Halbgewachs, Graovac give CSKA a test

17 December 2024

CSKA Moscow 3 Kunlun Red Star 2

Jayden Halbgewachs and Tyler Graovac were breathing fire for the Dragons in Moscow this evening. The pair, combined with Tomas Jurco on the second line, were a constant problem for CSKA’s defense. They generated both KRS goals on the night and ensured the Muscovites faced a serious test as the KHL season resumed following the international break.

For this game, the Dragons handed a debut to center Alexander Sharov, recently signed from Traktor. The 29-year-old slotted into the third line alongside Luke Lockhart and Yaroslav Likhachyov. There were also changes on defense after the 5-7 roller-coaster reverse at home to Sibir before the international break. Alexei Kozhevnikov, Yury Pautov and Martin Lefebvre returned to the team in place of Jake Chelios, Adam Clendening and Kyle Wood. Ian McCoshen and Joe Duszak stepped up as the first defensive pair, with Kyle Keyser in goal and Jeremy Smith as backup.

CSKA came into the game on a run of five straight wins – albeit often needing overtime to settle the outcome. The home team showed its strength early on, opening the scoring in the third minute when Maxim Sorkin capitalized on a defensive error.

However, KRS refused to be overawed. In recent seasons, the Dragons have given CSKA plenty of tough examinations and there were presentable chances for Halbgewachs and Likhachyov immediately after the home goal. The game continued with both teams displaying open, attacking hockey, and Red Star went close again in the 13^th minute when Halbgewachs released Graovac. Gravy raced clear on a rendezvous with Ivan Prosvetov, but this time the CSKA goalie came up with the answer.

A minute later, though, Prosvetov was powerless and the Dragons were level. This time, Graovac was the architect, coming down the left and circling behind the net before setting up Halbgewachs on the slot for a well-deserved tying goal.

Kunlun began the second period on the power play and continued to test CSKA even when back at equal strength. The game was quickly turning into a contest between our second line and home goalie Prosvetov. And the next big battle in that conflict went our way: 24 minutes played, and a home attack broke down; Halbgewachs launched a counterattack that ended with Graovac banging one in at the back door to make it 2-1.

Then came a great chance for a third, with Jayden and Tyler combining once again. This time, the play went to Duszak at the back door but he was unable to add to his seven points in five games since joining us last month. CSKA took advantage of the reprieve to tie the game on a Maxim Mamin goal midway through the session and it remained 2-2 until the second intermission.

The third period brought a rarity this season: a Red Star bench challenge went our way. Prior to the international break, we had not seen a single coach’s call upheld; today, though, sharp eyes spotted an offside before CSKA found the net in the 48^th minute. This time, the challenge was successful, and the game remained tied.

However, there were signs that the home team was getting on top and it wasn’t long before CSKA had a legitimate goal. Again, Sorkin was the scorer. With nine minutes to play, there was time enough to save the game. However, our guys had produced a huge physical effort through 50 minutes and were tiring as the game went into the closing stages. For a time, a fourth home goal seemed more likely than a Red Star equalizer but Keyser kept us in the game. In the closing moments, with Kyle replaced by a sixth skater, there were anxious moments for Prosvetov in the home net but the clock came to his rescue with the final score at 3-2.