.