The Matchup:
Metallurg
Magnitogorsk
(15-0-6-4)
vs
Avangard
Omsk
(11-7-3-6)
Players You May Recognize
Karri Ramo, Sergei Kostitsyn, Nikita Nikitin, Alexander Frolov, Alexander Perezhogin
Recap
A week ago, the Euro Hockey Tour break ended and Magnitogorsk visited Omsk in their first game after the break. The game was built up as a heavyweight match between two of the top teams in the East and featured on ESPN 3. Magnitogorsk lost that game in overtime, 3-2. Unfortunately, the result was similar in today's match as Magnitogorsk lost 2-1 in regulation at home despite a plethora of chances to tie the game.
Karri Ramo started in net for Avangard Omsk and somehow that spelled the end for Magnitogorsk instantly. Ramo played a fantastic game, stopping 32 of 33 shots including numerous breakaways and point blank chances. Ari Ahonen stopped 29 of 31 shots for Magnitogorsk, but it wasn't enough for the snake-bitten offense to overcome.
Avangard Omsk took the lead early on a fluke play as Alexander Frolov streaked down the right side of the ice and tried to backhand a pass towards the crease. His pass worked out better than anticipated as it deflected off of Sergei Gonchar's skate and into the air past Ari Ahonen for a 1-0 lead.
Both teams traded chances for the rest of the period, including three 2 on 1 breaks within the last two minutes, but the period ended 1-0. Evgeni Malkin and Nikolai Kulemin looked fantastic after the first, but Karri Ramo was already the star of the game through one.
The second period started quickly with an Enver Lisin breakaway that was stopped by Ramo. The ref proceeded to call a penalty shot because Lisin was partially slashed even though he got the shot off. Ramo stopped Lisin yet again on the penalty shot to preserve the 1-0 lead. The teams traded powerplays through a mostly quiet 2nd period before the energy skyrocketed again towards the end.
With four minutes left in the period, Igor Volkov snuck past both Metallurg defenders and received a breakaway pass at the blue line. All it took was a quick forehand to backhand deke and Volkov lifted the puck past a diving Ari Ahonen for a 2-0 lead. Less than 2 minutes later, Malkin worked his own offensive magic for Magnitogorsk. Geno skated in and around two Avangard defenders before dishing a perfect pass to Sergei Gonchar across the slot. Gonchar one-timed the puck past Karri Ramo to cut the lead down to 2-1.
The third period started with more insanity when Avangard received a penalty shot because Sergei Mozyakin covered the puck in the crease during a crazy scrum. Ari Ahonen was up to the task and stopped the penalty shot to keep it at a one goal game. Unfortunately Magnitogorsk was unable to find a tying goal as Ramo continued to dazzle in net.
Final Score: Avangard Omsk 2 Metallurg Magnitogorsk 1
Metallurg drops to 15-0-6-5 and Avangard improves to 12-7-3-6.
Player Notes
Evgeni Malkin - Malkin finished with 1 assist, 5 shots, 18 for 26 in faceoffs, and 21:22 of ice time. He skated like he was shot out of a cannon all night and had some beautiful puck-handling moves in the offensive zone. Despite the small offensive output, Malkin was a force in most of his shifts and created chances all over the ice with Kulemin.
Sergei Gonchar - Gonchar finished with 1 goal on 4 shots in 20:15 of ice time. Gonchar's one-timer was beautiful, though his overall play was marred by the accidental 1st goal and being on the ice for the breakaway goal against. Also, his reluctance to shoot on the powerplay and preference to feed it to Malkin on the half-boards is getting rather predictable for penalty killers to adjust to.
Other Players - Oleg Tverdovsky, who missed several games before the break with an injury, looked back up to speed and played quite well throughout the game. He had a great shot in front of the net but was stopped by the amazing Karri Ramo. Enver Lisin and Justin Hodgman both had awful games in terms of turnovers and general positioning. Nikolai Kulemin looked fantastic with Malkin but was robbed a couple times by Ramo and then missed the net on two tough chances.
Next Game: 11/23, 8am EST vs Barys Astana
Links:
Metallurg 
Magnitogorsk 
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