NIZHNEKAMSK, Russia— A strong first and final quarter powered Dinamo Riga home 5-3 over rivals Neftehimik on Saturday.
After running out to a 3-0 lead within 10 minutes, it was not until the final 10 minutes that Dinamo Riga were able to complete the victory. Marcel Hossa grabbed another two to now go three clear at the top of the KHL goal-scoring list. Five more and he will have already overtaken his tally from last season.
In just his second game back after a long concussion lay-off Martin Kariya got the game of the to the best possible start for the visitors in just the third minute. Roberts Bukarts worked the puck around the back of the Neftehmik net before feeding it to an open Gints Meija in front of the net who only managed to hit the goalie. However Kariya was on hand to clean up the deflection to see Dinamo Riga up 1-0.
Just over a minute later saw Robert Petrovicky and Hossa combining for Dinamo Riga’s second. Going on a two on three break Petrovicky expertly thread the defence before off loading to Hossa who had little trouble beating the goalie.
As the 10 minute mark approached Mārtiņš Cipulis complimented Dinamo Riga’s perfect start by adding a third. On this occasion he was the benefactor of some fine build up play from Jānis Sprukts and Mike Iggulden.
The second period failed to live up to the excitement of the first with Niklas Person’s goal for Neftehmik in the seventh minute the only action in a subdued period.
However it just took 47 seconds for the final period to light and promise a tight finish. Person was again in the action, this time providing the assist for team mate Sergey Dimagin.
On a power-play less than two minutes later and Neftihmik were back on level pegging as Evgeny Rasinsky added the home side’s third. Fears began to set in that Dinamo Riga would yet again fail to finish of a game that was theirs for the winning.
However these fears were allayed Cipulis capped off a fine evening scoring his second with just 41 seconds remaining. Like his first goal, it had come courtesy of some strong build-up work from Sprukts and Iggulden.
With time against them, Neftehmik were left with no option but to pull their goalie, which as so often does, proved costly as Dinamo Riga forced the turn over gifting Hossa yet another goal.
Dinamo Riga finish off their road trip this evening when they travel to Volga take on Lada. With Lada sitting just above them on the table, victory in this game will bring Dinamo Riga back into play-off contention as the competition nears his half-way stage.
Things are less than jovial in the Lada camp at the moment as players threaten to strike after going a second month without pay as their main sponsor auto manufacturer AvtoVaz is trying to stave off bankruptcy.
