Five in a row!
7 January 2025
Kunlun Red Star 5 Amur Khabarovsk 0
The Dragons recorded a fifth successive victory, equalling a club record in the process. Tuesday’s 5-0 thrashing of Amur is also our biggest win of the season, and it saw one of our most dominant performances.
Our guys prepared a fiery reception for former Kunlun goalie Matt Jurusik. On his return to Mytishchi, he faced 52 shots in a powerful performance. That might explain how he picked up an unsporting conduct penalty midway through the game.
It was a big game for Tomas Jurco, who had 3 (1+2) points. Linemates Jayden Halbgewachs and Tyler Groavac had two points apiece, while the Foo brothers also made useful contributions. Jeremy Smith stopped 25 shots to claim his latest shut-out.
With the team on a winning streak, there were few changes. Jan Drozg took the place of Hudson Elynuik, giving our Slovenian forward a chance to face his former club. Otherwise, it was ‘as you were’ following back-to-back OT wins either side of the New Year break.
Despite the comfortable victory, the first period was goalless – and offered few clues as to what would come. But when we came out for the second – on the power play – we soon took control. Just 52 seconds into the session, Jurco opened the scoring when he finished off a neat tic-tac-toe move. The puck hit the twine just as the penalty was coming to an end, so there was a nice boost for everyone’s plus/minus as well.
Once ahead, the guys were quick to capitalize. Just 15 seconds later, Captain Foo made it two. Parker Foo started the play, sending Colin Campbell into the Amur zone. He dished it off for Spencer to shoot and that effort made its way through Jurusik’s defenses.
Another power play midway through the middle frame saw Jurco’s shot almost creep under Jurusik for a third goal. A review found that it didn’t quite make it and we stayed at 0-2, although this was the moment when Matt got his ticking off for talking out of turn. Amur played on with three skaters, but after Yakov Rylov returned to the ice we got our third goal. Amur attempted a counterattack, and when that play broke down we regrouped and launched a move of our own. It finished with Halbgewachs smoking a one-timer past Jurusik to build a commanding 3-0 lead.
Into the third, and Adam Clendening padded the lead with a fine point shot. By now, Amur’s tempers were starting to fray and another ex-Dragon, Devin Brosseau, decided to take matters into his own hands. Upset by a big, but clean hit from Clendening, he initiated a fight. Unfortunately, it was more of a grapple than a bout and the result was a couple of major penalties.
There was still time for one more goal – hey, it’s still the holidays, we’re allowed to treat ourselves. Doyle Somerby joined the attack to slot home number five and everyone went home happy.
Well, almost everyone. The last minute brought a scuffle down by the boards – Brosseau involved once again – that sent three players from each team to the box for roughing. But that was just a detail at the end of a great day for the Dragons. Can we go on and secure a club record sixth successive win when CSKA comes to town on Friday?
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