KHL Games Streaming Video: Sep 30 – Oct 5 (Top 2 Collide)

Sep 30

CSKA Moscow @  Severstal Cherepovets
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Oct 1

Metallurg Novokuznetsk @  AK Bars Kazan
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One of those games we got a chance to see for ourselves. A great, open game played at an incredible pace. Boris Mikhaylov’s troops from Novokuznetsk were not afraid to get into a run and gun contest with the one of the KHL’s powerhouses, Ak Bars Kazan. It was also our first chance to see the 16-year old Maxim Kitsyn, the youngest player in the KHL. He’s #91 (sporting a full face shield) on the Metallurg squad.

Oct 2

Spartak Moscow @  Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
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Oct 3

Atlant Mytischi @  Avangard Omsk
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This week’s must see game features currently the top 2 teams in the KHL. These are also two hottest teams in the league coming into the game on long winning streaks. Atlant won 6 straight while Avangard is on a 7-game winning streak (which coincidentally or not started right after they fired their coach… who said Jaromir Jagr can’t be a player coach?). The game also features the current points leader in the entire league, Sergei Mozyakin of Atlant and the current top goal scorer, Jaromir Jagr (10). New York Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov is coming into the match on his own streak having scored goals in 5 straight games and having scored points in 7 straight. If all of this weren’t enough the game also features two former NHL goalies, John Graham of Ak Bars and Ray Emery of Atlant. Both are playing very well so far sporting a .930 save percentage. We just had to check this one out for ourselves and it didn’t disappoint.

Oct 4

Traktor Chelyabinsk @  Metallurg Magnitogorsk
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Magnitka’s first game after the Victoria Cup game vs. the New York Rangers turned into quite an ill tempered affair. Fans of hockey fisticuffs might want to check this one out. Who says Russians don’t fight?

Spartak Moscow @  Severstal Cherepovets
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Severstal is flying high after a slow start having won their last 4 games coming into this one. 18-year old Montreal Canadiens prospect Maxim Trunev is in the line-up for the club from Cherepovets.

Oct 5

Metallurg Novokuznetsk @  Salavat Yulayev Ufa
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Another chance to see the 16-year old Maxim Kitsyn, this time in a game vs. last season’s Russian Superliga champs, Salavat. For Salavat this is the last KHL game before they make their debut in the brand new European Champions League.

Sergei Fedorov Impersonating Spring Chicken in Capitals Debut

Sergei Fedorov looks like he’s pretty excited about his trade to the up and coming Washington Capitals. So much so that he has decided to bring back the old time tradition of playing without a helmet. OK, not really, but…

Skating on the Caps second unit between Brooks Laich and fellow Russian Alex Semin the future Hall of Famer looked like he was 25 again in his debut against the East leading New Jersey Devils. A couple of big hits, blocked shots and a sweet no look pass on the Washington’s first goal in a 4-0 road demolition of the Devils has the Caps GM George McPhee and coach Bruce Boudreau smiling from ear to ear.

Overall, Fedorov looked like he hasn’t lost much in terms of his incredible skating ability and it just might be that Boudreau’s wide open, aggressive style of play suits his game far more than the defensive oriented, trapping style of the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team where he was basically relegated to a checking forward. Heck, Fedorov was immediately inserted into the Capitals first power play unit and it looked mighty fine right off the bat (or is it stick?) prompting the Devils announcer Mike Emrick to rave about the lightning quick puck movement, Devils goalie Marty Brodeur to fish the puck out of the net after a gorgeous goal, and Devils coach Brent Sutter to look even grimmer than when he’s happy.

Looks like the Capitals have officially replaced the injured Michael Nylander (out for the season) with a legitimate second line center who is still a great defensive player, is in top 20 in the NHL in faceoff winning percentage, and just might be reinvigorated offensively by their wide open style.

Combined with Fedorov’s newly found excitement for playing hockey this might be good news not just for the Capitals, but also for the NHL as a whole. With the possible exception of the Carolina Hurricanes.

We know two things. One. Boudreau’s 9-year old son is loving it. Sergei is his favorite hockey player. Two. Theo Ruth can always tell his grandkids that he was traded for Sergei Fedorov, mano e mano or tovarisch for tovarisch.

Newsflash: Samsonov Remembers How to Play Hockey

It appears that Sergei Samsonov has finally gotten the message. After a pathetic season with Montreal last year and an equally unimpressive start with Chicago this year Sergei was sent down to the minors. Yes, things were so bad that no one even claimed him off waivers despite the fact that Chicago would have to pay half of his salary. It seemed that Samsonov’s NHL career was over as everyone in the league has given up on a man with boatloads of talent.

However, after just a couple of games in the AHL the Hawks decided to recall Sammy and had to clear waivers once again. This time the Carolina Hurricanes, hit by injuries and struggling to score, decided to give him his last shot at the NHL. So far so good. Sergei has gotten a lot of playing time in Carolina and is back to putting up excellent numbers. 9 games played, 8 points earned (3 goals and 5 assists).

For a man blessed with the talent Sergei possesses his numbers last year for Montreal and this year for Chicago were simply inexplicable. Let’s hope he keeps it up because when he’s playing well he’s still one of the most exciting hockey players to watch.