Memorable first goal for Andreychenko, late blow for Spartak. October 4 round-up

Sunday’s card brought a game-winning goal from a first-time KHL scorer, while a late tally saw an on-going skid stretch to six games. Viktor Anreychenko, 22, got his first goal in the league to lift Neftekhimik to a 3-2 verdict over Sibir. Tyce Thompson struck late for Barys at Spartak, forcing overtime before the Kazakhs got a shoot-out win over the struggling Muscovites. And Amur responded to a 0-3 loss at Avtomobilist by winning 3-0 there two days later.

Andreychenko first goal gives Wolves the edge

Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 3 Sibir Novosibirsk 2 (1-1, 0-1, 2-0)

Viktor Andreychenko’s first KHL goal proved the difference between Neftekhimik and Sibir. The Wolves followed up a 3-0 victory in Sibir two weeks ago with another success here.

The home team recalled defenseman Ilya Pastukhov and forward Grigor Seleznyov after Friday’s overtime loss to Barys. Sibir was unchanged from the team that won at Salavat Yulaev.

A busy first period saw both teams play attacking hockey. Damir Zhafyarov went close from the slot, then Andrei Belozyorov hit the post for Neftekhimik. The host got in front in the 17th minute when Rafael Bikmullin’s redirect opened the scoring. But the lead was shortlived and Maxim Sushko pounced on a defensive error to make it 1-1 at the first intermission.

In the middle frame the play was still fast-paced, but there were fewer clear cut chances. Neftekhimik, on particular, got bogged down on the perimeter and struggled to really test Mikhail Berdin. At the other end, Yegor Korshkov put Sibir up midway through the session, giving Filipp Dolganov no chance.

The Wolves started strong in the third. Berdin made a couple of good saves before Zhafyarov tied it up in the 43rd minute. The game grew more cautious, but Neftekhimik won it on Andreychenko’s first KHL goal. The 22-year-old found the net from a dead angle with six minutes to play. Neftekhimik recovered after back-to-back losses.

Symmetrical response from Amur

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 0 Amur Khabarovsk 3 (0-0, 0-1, 0-2)

The Tigers avenged Friday’s 0-3 loss at Avtomobilist in symmetrical fashion, bouncing back with a 3-0 victory on Sunday.

Alexei Kudashov’s winning team was almost unchanged: goalie Evgeny Alikin was rested after starting five in a row; Vladimir Galkin took over between the piping. By contrast, Alexeder Andriyevsky switched up all his offensive lines, notably moving Vitaly Abramov to play at center. Alexander Trushkov got his second game of the season in goal.

Buoyed by the previous victory, Avto made a lively start. Generally, Amur coped well, but Anton Slepyshev found space on the slot and Trushkov had to be alert to keep him at bay. At the other end, Galkin made a smart stop to halt Fyodor Khrapov’s counterattack. Late in the frame, linesman Nikita Novikov had to be stretchered off after he was hit by the puck.

Compared with Friday’s game, Amur was skating better but picking up more penalties. However, the Avtomobilist power play failed to take advantage – there’s a reason why it has been the second weakest in the league this season. When the Tigers got a chance with a five-on-three situation, they showed how to do it: Slava Voynov shot from the point, Abramov moved the puck on for Kirill Pilipenko who finished it off into the open side of the net six seconds before the intermission.

The power play continued for a further three minutes as Alexander Kadeikin worked off his double minor, and yet another foul restored Amur’s two-man advantage early in the third. Once again, the chance was eagerly accepted: Alexei Kruchinin got free and had plenty of time to pick his spot beyond Galkin.

For the next five minutes, the Motormen could not muster a single shot on goal. And the final blow came when the home team got a power play and went to six skaters. Raul Akmaldinov added a shorthanded tally into the empty net to seal a 3-0 victory.

Red-and-White skid continues after Thompson salvages the game

Spartak Moscow 3 Barys Astana 4 SO (0-0, 2-2, 1-1, 0-0, 0-1)

A late Tyce Thompson goal denied Spartak a much-needed win and helped Barys secure a shoot-out victory in Moscow.

The first period was goalless, but nevertheless entertaining. The teams played at a good tempo, and created several chances at both ends. Barys perhaps should have got in front before the intermission after getting a five-on-three power play late in the session, but the Spartak PK did well to eliminate the threat.

Goals flowed in the second stanza. Barys killed one penalty, but soon fell shorthanded again and Spartak swiftly converted the second attempt. Daniil Gutik collected a pass and stepped forward from the blue line, forcing a defenseman to commit himself before pinging a wrister beyond Andrei Shutov in the visitor’s net.

Barys responded with two quick goals to take the lead by the 35th minute. Logan Day’s point shot thudded into the boards and as Alikhan Omirbekov battled with Yegor Filin, the puck squirmed into the net via a deflection off goalie Artyom Zagidulin. Then, another blast from Day was redirected home by Alikhan Asetov to make it 2-1.

When the visitor got on the power play again in the 36th minute, Barys looked ready to take control of the game. However, things did not work out that way. Danil Pivchulin netted a short-handed goal after pouncing on a wayward clearance from Shutov.

Spartak got in front once again in the third thanks to Luke Lockhart’s first goal of the season. He was on hand to score from the slot after Sergei Lukyantsev battled down low to get the puck out from behind the net.

That looked like it might win it for the home team, but Barys is always dangerous on offense. And when the visitor went to six skaters with more than two minutes to play, Mikhail Kravets was rewarded. Tyce Thompson saved the game when he received Day’s pass and turned it into a tying goal. Day collected his third point of the day, sending the game to overtime.

The extras could not separate the teams and for a long time the shoot-out was also scoreless. At the eighth attempt, Garret Pilon was the first man to find the net, and that gave Barys the verdict. Spartak’s skid stretches to six games, the Kazakhs follow up an OT win at Neftekhimik with another success on the road.