CSKA wins clash of the Titans. November 3 round-up

Tuesday’s big game saw Western Conference leader CSKA travel to Eastern Conference top dog Metallurg, and the Muscovites left with a 7-3 victory. Shanghai Dragons climb to third in the Western Conference on a 3-1 win at home to Severstal, while Neftekhimik edged a 2-1 verdict at Sochi.

Summit clash goes to CSKA

Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3 CSKA Moscow 7 (0-0, 3-3, 0-4)

The battle of the conference leaders lived up to its billing: 10 goals, and a come-from-behind victory for CSKA to close the gap at the top of the overall KHL standings.

Maxim Sorkin and Denis Guryanov led the scoring with two goals apiece for the visitor as Igor Nikitin’s team extended its hot streak to four games. Metallurg fell to a second loss in three.

In the first period, the teams were feeling their way into the game. The Muscovites made the slightly brighter start; Metallurg picked up the pace in the latter half of the opening frame. But with just 13 shots on goal between the two teams, there was little to trouble either goalie.

Everything changed at the start of the second period. The Steelmen roared into a 2-0 lead, scoring twice in 18 seconds. Alexander Siryatsky opened the scoring on 20:28, on an assist from Sergei Tolchinsky, who stretched his hot streak to six games (1+6). Then Nikita Mikhailis broke clear to beat Alexander Samonov on 20.46.

The CSKA response was swift: Sorkin found space surprisingly easily on the slot to make it 2-1. The three goals needed just 36 seconds.

Next came the relative calm after the storm, but in the 31st minute CSKA tied the game thanks to Pavel Karnaukhov. There was time for the teams to exchange further goals before the second intermission. Igor Nechayev briefly restored the home lead, but a well-worked goal saw Denis Guryanov send the teams to the intermission at 3-3.

Guryanov struck again, putting his team up for the first time on the night with a power play goal in the 44th minute. By now, the CSKA offense was ablaze, and it wasn’t long before Alexander Smolin allowed further goals from Nikolai Kovalenko and Marat Khairullin. Metallurg replaced the goalie with Yegor Zavragin, Prokhor Poltapov completed a hat-trick of assists.

The closing stages brought a big fight in the 57th minute: Luke Johnson got the better of Kovalenko, while there were double roughing minors for Andrei Kozlov and Ivan Drozdov. The interference call on Mikhail Fyodorov that started the incident gave CSKA another power play, and Sorkin took advantage to make the final score 7-3.

Jaskin double lifts Dragons to third

Shanghai Dragons 3 Severstal Cherepovets 1 (0-0, 1-0, 2-1)

The Dragons climb to third in the Western Conference after securing a sixth win in seven games.

Tuesday’s 3-1 success at home to Severstal puts Mitch Love’s team on 30 points, level with Lokomotiv and four points behind Western Conference leader CSKA.

Two goals from Dmitrij Jaskin paved the way. The former Czech international moved to 16 (11+5) for the season and now leads the team in goals, ahead of Brett Murray on 10.

Severstal was left to rue missed chances. The visitor outshot Shanghai 35-23, and had a clear edge in a goalless first period, but failed to capitalize.

Instead, Jaskin opened the scoring after Brennan Menell’s point was deflected wide of the target by Daniil Malorossiyanov and the rebound off the boards dropped for the captain to strike from close range.

Severstal responded with a power play goal from Thomas Gregoire early in the third, but Jaskin restored the home lead when a Dragons PP moved smoothly from defense to offense and Nate Sucese set him up in the 48th minute. Severstal continued to push for an equalizer, but its hopes were extinguished after 56 minutes when Mikhail Kotlyarevsky’s marker survived a bench challenge and made the final score 3-1.

Gusev keeps up hot streak, but Sochi falls to Neftekhimik

HC Sochi 1 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 2 (0-0, 0-1, 1-1)

Neftekhimik defeated Sochi for the second time this season, but Tuesday’s rematch was closer than the 5-1 win the Wolves enjoyed in Nizhnekamsk on Sep. 5.

Today’s success cuts the gap at the top of the Eastern Conference to seven points and secures back-to-back victories on the road for Igor Grishin’s team.

Sochi handed a debut to experienced forward Pyotr Khokhryakov, who centered Dmitry Ovchinnikov and Maxim Korostelyov on the fourth line. It was a special day for Khokhryakov, who marked his 800th KHL game against the team where he learned his trade.

The first period was played at a moderate pace and there was little between the teams. Sochi had more of the puck, and earned the first power play of the night as the intermission approached. However, Evgeny Shaldybin’s men could not take advantage in a goalless opening.

The breakthrough came early in the second, and it went to Neftekhimik. Forwards Nikita Popugayev and Matvei Zaseda were back on the visitor’s roster for this one, and they were both involved as the latter redirected a Timur Kol shot beyond Damir Shaymardanov.

Once in front, Neftekhimik was unable to build on the lead. Sochi remained competitive, with Nikita Gusev creating regular chances. It wasn’t a huge surprise when the home team’s star forward extended his hot streak to nine games, picking up yet another assist when his shot was redirected home by Artur Gizdatullin for a power play tally midway through the third period.

That wasn’t enough to save the game, though. As the action moved into its final stages, Neftekhimik got a power play chance of its own – only the visitor’s second of the night. It proved sufficient. Artur Tyanulin’s swift pass from the right wing to the slot set up Evgeny Mityakin for the winning goal.