Lefebvre opens his account

8 November 2024

Kunlun Red Star 3 Severstal Cherepovets 4

There’s something about Severstal. Our meetings this season have tended to inspire unique feats from the Dragons. Kyle Keyser had his first-ever KHL shut-out in Cherepovets, and the same game saw Jayden Halbgewachs get his first assist, then his first goal in KRS colors. The story continued last time we visited, with Ian McCoshen claiming his first KHL goal.

Today it was Martin Lefebvre’s turn. In his first 15 games, our Canadian defenseman concentrated on stopping the opposition. Today, he got his first KHL goal – and developed such a taste for scoring that he did it again!

Martin’s first opened the scoring in the fourth minute. This was a classic defenseman’s effort, a thunderous shot from the center point that ripped into the net while Tomas Jurco screened visiting goalie Alexander Samoilov. That’s why they call them blue liners.

Severstal tied the game, but not for long. Tyler Graovac restored our lead in the 10^th minute. Jurco brought the puck around the back and, although his attempt to squeeze it home from a dead angle was kicked away by Samoilov, the goalie didn’t find safety. Instead, Graovac regained possession and returned it with interest, turning smartly on the right-hand dot and putting a wrister beyond the opposition’s reach.

However, we were not destined to carry the lead to the intermission. Former Dragon Alexei Kruchinin got his second assist of the night as David Dumbadze made it 2-2 before the intermission.

In the second period, it was our turn to come from behind. And, once again, Lefebvre showed his attacking props. The 3-3 goal came in the 32^nd minute in spectacular fashion. It started with a dangerous Severstal attack, snuffed out by Jeremy Smith’s outstretched glove. Instead of freezing the puck, Smitty rolled it onto Nail Yakupov’s stick and the magic started. Yak bounced it off the wall to get away from his closest opponent and then, after collecting the rebound, he was off to the races. The retreating Severstal forwards could not keep pace, but Lefebvre could and after Nail drew Yanni Kaldis out of position a pass across the face of the net gave Martin a clear path to the tying goal.

Unfortunately, it didn’t stay level for long. Severstal went back in front through leading scorer Kirill Pilipenko. Kaldis picked up an assist after being caught out on our third goal.

After seven goals in 40 minutes, the third period was goalless. Both teams had one big chance. First, Smitty came up with another huge stop to deny Yegor Stepanov when the visiting forward was given the freedom of the slot. Smith refused to fall for any mind games and pushed Stepanov out wide, from where he fired into the glove and was left bashing the glass in frustration.

At the other end, Graovac had a glorious chance to tie it up in the closing stages. He got in front of the defense and raced onto Jurco’s tempting feed, but could only direct his shot at Samoilov. It all added up to a narrow Severstal win in an entertaining game.