Ex-Canuck Jake Virtanen Picks Up Assist For Spartak
Nov. 25, 2021 CanucksBanter
Kunlun Red Star, a team in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League who are acting as a de facto China national team based out of Moscow, lost to Spartak Moscow today 6-4.
Spartak rallied from 0-2 to pick up an important win in a high scoring game at Kunlun. Jori Lehtera had four points, and there were two goals apiece for Alexander Nikishin and Alexander Khokhlachyov as Boris Mironov’s team overtakes Torpedo and returns to the playoff zone.
Kunlun got off to a great start. Brandon Yip, back in the team after a two-game ban, had an assist on Cliff Pu’s early opener. Parker Foo then hit the crossbar before Spencer Foo’s 10th of the season made it 2-0 on 6:50.
Spartak needed a quick response, and got it when Emil Pettersson fired home from the right-hand channel barely a minute later. Jori Lehtera started that move, and the Finn was involved again when Alexander Khokhlachyov tied the scores in the 15th minute.
Red Star’s evening got worse when Tyler Wong took the game’s first penalty at the start of the second period. Spartak made him pay, with Alexander Nikishin firing a Jake Virtanen feed beyond Alexander Lazushin. Nikishin and Khokhlachyov went on to get their second goals of the game, with Lehtera picking up his third assist of the night, before Jake Chelios pulled one back for the home team. By now, though, Spartak was on top and Lehtera continued his fine individual performance with a goal to make it 6-3.
And that was a big enough lead to secure the verdict. After a rush of goals early in the game, the third period produced no further scoring as Spartak closed out the victory, despite a late consolation effort from Parker Foo. The Red-and-Whites made it three wins from four and, more importantly, returned to the top eight ahead of Torpedo.
Next Game For Red Star: Metallurg (Nov. 28)
Last season: Previous home game against Magnitka was a memorable 6-4 victory. Sam Lofquist potted the game winner and David Bondra got his only goal of the season to wrap it up.
Familiar faces: Defenseman Nikita Khlystov was with Metallurg last season, and indeed picked up an assist in that 4-6 game. He completed his campaign with five assists in 25 regular season games. Denis Osipov also spent part of the 2015/16 season in Magnitogorsk, playing 39 games for the Steelmen. However, former Dragons goalie Artyom Zagidulin has left Magnitogorsk after his contract was cancelled last week.
Background: League leading Metallurg suffered something of a wobble, losing three successive games at the start of November. Since then, things have stabilized somewhat, with two wins in three as Ilya Vorobyov’s team keeps just in front of Traktor at the Eastern Conference summit.
Young forward Artyom Minulin is showing signs of coming of age: the 23-year-old has 5 (2+3) points in the last five games. That’s already his best career return since making his debut back in 2019.
Meanwhile, Philippe Maillet is leading the team in scoring in his first KHL campaign. The Canadian forward has 28 (10+18) points to date, although after a blistering start to the season he has slowed to just two points in his last 10 appearances.
With 109 goals to date, Metallurg is the most potent offensive force this season – something to concern the Red Star defense, which is the leakiest in the KHL.
Sources: KHL, Kunlun Red Star
