Kazan destroy Spartak to go top of the league
Published 24 December, 2008, 11:47
Tuesday saw two games in the KHL and in the big game of the day Spartak became the latest victims of second-placed AK Bars. The win moved Kazan level on points with leaders Salavat Yulaev.
This game was the first for AK Bars in their two-game Moscow trip, and they couldn't afford to drop points as they continue their battle with Salavat Yulaev for the top spot .
The visitors had to wait till 15th minute to break the deadlock.
It was the second period, though, which became crucial. Kazan’s forwards raised the pace of the game and Oleg Petrov made it 2-0. Aleksey Morozov then found Toni Mortensson with a brilliant pass, and the Swede increased his side's lead to three.
Kirrill Knyazev pulled one back for Spartak, tucking it away from the close range. But it was just a consolation for the Muscovites. Morozov then got his 24th goal of the campaign with a nice wrist shot, making it 4-1.
AK Bars then had a powerplay when Mikhail Badykov made it 5-1, and Vyacheslav Buravchikov wrapped up the match in the third period, when the opposition lost concentration completely.
However, it was not an easy win, according to the winners.
“It's always hard to play Spartak, especially in Moscow. Last season they beat us here twice. So we've been preparing for this game very seriously. Fortunately we managed to score with almost all our chances, and that was a key point tonight,” Kazan's Oleg Petrov said.
The 6-1 win took AK Bars to joint-first in the table with Salavat. On Thursday though they should expect a much tougher work-out when they play CSKA.
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