Magnitogorsk Enters the Break on a Winning Streak

The Matchup:

Metallurg 

Magnitogorsk 

(13-0-5-3)

vs

HC Vityaz
Chekhov

(4-6-5-8)

Players You May Recognize

Alexei Zhamnov (General Manager), Trevor Gillies, Alexander Korolyuk, Daniil Markov, Andrei Markov (injured)

Recap

In their last game before the Euro Hockey Tour (thanks @stapler_87 for the heads up on that), Magnitogorsk hosted perennial bottom feeder HC Vityaz Chekhov.  Since the NHL players do not participate in the Euro Hockey Tour, this was our last chance to watch Malkin, Gonchar, Kulemin, etc. for a couple of weeks.  After a slow start, they put together a winning effort to head into the fall break of KHL hockey on a 4 game winning streak.

Maurice wasn't the only one throwing around F bombs.

Georgi Gelashvili started in net for Magnitogorsk but was not tested often.  He only faced 4 shots in a quiet first period for both teams and would only face 13 shots overall.  Metallurg dominated puck possession and managed 15 shots on net in the first, but most were from the perimeter and none were especially challenging.  The second period continued along in a similar manner until the halfway point.  A less talented Vityaz Chekhov team started to put pressure on Magnitogorsk, which resulted in a timeout for Paul Maurice's team and a pep talk filled with F bombs.

Despite the inspiring/angry timeout, the visitors struck first as Anton Korolev scored off of an offensive zone faceoff win with just over 2 minutes remaining in the 2nd period.  The lead would last less than a minute though when Mats Zuccarello found Dmitry Kazionov on a pass from blue line to blue line.  Kazionov faked an attempt to split the defense and then threw a quick backhander on net that snuck past Chekhov goalie Ivan Kasutin.

Tied 1-1 after 2 periods, I imagine that Maurice's intermission speech was filled with more F bombs and Magnitogorsk came out flying in the 3rd period.  Metallurg started on the powerplay after Malkin drew a tripping penalty and it took just 38 seconds for them to take the lead.  Viktor Antipin scored the game winner, assisted by Sergei Mozyakin and Sergei Gonchar.  Four minutes later, Evgeni Malkin made it 3-1 as he one-timed a cross-crease pass from Mozyakin.  Magnitogorsk dominated the rest of the 3rd period, adding one more insurance goal by Mozyakin and outshooting Chekhov 8 to 1 in the period.  

Final Score:  Metallurg Magnitogorsk 4  HC Vityaz Chekhov  1

Magnitogorsk improves to 14-0-5-3 and Chekhov drops to 4-6-5-9.

Player Notes

Malkin is poised to take over the scoring race
when the KHL returns from break.

Evgeni Malkin - Malkin finished with a goal on 4 shots, a dismal 6 for 19 in faceoffs, and 2 PIM in 21:30 of ice time.  He drew two tripping penalties, including the one that allowed Magnitogorsk to take the lead permanently.  It was generally a quiet game for Geno, but it that pretty much can be said for every player on both teams.  Malkin enters the break with 28 points in 20 games, good for 3rd in the KHL in points behind Mozyakin and Alexander Radulov.

Sergei Gonchar - Gonchar had 5 shots and 2 assists in 22:40 of ice time.  He didn't face any challenges defensively and did a wonderful job of keeping the puck in the zone when Magnitogorsk had their offensive pushes.  He heads into the break with 13 points in 18 games, which leads Magnitogorsk defensemen by 6 points.

Next Game:  11/14, 8am EST @ Avangard Omsk

Links:

Go to onhockey.ru for all of your streaming needs.

If you want highlights for the games, check out http://www.youtube.com/user/KHLofficialvideo.