KHL | RMNB

Evgeny Kuznetsov goes wild after Stan Galiev scores with him in attendance at Ak Bars game

Four years after being let go by the Capitals, Stan Galiev is one of the top scorers for Ak Bars Kazan, a team in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. And Thursday, Stan had a very special guest in attendence.

Former Capitals teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov, who was drafted by Washington the same year as Galiev, was one of 3,157 spectators at Tatneft Arena for Ak Bars’ 7-5 win over Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

Galiev scored an even-strength goal from the slot in the second period to give Ak Bars a 3-1 lead. Kuznetsov, who was sitting in a suite, was caught on TV going wild and cheering his close friend.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Evgeny Kuznetsov presented jersey at Traktor Chelyabinsk game

Evgeny Kuznetsov is back in Russia and recently returned to the hometown arena where he got married. Wednesday, Kuznetsov was in the house for Traktor Chelyabinsk’s 4-1 victory Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

During his appearance at Valery Belousov Traktor Arena, the team presented Kuznetsov with a new Traktor jersey — the franchise recently updated its logo and branding — and had some fun with the photo on social media.

“So, the game sweater is already there #OnlyBlackWhite, right @kuzy092?” Traktor wrote, insinuating Kuzy’s return to the KHL.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Alex Alexeyev scores first KHL goal with Salavat Yulaev

Alex Alexeyev was loaned to the KHL for the start of the 2020-21 season and Monday, he scored his first goal.

In Salavat Yulaev’s 3-2 overtime loss, the Capitals 2018 first-round pick tallied at even-strength, 32:31 into the game, to give Salavat Yulaev a 2-0 lead.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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COVID-19 outbreak in KHL shows dangers for Capitals prospects playing overseas

Over the last month, the Washington Capitals loaned five prospects overseas as the NHL continues to grapple with how to conduct and start its 2020-21 season. Other NHL teams have followed suit.

Damien Riat and Tobias Geisser were loaned to Swiss National League teams; Axel Jonsson-Fjallby was returned to his native Sweden to play in the HockeyAllsvenskan; and Alex Alexeyev and Aliaksei Protas are playing in Russia’s KHL. All five are expected to be called back for Capitals’ training camp.

The tradeoff of the loans is simple: Caps prospects continue playing hockey, but they also assume varying degrees of risk of contracting the coronavirus outside a bubble system. The latter has become a concern as the KHL is suddenly enduring a COVID-19 outbreak.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Former Capital Dmitrij Jaskin scores face goal for Dynamo Moscow

Former Capitals forward Dmitrij Jaskin is really using his head, figuratively and literally, while playing for KHL Dynamo Moscow.

On Sunday, Jaskin was in the very right place and the very right time to score his first career face goal.

What’s a face goal, you ask? Well, let’s go to the video for the bruising highlights.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin attends KHL game and meets with youth hockey players in Novosibirsk

Alex Ovechkin traveled to Novosibirsk on Saturday for a full day of Russian hockey. The Great Eight greeted youth hockey players at the Sibir Hockey School and later took in a KHL game between Sibir Novosibirsk and Kunlun Red Star.

“Good evening, dear fans. I hope that this season, the stands will soon not be 20% full, but 100% full,” Ovechkin said according to Championat. “And everyone will root for Sibir, which has always been famous for its fans.”

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Capitals loan Aliaksei Protas to KHL’s Dinamo Minsk

The Washington Capitals announced on Friday that they’re loaning 2019 third-round pick Aliaksei Protas to the KHL to begin next season. Protas will suit up for Dinamo Minsk, which is located in his home country of Belarus.

The Caps added that they expect to recall the mammoth forward back to North America either for the start of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) 2020-21 season or Capitals’ Training Camp.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Brendan Leipsic agrees to two-year deal with KHL CSKA

After reports surfaced Thursday that he was close to signing a deal in the KHL, former Capital Brendan Leipsic agreed to terms on a two-year contract with KHL CSKA Moscow on Friday. Leipsic’s agent, Sergey Isakov of Newport Sports Management, confirmed the news to Sport Express.

According to a report, Leipsic asked his agents to find him a team in Russia.

CSKA was the top team in the Tarasov Division last season before the coronavirus pandemic ended the postseason early. CSKA won the Gargarin Cup in 2018-19 and had made the KHL Finals three out of the last four seasons.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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