Foo, Rybar star as Kunlun sets club record
10 January 2025
Kunlun Red Star 3 CSKA Moscow 0
All hail your record-breaking Dragons! A 3-0 success over CSKA made it six in a row for Red Star, cementing the club’s best-ever run in competitive play. And there was nothing undeserved about it, no asterisk against this success. The run has brought wins over high-flyer Spartak and CSKA, a road win against one of our bogey teams in Torpedo, and three shut-outs.
Speaking of shut-outs, Red Star handed a first start to goalie Patrik Rybar, who we claimed off waivers before last month’s trade deadline. The Slovak international began the season at Spartak, where he spent the previous campaigns as first choice. Prior to that, in 2021/22 he made his KHL debut with Dinamo Minsk and also backstopped Slovakia to a historic Olympic bronze medal in Beijing. The 31-year-old stepped in as Jeremy Smith got a well-earned rest and began his career with 37 saves in a fine performance against one of the most dangerous attacks in the league.
Other than that, there were no changes to Mikhail Kravets’ team as the Dragons went in search of a club record sixth successive victory. And there was every reason to believe it could be done. CSKA might be a daunting opponent, but the Muscovites’ New Year hangover saw an 11-game winning streak replaced by an on-going run of three losses. Moreover, we’ve built a good habit of stretching CSKA in Mytishchi and took our previous meeting here to overtime at the start of the season.
Patrik was destined for a busy start to life in the Dragons’ lair. CSKA’s fearsome offense came out to play in the first period, outshooting KRS 14-6. But Rybar proved a redoubtable obstacle. From middle of the first period, he was making the saves, denying Stanislav Galiyev and Pavel Karnaukhov after a slow start to the game.
Immediately after those chances, Kunlun got in front. The Foo brothers got away on a swift counterattack, Ivan Prosvetov stopped Parker’s shot but the rebound went straight to Spencer. Our captain made no mistake to claim his fourth goal in three games.
Early in the second Spencer got his second to double the Dragons’ lead. This time it stemmed from Yury Pautov to get the brothers on the charge again. Spencer’s first shot flashed wide, but the rebound cannoned back to the slot and the second attempt went past Prosvetov in a blur. Goal #2, Woo Foo!
After that, it was largely a defensive effort. CSKA doesn’t often lose four games in a row and Ilya Vorobyov had his team fired up to ensure that it didn’t happen here. However, he reckoned without Rybar.
Our new goalie finished the game with 37 saves and his calming presence helped our defense to navigate the storm whipped up by the opposing forwards. For all CSKA’s time on offense – and from the 24th minute, our only real respite came during a five-on-three power play – top class scoring chances were still hard for the visitor to generate. Ironically, perhaps the most dangerous moment in the second period came on that KRS PP: Maxim Mamin broke clear, but Rybar closed the door on the CSKA forward.
The third period brought even more pressure on our net. But it also brought Austin Wong’s relentless checking to slow CSKA’s progress. And, when chances did arise, Rybar had the answers: Maxim Sorkin’s much deflected shot might have bamboozled some goalies, but Patrik watched it all the way into his pads.
And, some days, you start to understand that you could play all night and they won’t score. In case anybody doubted that this was one of those evenings, the third period stats said it all. CSKA 11 shots, no goals. Kunlun one shot, one goal. Prosvetov’s departure invited Tyler Graovac to find the empty net and seal a memorable, record-breaking win.
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