KHL - Pre-Season 2017 Round Up - Part 3

The first preseason tournament of 2017 involving KHL clubs, the Minsk Cup, came to an end on Saturday with the final, third-place and fifth-place playoffs.

HC Dynamo Moscow vs. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl: 1-3 (0-1, 1-1, 0-1)

Alexei Kudashov's Lokomotiv claimed the first trophy of the preseason with a typically workmanlike victory over Dynamo. All three of the Railwaymen's games have been close affairs – a 3-1 win over Dinamo Riga, a 3-2 overtime victory over Ugra, and now this 3-1 against the Muscovites – and the past few days have highlighted their strength in depth. No matter that the Petri Kontiola line is not yet firing on all cylinders, the other forwards will step up to do the damage while the defense remains mean.
Dynamo boss Vladimir Vorobyov brought a roster of 30 players to Belarus, so depth is unlikely to feature among his problems, and his team's results in this tournament - a 5-4 overtime win against Yunost and a 6-3 victory over Dinamo Minsk - have given him far more positives than negatives, even if Lokomotiv proved too tough on the day.
The first goal arrived in the 14th minute courtesy of Loko's Russian international forward Yegor Averin, but Dynamo hit back in the first minute of the second period with a goal form former Flames, Predators and Canadiens forward Dustin Boyd. Then it was time for youth to take center stage. Loko regained the lead in the 37th minute with a strike from 21-year-old defenseman Nikita Cherepanov, and the win was put beyond doubt with four minutes remaining by 20-year-old winger Alexander Polunin.

Yunost Minsk vs. Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk: 1-4 (1-1, 0-1, 0-2)

Ugra took the spoils in an intriguing battle for bronze against Yunost Minsk of the Belarusian Extraleague. The locals made a promising start with a goal from the USA's Ryan Walters just three-and-a-half minutes into the game, but just past the six-minute mark Evgeny Skachkov leveled for the Khanty Mansiysk team in a 5-on-3 powerplay. Ugra's go-ahead goal came in the 28th minute from Anton Korolyov, and the bronze medal was made safe by further strikes in the final stanza from Anton Kuryanov and Veli-Matti Savinainen.

HC Ugra

Dinamo Minsk vs. Dinamo Riga: 4-0 (0-0, 3-0, 1-0)

The fifth-place playoff was a battle of the Dinamos and was won in convincing fashion by the men from the Belarusian capital. Despite the winning margin, the game was a tense affair until the deadlock was broken on the 25:30 mark by promising 19-year-old forward Yegor Sharangovich. Further goals were added by Danila Karaban (38:30), Evgeny Lisovets (39.45) and Dmitry Ambrozheichik (57:56).

Dinamo Riga

Admiral vs. South Korea: 5-3 (0-2, 2-1, 3-0)

Meanwhile, on the Far Eastern frontier of the KHL's territory, the men from Vladivostok embarked on their preseason voyage with a match against the national team of South Korea, host of next year's Winter Olympics. “This (match against Admiral) is very important for us in terms of gaining experience. We are playing against a first-class team with first-class players, and this is invaluable for us in our preparations for the Olympics,” - said South Korea head coach Jim Paek before the game.

The match itself turned into a severe test of resolve for Admiral. The Koreans surged into a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Kim Wonjun after 12 minutes 50 seconds, Cho Minho (16.24), and Shin Hyung Yun (24.42), but Admiral reacted admirably and showed they were not holed below the waterline. Within 90 seconds, Maxim Kazakov (25.58) had reduced the deficit, then further strikes from Pavel Makhanovsky (35.01), a quickfire double from Viktor Alexandrov (43.57 and 47.36), and finally, an insurance goal from Alexander Gorshkov turned a potential humiliation into a stirring 5-3 triumph. The most impressive fightback of the preseason so far.

HC Sochi vs. Metallurg Novokuznetsk: 4-0 (1-0, 1-0, 2-0)

After beginning their preseason in Jekyll-and-Hyde mood, beating Neftekhimik 5-2 but then losing 1-5 to Traktor, no-one could accuse Sergei Zubov's HC Sochi of being predictable. On Saturday, they welcomed Metallurg Novokuznetsk to the shores of the Black Sea and posted a resounding win, scoring four unanswered goals.

Simon Önerud started the rout at 17:40 and a powerplay goal by Alexander Titov doubled the Southerners' lead on 30:30. Two third-period strikes in quick succession – a 5-on-3 powerplay goal from Vadim Shchegolkov (47:09) and a fourth from Yegor Morozov (48:03) – gave the score an emphatic look.

Metallurg Magnitogorsk vs. Vityaz: 5-2 (2-0, 2-1, 1-1)

An intriguing match-up in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, between last season's runner up, Ilya Vorobyov's Metallurg, and last season's surprise package, Valery Belov's Vityaz, who had already beaten Avangard in this year's preseason preparations. As one might have expected, Magnitka's legendary firepower proved decisive. The stand-out stats: a double from Anton Shenfeld and a pair of assists from Sergei Mozyakin.

Goals:
1-0 Kovar (Mozyakin) 03-02
2-0 Shenfeld 15-52
2-1 Shvets-Rogovoi 20-22
3-1 Shenfeld (Filippi) 21-00
4-1 Kosov (Mozyakin) 39-57 (PPG)
5-1 Schaus 45-48
5-2 Makeyev 57-38

Elsewhere, Avtomobilist were shut out by Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Republic in a 0-2 loss. The Czechs inflicted back-to-back defeats on Slovan Bratislava the previous week.
In the other all-KHL clash of the day, CSKA kept Sibir off the scoreboard in a convincing 4-0 win.
Sergei Shumakov grabbed the opening goal in the first period, and then came a second-period onslaught in which a double from Roman Lyubimov followed by a goal from Konstantin Okulov put the result beyond doubt before the second interval.

CSKA - HC Sibir

Finally, a sharp upturn in preseason fortunes for Avangard. The Omsk Men, currently at camp in Fussen, Germany, were on the wrong end of a 3-1 triumph by Vityaz last week, but on Saturday they bounced back to claim an impressive 3-2 overtime win over the Italian national team. No doubt Andrei Skabelka will be pleased that his players bounced back to win after allowing the Italians to open the scoring a mere two minutes into the game. Semyon Koshelev and Nikita Lisov scored for the “Hawks” in regulation time, and Dmitry Kugryshev grabbed the late game-winner.



Sunday was a much quieter day on the friendlies front, and there was a hint of Deja Vu as two of the games were rematches from the day before.

Admiral vs. South Korea: 3-2 (1-1, 2-1, 0-0)

The Vladivostok Men and the 2018 Winter Olympic hosts served up an unforgettable 5-3 on Saturday, and while this sequel did not quite match the drama of the original, the two teams still produced a highly entertaining game.
As they did on Saturday, the Koreans started the livelier and raced into an early lead, thanks to Shin Hyungyun's short-handed strike in the 8th minute. Admiral recovered once again, and by the 37th minute goals from Pavel Makhanovsky, Georgy Sergeyenko, and Maxim Kitsyn had Admiral cruising with a 3-1 lead. Just before we reached the second interval, a powerplay goal by Lee Chong Hyun kept the result in doubt, but the Mariners held onto their advantage and celebrated two wins in two days..

CSKA vs. Sibir: 5-2 (2-1, 2-1, 1-0)

In the day's other rematch, CSKA followed up its 4-0 demolition of Sibir with another convincing win, but there was a silver lining for the Novosibirsk Men in that they twice pierced the Army Men's rearguard and found the back of the net.
The Muscovites found themselves 2-0 up in the first ten minutes, thanks to Konstantin Okulov and Sergei Shumakov, but a little over two minutes before the first interval, 21-year-old defenseman Nikolai Demidov scored Sibir's first goal of the 2017 preseason. Okulov completed a double to make the score 3-1 before a powerplay goal on 28:33 by Ivan Vereshchagin kept Sibir in contention. Hopes of a stirring comeback were dashed within 8 seconds, however, when Anton Burdasov restored the Army Men's two-goal advantage, and he added his second and CSKA's fifth late in the final period.

Yunost Minsk vs. Lokomotiv: 1-7 (0-2, 0-2, 1-3)

On Saturday, Lokomotiv won the first ever Minsk Cup, and so, understandably, the Railwaymen fielded a much-changed line-up for this Sunday afternoon encounter against Yunost Minsk. Yesterday, many pundits talked of Lokomotiv's strength in depth, but nothing illustrated this more eloquently than the “weakened” Yaroslavl team nonetheless inflicting a painful 7-1 hammering on the hosts. Kirill Kapustin scored four times, Artyom Ilyenko grabbed a double, and Danil Yurtaikin completed the rout in the dying minutes. Finally, Kunlun Red Star continued its impressive form with a 3-0 defeat of Severstal.



Markov heading home
Vastly experienced defenseman Andrei Markov looks set to be one of the trades of the summer after announcing his intention to return to Russia and play KHL hockey this season. Markov, 38, failed to agree an extension to his 16 years with the Canadiens, and is expected to confirm a contract with a Russian team soon. The move, if confirmed, would also enable Markov to play for Russia at next year’s Olympics. He has featured at three previous Games, in Torino, Vancouver and Sochi, as well as last season’s World Cup of Hockey. His career, dominated by 990 regular season games in the NHL, also features a brief spell of KHL action: in the 2013-14 lock-out season, Markov played 21 games for Vityaz, contributing one goal and seven assists as he regained fitness following an injury.

Andrei Markov

Zaripov prepares appeal

Danis Zaripov, who was suspended for two years after a failed drug test, is seeking an appeal against the decision. In a statement reported in the Sovietsky Sport newspaper, the forward insisted that he had never been involved in any doping and added that he was surprised to learn about his ban – which stems from a test taken in February 2017 – via the media. While Zaripov and his club, Ak Bars, are exploring legal avenues to challenge the verdict, the player also admitted that he would consider a move to the NHL. “I will investigate all possible ways out of this situation,” he told the newspaper. “Talks with the NHL are already underway, but truthfully, I would rather not go down that path. I want to continue my career here in Russia.”
Although Zaripov’s ban has been rubber-stamped by the International Ice Hockey Federation, he would still be able to play in the NHL. The IIHF’s mandate does not run in the NHL and thus the league is under no obligation to uphold any sanction. However, Zaripov would still be unable to play international hockey during the two-year period. Two other players, Derek Smith, a Canadian defenseman playing with Medvescak last season, and Admiral’s Andrei Konev also received bans after failing drug tests.

Danis Zaripov

First trophy goes to Loko

The Minsk Cup was the first pre-season tournament to be completed – and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl took the silverware in Belarus. The Railwaymen topped their three-team group ahead of Ugra and Dinamo Riga before downing Dynamo 3-1 in the final. Yegor Averin gave Loko a first-period lead and despite a Dustin Boyd equalizer, Nikita Cherepanov and Alexander Polunin sealed the victory. Ugra took third place with a 4-1 victory over Yunost Minsk, host Dinamo – under the guidance of new head coach Gordie Dwyer – defeated Dinamo Riga to claim fifth. Korea’s Olympic preparations continued with two practice games against Admiral Vladivostok – and the KHL team won both of them. On Saturday, Admiral took a 5-3 verdict, then 24 hours later goalie Maxim Tretiak claimed the win by a 3-2 margin. The coming weekend sees more Olympic preparations as Team Canada enters the pre-season tournament in Sochi.

Lokomotiv earned trophy

Nordic arrivals

Two Scandinavian forwards were part of the most interesting trades of the week, with one familiar face and one KHL newcomer on the move.
Andre Petersson, well known for his scoring prowess at HC Sochi, has traded the Black Sea for Siberia and contract with Avangard. The Swede, now 26, has been a consistent producer in his three seasons with Sochi, totalling 113 points in 146 games. That could easily have been higher were it not for injuries last season that stalled his progress and – arguably – cost the Southern team a place in the playoffs. The newcomer is Nicklas Jensen, a 24-year-old Dane, who joins his compatriots Peter Regin, Oliver Lauridsen and Jesper Jensen at Jokerit. He’s been on the bubble in North America since leaving Herning Blue Fox in 2010 and has six points from 31 NHL games in Vancouver and New York. Russian fans may have seen him in action in 2016 at the World Championship: he scored five goals and two assists in eight games as the Danes made a rare appearance in the quarter-finals.

Andre Petersson

There was just the one preseason practice match involving KHL teams on Monday, but it was a mouth-watering clash between Jokerit and SKA.
Oleg Znarok's Gagarin Cup holders began their preseason a lot later than many other sides, some of whom have two or three games under their belts already, but this is understandable given the later end to SKA's season.
The men from Russia's northern capital are at camp in Finland, and their first practice match was against Jokerit of the Finnish capital. New faces include Sergei Kalinin and Vladislav Gavrikov, while high-profile departures include Evgeny Dadonov and Vadim Shipachyov, both of whom are to continue their careers across the Atlantic. As for the Helsinki Men, the “Jokers” first preseason outing was no laughing matter: a 2-3 defeat at the hands of Kunlun Red Star.
Perhaps because of their extended summer break, or perhaps just because of good hockey from Jokerit, the Petersburg Men found it tough in the early stages, and Viktor Tikhonov even contrived to earn a 5+20 minute penalty. The Finns took full advantage and opened the scoring on six minutes via Eeli Tolvanen, but the Jokers' joy was to be short-lived. In the 14^th minute, Sergei Shirokov grabbed SKA's first goal of the preseason, again in powerplay, and as the game approached the halfway stage Nikita Gusev put the visitors in front.
Shirokov turned provider to set up Jarno Koskiranta to make it 3-1 with just over four minutes of the second period remaining, and that is the way things stayed until Alexander Barabanov's empty netter in the final minute. Shirokov assisted on that fourth goal, thus earning 3 points in the match.
GOALS:

06.02 – Eeli Tolvanen (Olli Palola, PPG), 1:0
13.44 – Sergei Shirokov (Mikko Koskinen, Artyom Zub, PPG), 1:1
27.03 – Nikita Gusev (Viktor Tikhonov, Maxim Karpov), 1:2
35.38 – Jarno Koskiranta (Sergei Shirokov), 1:3
59.20 – Alexander Barabanov (Sergei Shirokov, empty net), 1:4

Goaltenders: Karri Ramo (Ryan Zapolski) – Mikko Koskinen



Jokerit


Jokerit is gearing up for its 50^th anniversary – and after a summer rebuild, hopes in Helsinki are high. What can Jukka Jalonen’s team bring to the party this season?

Stability at the top

Jokerit likes to give its coaches time to build a team. Last season’s disappointments – the Finns snuck into eighth place in the Western Conference amid inconsistent form, and crashed out in the first round of the playoffs – might have spelled the end for coaches at many clubs. But in Helsinki, the management has confidence in Jalonen’s ability to turn the situation around. The head coach’s resume justifies that faith: he’s won trophies for club and country, including World Championship gold in 2011 and Olympic bronze in 2010. He also secured hardware at HPK, leading the Hameenlinna club to a regular season title in 2003 and lifting its only Canada Bowl in 2006. He also took SKA to a Conference Final, and topped the regular season table, during a previous spell in the KHL, affirming his credentials for the Jokerit gig.

Ramo returns

Avangard fans will remember Karri Ramo. The goalie spent four years in Omsk, getting all the way to the Gagarin Cup final in 2012, before moving to the Calgary Flames. His spell in Siberia was popular – twice, he was voted on to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team – but featured a few gaffes, most notably allowing a hopeful clearance from Andrei Kuteikin to beat him after it scuttled up the ice from in front of the opposition’s net. His time in Canada went fairly well until a serious knee injury in February 2016 ended his season. Rehabilitation was slow: a brief try-out with the Leafs brought three games for the Marlies but not contract; a return to Finland saw him play seven times for the Pelicans and prove his fitness, earning his Jokerit call-up.

The Danish connection

Jokerit’s roster, as always, is dominated by Finnish talent. But two Danish players could be the key to sparking a successful offense this season. Peter Regin is a familiar face: team captain, leading scorer last season with 48 (18+30) points, the 31-year-old is an experienced figure for club and country. If he maintains his form, Jokerit will always pose a goal threat. Alongside him comes compatriot Niklas Jensen. He’s just 24, returning to Europe after spell in North America spent mostly in the AHL. Jensen has the look of a player on the brink of a breakout season: when he last played in Russia, at the 2016 World Championship, he scored heavily to help Denmark reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in its history. Freed of the stress of life ‘on the bubble’ around the NHL, this could be his time to shine.

Defensive changes

The major surgery this summer has come on defense. Aside from Ramo’s arrival as a new, potential first-choice, goalie, the club has also shuffled its pack of blue-liners. Sami Lepisto (ex-Salavat Yulaev) and Tommi Kivisto (ex-Avtomobilist) bring a wealth of KHL experience; Lepisto will also be hoping for a crack at a third Olympic Games. Two North American D-men add some scoring power to the equation, with Mike Lundin, (96 points in three season for Barys) and Matt Gilroy (39 points last year in a struggling Spartak team) both likely to form a key component of the Jokerit power play.



Kazan

Andrei Markov’s high-profile move to Ak Bars brings one of Russia’s most experienced players back to the KHL – but, at the age of 38, what will he offer the Kazan team in the coming season?

The youthful veteran

The first, and most notable, thing about the Markov trade is that this isn’t merely a player at the end of his career looking for one last signing-on fee. Although Markov is now in his late 30s, and brings 16 years of NHL experience, there was no evidence that his powers were in decline last season in Montreal. He suited up 62 times for the Canadiens, producing 36 points and averaging almost 16:30 on the ice each night. Those aren’t the numbers of a player winding down; they’re consistent with his last few years of activity for the Habs. And this in a league where lack of skating speed can be ruthlessly exposed. It suggests that this is a player who can eat the minutes of a younger man.
Bottom line, Markov’s deep hockey sense and playmaking are still very much at an elite level while his fitness remains intact. That combination promises to make him an asset to any defensive unit.

Bridging the gap

After losing out in the 2015 Gagarin Cup final, Ak Bars began a restructuring of the team. Long-serving stalwarts, guys like Ilya Nikulin, Evgeny Medvedev, Konstantin Korneyev and Konstantin Koltsov, moved on to leave a roster rich in talent but lacking in big-game experience. Ak Bars looked a bit green, and not just because of their jerseys. This summer has brought a clear attempt to remedy that and bring in a ‘been there, done that’ player. Danis Zaripov was due to provide that big-game know-how, but circumstances left that plan in tatters. Markov, despite fulfilling a very different role on the ice, brings the same level of knowledge to the locker room. When the season gets to the business end, when playoff passions rage, having a calming, stabilizing presence on the roster can be the difference between victory and defeat.

The Bilyaletdinov factor

Some were surprised that Markov, a product of the Voskresensk school and a player whose entire career in Russian hockey was played in and around Moscow, opted for a move to Tatarstan. Even his lock-out posting in 2012-13 took him to Vityaz, rather than one of the powerhouses of the East. The Eastern Conference is unfamiliar territory for him. But Zinetula Bilyaletdinov is anything but unfamiliar. Coach Bill brought a young Markov to Dynamo Moscow in 1998. During those two seasons, which brought silver then gold in the Russian Super League, he nurtured the defenseman’s talents. And, when Markov was unveiled in Kazan earlier this week, he highlighted the importance of reuniting with his old mentor.
“The fact that I played for Zinetula Bilyaletdinov at Dynamo, before I even went to the NHL, played a significant part [in deciding to sign for Ak Bars],” Markov said. “I know what he expects of his players, and I’m really glad that we’ll be working together again. You could say that it’s thank to him that I became the player I am.”

A new challenge

The last time Markov worked with Bilyaletdinov was on Russia’s 2014 Olympic roster. With the PyeongChang games looming on the horizon, many anticipate that the D-man will be a lock for Oleg Znarok’s team in Korea. Markov’s international opportunities have been limited during his time in Canada – his last World Championship engagement was back in 2008 – but that didn’t keep him out of the World Cup of Hockey a year ago. His huge experience means he can offer plenty at Olympic level, especially in a tournament set to be bereft of NHL players. But the man himself is focused, first and foremost, on adapting to the Russian game – and its bigger ice – again, recognizing that the KHL presents a significant and ever-improving challenge of its own.
“We’re seeing more and more players from North America come into the KHL,” he said. “The quality is increasing and it’s going to be an interesting season.  It’s possible that I’ll need a bit of time to get used to the rinks here, but, having said that, I grew up playing on them.

“As for the Olympics, it’s too early to talk about going to Korea. I need to earn my place. It doesn’t matter who you are, if you prove that the team needs you, you’ll go.”



Nizhny Novgorod Governor’s Cup
Dates: 1 - 7 August
Participants: Torpedo (Nizhny Novgorod), Avtomobilist (Yekaterinburg), Ak Bars (Kazan), Salavat Yulaev (Ufa), Metallurg (Novokuznetsk), and Spartak (Moscow).
Tuesday saw the start of the traditional preseason tournament, Nizhny Novgorod Governor’s Cup , which this year features Torpedo (Nizhny Novgorod), Avtomobilist (Yekaterinburg), Ak Bars (Kazan), Salavat Yulaev (Ufa), Metallurg (Novokuznetsk), and Spartak (Moscow), and runs for six days, finishing on Monday,
Ak Bars Kazan vs. Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg- 4-3 (1-1, 2-1, 0-1, 1-0)
The opening match was between Zinetula Bilyaletdinov's Ak Bars and Vladimir Krikunov's Avtomobilist, and both sides produced a close and entertaining contest. Preseason rosters can often take on a strange appearance, as coaches try to find the ideal slots for their new arrivals, but Avtomobilist was forced into further changes when thieves broke into the locker room and made off with some of the players jerseys, sticks and other kit, but the Yekaterinburg Men coped admirably and surged into a 3rd-minute lead with a goal in powerplay from Evgeny Chesalin. Soon the tables were turned, the Kazan Men had the man advantage, and they leveled before the five-minute mark through Anton Lander. Honors remained even until the second period, when Ak Bars scored twice in rapid succession, through a quickfire double from Alexander Svitov (23.14) and a powerplay goal by Jiri Sekac (25.57) to take a 3-1 lead, but then came another twist in the plot: Francis Pare's short-handed goal in the 36th minute brought Avto back within touching distance of parity, and with just seven minutes remaining, the powerplay unit ruthlessly punished another Ak Bars penalty when Kirill Lyamin's almighty strike from distance beat goalie Timur Bilyalov. This brought the game to overtime, through which the teams remained deadlocked for 4 minutes and 52 seconds. Last season, any sentence with “killer goal,” “dying seconds,” and “ruthless finishing,” would usually describe the exploits of Ak Bars danger man Justin Azevedo, and it was he who beat Yekaterinburg goalie Jakub Kovar to give the Kazan Men a victorious start to the tournament.
Spartak Moscow vs. Metallurg Novokuznetsk: 5-1 (1-0, 3-1, 1-0).
The other two games were a little more one-sided Vadim Yepanchintsev's Spartak posted an impressive win over Novokuznetsk...

Goals:
1-0 Viktor Bobrov (Alexander Komaristy, 12.26),
2-0 Igor Mirnov (26.10),
2-1 Korostin (Skutar, 28.47),
3-1 Vladislav Provolnev (Nikita Li, 29.07),
4-1 Vyacheslav Leshchenko (Alexei Pepelyayev, 36.18),
5-1 Ben Maxwell (Igor Mirnov, 52.11, PPG).

Goaltenders: Denis Sinyagin – Ivan Kasutin.
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod vs. Salavat Yulaev Ufa 0-3 (0-1, 0-0, 0-2)
...and Torpedo boss Peteris Skudra was given plenty of food for thought after the hosts were shut out by the the Ufa Men under new head coach Erkka Westerlund.

Goals:
0-1 Maxim Goncharov (Ilya Zubov, 3.53, PPG),
0-2 Teemu Hartikainen (Philip Larsen, 47.21, PPG),
0-3 Denis Kulyash (58.09, SHG, empty net).

Goaltenders: Stanislav Galimov – Ben Scrivens

Preseason friendlies:

Vityaz Moscow Region vs. Italy: 5-0 (1-0, 4-0, 0-0)
Vityaz Moscow Region Head coach Valery Belov 's men from Moscow Region attracted plaudits from far and wide with their surge into the playoffs last season, and in Brixen, Italy, they continued their impressive summer form with a resounding triumph over the Italian national team.

Goals:
1-0 Dmitry Semin (Roman Horak, Maxim Afinogenov),
2-0 Alexei Makeyev (Alexei Semyonov, Vojtech Mozik),
3-0 Maxim Afinogenov,
4-0 Alexei Kopeikin (Niclas Burstrom, Dmitry Semin),
5-0 Roman Horak (Alexei Kopeikin, Alexander Pankov).

Lada Togliatti vs. SKA-Neva (Saint Petersburg): 3-1 (0-1, 2-0, 1-0)
Finally, in Finland, Artis Abols's Lada fought back from a goal down to defeat VHL side SKA Neva
Lada's goals:
1-1 Georgy Belousov, 2-1 Kristaps Sotnieks, 3-1 Semyon Valuisky.