AkBars Kazan With A Triumph in KHL’s Opening Cup Game

The 2020/2021 KHL season is officially underway with AkBars Kazan taking home the KHL Opening Cup.

KHL season usually begins with the Opening Cup game between last year’s top teams. This time AkBars Kazan and CSKA Moscow met on the ice to ring the bells for the new season.

CSKA arrived right on time as they were first to get on board. Two nice passes from Slepyshev and Loktionov to find Dmitry Samorukov who made sure to score after an iffy play by AkBars goalie Reideborn. That gave the debutant the fastest goal in Opening cup history just 51 seconds into the game. Both teams exchanged chances during the 1st period but the score remained unchanged. Shots on goal 10:10.

Not the greatest play by AkBars goalie and it's 1:0 CSKA. Samorukov from the blue line with the first goal of the season. pic.twitter.com/xDTXbxgmqS

— Aivis Kalniņš (@aiviskalnins) September 2, 2020

Slow start of the 2nd period until CSKA Moscow decided that they would like to practice playing shorthanded for future games. Five minutes into the second a cross-checking call ended up giving AkBars their power-play goal to tie up the game. Then a little over a minute later another penalty kill that they took care of. AkBars earned two penalties of their own but CSKA’s man-advantage had nothing to show for it. The game tied 1:1 after two periods.

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A great shot by DaCosta who ties the game up! Great job cycling the puck around offensive zone and Comrier helped out a lot in front of the net. 1:1 pic.twitter.com/jGUiqtRprz

— Aivis Kalniņš (@aiviskalnins) September 2, 2020

3rd period began with CSKA pushing for a lead and it ended up giving them what they wanted. A mistake by AkBars in the neutral zone, Loktionov quickly finds Slepyshev who gave CSKA a 2:1 lead.

Another one Reideborn might want back. Slepyshev with the shot that hits Lyamkin's stick and goes past the goalie. CSKA regain the lead, 2:1. pic.twitter.com/075cUvpahc

— Aivis Kalniņš (@aiviskalnins) September 2, 2020

Just short while after that another chance for Slepyshev to extend their lead with a penalty shot but it’s not good. The puck slips off the stick and goes wide of the net. AkBars tried to gather their game with some dangerous attacks and it resulted in a goal for them to tie the game and luckily for them CSKA took an unnecessary penalty towards the end of regulation granting the guest side and the home team at least a point each.

Justin Azevedo! It's tied! 2:2! What a pass by Nigel Dawes. pic.twitter.com/ntpM7hDx88

— Aivis Kalniņš (@aiviskalnins) September 2, 2020

An early offensive by AkBars but it got cut short as Stephen DaCosta skated into the opponents stick and got sent to the box called for interference. However, it meant nothing – AkBars Voronkov with the game-winning goal in OT.

Voronkov ends the game! It's a 3:2 victory for AkBars Kazan. pic.twitter.com/dJXoYECZDd

— Aivis Kalniņš (@aiviskalnins) September 2, 2020