“Russian Problem” Analysis Surrounding Radulov & Kostitsyn Falls Flat
Regardless of whether they return to the lineup in Game 5 or ever this season, the Russian Left Winger Alexander Radulov and the Belarussian Left Winger Andrei Kostitsyn have cemented the decline of the NHL’s Russian contingent into obscurity. Or at least that’s the thesis being pushed by some of the hockey media’s most serious [...]
Russian Stereotype Highlighted by Some, Reflected by Few
I recently read an article from James Mirtle on the dwindling Russian influence in the NHL, which over the last few years has been evident. Some argue it is because of the lucrative contracts Russian oilmen can afford to hand out to the nation’s elite, keeping them in the Kontinental Hockey League. Mirtle, though, takes [...]
What the Roman Cervenka Signing Means
The Calgary Flames made their first big splash of the summer Wednesday afternoon as they signed Czech centre Roman Cervenka to a 1-year deal with a salary of $3,775,000. Cervenka is just coming off of a lengthy but bittersweet playoffs with Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League as they lost in the Gagarin Cup [...]
Gagarin Cup Finals to be decided in Game Seven
Back and forth they go. We win one, you win one. We win two, you win two. And back and forth they go. The first six games of the Gagarin Cup finals between Dynamo Moscow and Avangard have been decided by a total of eight goals, with five one goal games. Game Seven is tonight [...]
Dynamo Moscow to play Avangard in Gagarin Cup Final
I had just finished writing about how the Kontinental Hockey League lacked parity when top-seeded SKA St. Petersburg fell in the Western Conference. That was followed one day later by Eastern Conference leader Traktor dropping their semi-final match-up. I should not be surprised though, my predictions for the first round of the KHL playoffs followed [...]
Dynamo Moscow sweeps into Gagarin Cup Finals
Dynamo Moscow scored six goals, including three from late-season addition Mikhail Anisin to move into the Gagarin Cup final. Russia’s oldest team easily picked apart its northern rival, SKA St. Petersburg, sweeping the series 4-0. An impressive run by the blue-and-white’s from the nation’s capital, in three series, the squad lost just twice, both in [...]
Dynamo Moscow nearly flawless in KHL playoffs
Twelve games, ten wins. The two losses were both in overtime to Torpedo in mid-March. Playing nearly the minimum amount of games this far into the KHL postseason, Dynamo Moscow is playing like a team on a mission after failing to advance past the playoff’s first round the past two seasons. Dynamo’s near flawless run [...]
Parity gives way to KHL powers in Conference Finals
In its first three seasons, the Kontinental Hockey league had two champions, Ak Bars Kazan (2008-09, 2009-10) and Salavat Yulaev Ufa (2010-11). With the former knocking out the latter in the first round of this years playoffs, the chances of either team winning again were cut in half. Now, after Continental Cup winner Traktor dispatched [...]
Radulov to decide on NHL return, KHL to play games in Brooklyn
Radulov facing NHL decision Alexander Radulov is still thinking about a return to the NHL to fulfill the final year of his current contract, making him a restricted free agent this summer. He would still be under rights to Nashville. It has been reported Radulov would be eligible for the remainder of the NHL regular [...]
Is Alexei Emelin the Best First-Year Player in the NHL?
The name Alexei Emelin has been but a whisper in the Bell Centre rafters since the Montreal Canadiens selected the young Russian with the 84th overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. For seven long years, Habs’ fans have waited patiently for the 6’2, 220lb blue-liner, whose reputation for thunderous open-ice hits has [...]
Vitaly Koval sends Torpedo past Riga in Game Seven
Western Conference (2) Torpedo vs. (7) Dynamo Riga Torpedo wins series 4-3 Ruslan Zainullin scored one goal and Vitaly Koval stopped 34 shots as Torpedo defeated Dynamo Riga 2-0 in Game Seven Saturday night. Koval was the difference as he kept his net clean for 60 minutes. Mikhail Varnakov added an empty net goal in [...]
Trio of brothers lead Dynamo Riga into Game Seven
They say two’s company and three’s a crowd. Who ‘they’ are, we may never know but one thing is certain, the hockey ice in the Latvian capital of Riga is crowded with the Redlihs trio. Brothers Jekabs, Krisjanis and Mikelis have played together for Dynamo Riga of the KHL for the last two seasons. Unlike [...]
Defending KHL champs eliminated, Metallurg forces Game Seven
The Kontinental Hockey League will have a new champion at season’s end. Defending Gagarin Cup champion Salavat Yulaev and its superstar Alexander Radulov have been eliminated from the playoffs. Meanwhile, Barys missed another opportunity to advance to round two, setting up a decisive Game Seven on Sunday. Eastern Conference (4) Ak Bars vs. (5) Salavat [...]
Zherdev puts Atlant in Round Two, Riga forces decisive Game Seven
Atlant Moscow Region has advanced to the second round of the KHL playoffs with Thursday’s road win over Severstal. Meanwhile, seventh-seeded Dynamo Riga forced a decisive Game Seven with second-seeded Torpedo. Here is a recap. Western Conference (4) Atlant vs. (5) Severstal Atlant wins series 4-2 Nikolai Zherdev scored the game-winning goal late in the [...]
The Hockey Writers Q&A on Alexander Radulov’s return to Nashville
Alexander Radulov can return to the Nasville Predators, according to reports, the Russian forward struck a deal with his KHL team, Ufa Salavat. It is believed he will be in Nashville this week. Radulov’s move back to North America has been widely speculated in the week following Salavat’s abrupt departure from the KHL playoffs. The [...]
March 19, 2012Read More