Tag: Kunlun Red Star Dragons

Kunlun Red Star Dragons Defeat Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 2-1, Led By Rookie Goalie

On By CanucksBanterIn China National Men's Hockey TeamLeave a comment
Dragons rookie goalie Paris O’Brian makes one of his 37 saves

Kunlun Red Star 2 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 1 (0-0, 2-1, 0-0)

The Dragons defeated Neftekhimik for the second time this season, helped by 37 saves from a rookie goalie. Ivan Zanatta brought in several new faces in a bid to rejuvenate a team with just one victory in its previous eight games.

Red Star handed a debut to goalie Paris O’Brien, a 21-year-old Chinese heritage player who has worked his way through the club’s system to reach the first team this season. He had an early introduction to life in the KHL, facing down a dangerous shot in the early exchanges, but adapted to the higher level well and played his part in ensuring a goalless first period.

The Dragons also deployed several of their young Chinese-born prospects, with 21-year-old Harbin native Jianing Guo getting a spot on the first line alongside his boyhood hero Brandon Yip. Wei Zhong and Xiang Xudong were further home-grown talents making their KHL debuts on the second and third lines respectively. Xudong marked the occasion with an assist as KRS opened the scoring, starting a move that finished with Ryan Sproul putting away a Spencer Foo feed.

Xiang Xudong played first KHL game

Neftekhimik responded with a tying goal from Ronald Knot and another effort disallowed after a review confirmed that the puck did not cross the line. Late in the second period, though, Red Star regained the lead with a power play effort. Tyler Wong was credited with the goal after his shot pinballed off the skates of two defensemen to bamboozle Alexander Sudnitsin in the visitor’s net.

In the closing stages, Neftekhimik produced a flurry of chances around O’Brien’s net but could not save the game as Red Star held on for a win that moves them two points clear of Admiral at the foot of the Eastern Conference.

Source: KHL, Kunlun Red Star Dragons

Metallurg Magnitogorsk too strong for Kunlun Red Star Dragons

On By CanucksBanterIn Canucks News, KHL newsLeave a comment

Kunlun Red Star 1 vs Metallurg Magnitogorsk 5

Table-topping Metallurg eased to a third successive victory at Kunlun, scoring on the first shift of the game and going on to dominate throughout.

The opening goal arrived after just 15 seconds, with Andrei Chibisov converting Josh Currie’s feed. The home bench appealed for offside, believing Chibisov had crossed the blue line before Artyom Zemchyonok’s long pass skittered into the home zone via a deflection in center ice, but the video review upheld the on-ice verdict. 1-0 Metallurg, and a bench minor for Red Star.

The home team survived that penalty, but allowed a second goal on the breakaway when Nikolai Goldobin got clear.

Tyler Wong celebrates scoring Kunlun goal.

A power play goal from Tyler Wong gave the Dragons some hope, but Metallurg was always dominant and it took some great work from home goalie Jeremy Smith to keep the score down.

The pick of Smith’s saves came early in the middle frame when he denied Anatoly Nikontsev what was effectively an empty net effort after Brendan Leipsic pulled the defense badly out of shape.

Leipsic would not be denied his share of the points, though, and scored two goals of his own later in the game. Arkhip Nekolenko also found the net in between those two as Ilya Vorobyov’s team eased to a comfortable win.