October 3rd in the KHL was packed with thrilling moments. Bob Hartley made his return to Omsk with Lokomotiv, only for his team to fall to Avangard. Spartak secured a victory over SKA with a lightning-fast two goals in just 51 seconds. Meanwhile, Ak Bars, Severstal, and Admiral each impressed with five-goal performances in their respective games.
Hartley`s Unsuccessful Return to Omsk
The central game of the day, featuring Avangard against Lokomotiv, was brimming with intrigue. Not only was it a rematch of last year`s playoff series, but it also marked Bob Hartley`s first return to Omsk as a visiting coach, setting up a fascinating confrontation between North American strategists Hartley and Guy Boucher. Ultimately, Boucher`s team secured a confident 4:1 victory. While the score was tied 1:1 midway through the second period, the turning point came with Avangard`s second goal. Hartley challenged for goaltender interference, but the referees upheld the goal, leaving Lokomotiv short-handed, which led to them conceding another. Thus, Hartley`s initial return to Omsk with his new team proved disappointing in terms of results.
Spartak`s Two Goals in Under a Minute
Another captivating match took place in Moscow, where Spartak hosted SKA, featuring their former leader, Nikolai Goldobin. Despite SKA scoring first, Goldobin`s team (with Goldobin himself notably only registering a penalty and one shot on goal) ultimately suffered a defeat. The turning point arrived late in the second period when Spartak netted two goals in a mere 51 seconds, seizing the momentum. A successful power-play in the third period then sealed Spartak`s victory.
Dominant Five-Goal Performances
Ak Bars Crushes Amur
In Kazan, Ak Bars delivered an impressive performance against Amur, despite conceding on the very first shot. Head coach Anvar Gatiyatulin`s team quickly seized the initiative, taking the lead by the end of the first period and then thoroughly dominating their opponents, evident in their four-fold shot advantage in the second period (18-4). Although Amur`s goaltender, Maxim Dorozhko, kept his team in the game for a significant period, Ak Bars ultimately netted three more goals in the third period to secure a convincing 5:1 victory. Dmitry Yaskin was the star of the match, scoring a brace.
Severstal Outlasts Torpedo; Fedorov Debuts
Severstal also scored five goals in a more fiercely contested match against Torpedo. Leading 4:1 by the second intermission, Severstal faced a resilient Torpedo side that fought back with two goals, including one with an empty net. Despite having just over a minute for a potential comeback, Severstal held strong and scored into the empty net, securing their sixth consecutive road victory against Torpedo. Notably, 17-year-old Viktor Fedorov made his debut for Torpedo in this game, playing on the first line for 7 minutes and 13 seconds.
Admiral Holds Off Sochi in Dramatic Fashion
The match between Sochi and Admiral was arguably the most dramatic of the day. The “Sailors” (Admiral) led throughout the game, holding a three-goal advantage (5:2) early in the third period. However, penalties nearly derailed Leonid Tambiev`s team when they were left playing three-on-five and conceded. To their credit, Sochi showed resilience, narrowing the gap to a single goal but ultimately failed to equalize.
Anniversaries and Scoring Streaks
October 3rd also marked significant player milestones and impressive scoring streaks across the league:
- Lokomotiv forward Georgy Ivanov played his 500th KHL game.
- Torpedo defenseman Daniil Zhuravlev reached his 300th KHL game.
- Zhuravlev`s teammate, Alexey Kruchinin, scored his 100th KHL goal.
Five players extended their personal scoring streaks:
- To four games: Artur Tyanulin (2+5) and Jean-Christophe Beaudin (1+4) of Sochi.
- To five games: Avangard defenseman Semyon Chistyakov (3+4).
- To six games: Vladimir Tkachyov (0+7) of Metallurg.
- To nine games: Tkachyov`s teammate, Dmitry Silantyev (7+8).
Neville Woodall