Late goal saves Magnitka, Seroukh pots a hat-trick. September 11 round-up

Metallurg grabbed a dramatic late victory at Ak Bars in Friday’s big clash, saving the game with just nine seconds on the clock. Admiral shocked CSKA to claim its first win of the season, Daniil Seroukh scored the first hat-trick of the season and Neftekhimik beat Avtomobilist 3-1.

Seroukh hits hat-trick

Lada Togliatti 2 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 7 (1-0, 0-4, 1-3)

Daniil Seroukh scored the first hat-trick of the KHL season to power Torpedo to victory at Lada. The Motormen fell to a heavy loss in their first home game of the campaign despite making a good start to the game.

The first period saw the home team on top, roared on by the crowd. A strong start led to several power plays and Riley Sawchuk converted one of them to open the scoring in a frame where Lada led the shot count 12-3.

But the middle frame could not have been more different. Now Torpedo dominated, outshooting Lada 15-2, and scored four unanswered goals. The turnaround started after 27 minutes when Mikhail Vorobyov tied the scores. Then came two goals in as many minutes: Viktor Fyodorov putting the visitor in front before Seroukh got his first of the night during a five-on-three power play. Vorobyov turned provider before the intermission as Rober Nardella made it 4-1.

Lada swapped goalies at the break, bringing Nikita Podskrebalin into the game in place of Andrei Mishurov. But the goals kept coming. Vladimir Tkachyov added a fifth, then Seroukh completed his treble – one on the power play, another at equal strength. Sawchuk’s late PP marker was scant consolation for the home team.

Late drama in Magnitka win

Ak Bars Kazan 2 Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3 SO (1-1, 0-0, 1-1, 0-0, 0-1)

Friday’s headline bout lived up to its billing as two Eastern Conference heavyweights traded blows in Kazan. The home team, defending a flawless three-game winning start to the season, was seconds away from making it four from four.

But Magnitka tied it up with nine seconds to play and went on to win it in a shoot-out. Dmitry Silantyev got the tying goal, then Ruslan Iskhakov sealed the verdict.

Ak Bars made a great start to the game, opening the scoring after just 20 seconds. Semyon Terekhov, who has made a good start to the season, finished off a swift attack with a well-placed backhand shot.

But the first power play of the night went awry for the host. Mitch Miller no-look pass fell for Iskhakov, who raced away and fired in a shot that hit both posts on its way to the net.

After trading two goals in five minutes, the teams continued to attack. Terekhov’s pace almost earned him a second goal, Nathan Todd went close at the other end.

The second period was goalless, thanks largely to a brilliant save from home goalie Timur Bilyalov to deny Metallurg’s power play.

Ak Bars regained the lead midway through the third thanks to a goal from Artyom Galimov. That looked like it was going to be the winner, but there was late drama to come. Metallurg’s final surge saw Silantyev find Bilyalov’s short side to tie the game on 59:51.

The drama continued into overtime, with chances at both ends in a frantic passage of play. But in the end, it went to a shoot-out before Iskhakov won it for Magnitka.

Tyanulin at the double

Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 3 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 1 (1-0, 1-1, 1-0)

The Wolves made it two wins from two after downing Avtomobilist on home ice. Alexei Kudashov’s team fell to a second successive loss following its opening night success over Dynamo.

A first period full of attacking intent saw the teams trade regular attempts on goal. But the opener had to wait until the 19th minute when Artur Tyanulin struck on the power play.

Early in the second period, Avtomobilist got its first PP of the game and quickly converted it. Anton Slepyshev tied the game in 24th minute.

Neftekhimik almost made an instant replay: Yaroslav Busygin gave away a penalty shot, but Andrei Belozyorov could not restore the lead on 24:00. But just after midway, Tyanulin’s second of the game made it 2-1 for the home team.

That lead held. Avtomobilist had plenty of possession in the final frame but struggled to generate clear scoring chances. And Rafael Bimullin’s empty-netter settled the outcome.

Bulavchuk double sinks CSKA

CSKA Moscow 2 Admiral Vladivostok 4 (1-0, 0-1, 1-2)

Admiral got its first win of the season in stunning style, downing CSKA in Moscow. Two goals for Oskar Bulavchuk led the way to a comeback win.

An even first period saw CSKA unable to dominate the play in the manner Igor Nikitin’s team might have expected. But the home side managed to get in front on its second power play thanks to Dmitry Buchelnikov’s third of the season.

After the intermission the teams remained evenly matched. And late in the session Admiral got the tying goal it deserved when Bulavchuk banged home his first at the back door.

When Maxim Musorov put the visitor in front in the 47th minute, the shock was on. CSKA rallied, Nikita Nesterov saw a goal whistled off following a bench challenge, but in the 54th minute Ivan Drozdov made it 2-2.

With the home crowd, increased momentum and a powerful roster, the Muscovites seemed poised to extend Admiral’s losing start to the season. But the visitor had other ideas. Instead of crumbling, the Sailors got on the power play and regained the lead through Mikhail Grass with four to play. And Bulavchuk’s late empty-netter sealed an impressive victory for the visitor.