European Leagues

Chekhov 3 @ Kazan 2 (OT)
Dmitri Kazionov, Kazan, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Season totals: 48 GP, 18-7-25, +7, 16 PIM

Kazionov played 13:50 in the match. Chekhov's overtime winning goal came from former NHLer Chris Simon. It was his 12th goal of the season. Simon also had an assist in the game.

There was a little pearl in Erik Erlendsson's blog post about Dustin Tokarski being returned to Norfolk and Riku Helenius being assigned to Sodertalje of the Elitserien. The Lightning are apparently intersted in once again making an attempt to sign Russian star goaltender Vasily Koshechkin, who is currently playing for Magnitogorsk in the KHL. Koshechkin, a mammoth 6'6" netminder who was an 8th round pick in 2002, has 14 shutouts over the past two seasons, and arguably has been the best netminder in Russia over the past four seasons. The Lightning made multiple attempts to sign Koshechkin when Jay Feaster was the team's GM, but Koshechkin always chose to remain in Russia. Will Koshechkin, who turns 27 in March, now try his hand at the best hockey league in the world?

The post also mentions the possibility of Karri Ramo returning from Omsk of the KHL as well. Ramo has one more year remaining on his deal with Avangard, but he has an NHL out clause for a signing window this summer. It is believed Koshechkin will be a free agent this summer after he signed with Magnitogorsk earlier this year when his original deal with his longtime club Togliatti was voided after Lada couldn't meet payroll on multiple occassions.

Omsk 3 @ Yaroslavl 4
Karri Ramo, Omsk, Loss, 28/32, 4.07 GAA, .875 sv%
Season totals: 36 GP, 20-15, 3 SO, 2.08 GAA, .912 sv%

Yaroslavl got a game winning goal from former Lightning forward Dimitry Afanasenkov, his 13th of the season, to help earn a 4-3 win over Karri Ramo and Omsk.

Ekaterinburg 3 @ Khabarovsk 2 (SO)
Denis Kazionov, Ekaterinburg, 0-0-0, -1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG
Season totals: 43 GP, 4-3-7, -17, 16 PIM

Kazionov took a first period minor for charging and played 11:22 in the match. Ekaterinburg holds a 3 point lead over Novosibirsk for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Magnitogorsk 4 @ Novosibirsk 3 (SO)
Vasily Koshechkin, Magnitogorsk, Win, 24/27, 2.78 GAA, .889 sv%
Season totals: 42 GP, 21-18, 6 SO, 2.03 GAA, .925 sv%

Koshechkin stopped all three shooters he faced in the shootout. Sergei Fedorov had a goal for Magnitogorsk in the win.

Dynamo Moscow 4 @ Mytischi 3
Johan Harju, Dynamo Moscow, 0-0-0, +1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG
Season totals: 48 GP, 3-11-14, -6, 32 PIM

Harju took a minor for diving after being held up by Oleg Kvasha and was 25% on draws in 16:11 of ice time. Former Lightning draft pick Vadim Epanchintsev had a pair of helpers in the match for Mytischi.

St. Petersburg 8 @ Dynamo Riga 1
Martins Karsums, Dynamo Riga, 0-0-0, -1, 2 PIM, 0 SOG
Season totals: 4 GP, 1-0-1, E, 2 PIM

Karsums took a minor for tripping in 12:19 of ice time. St. Petersburg got 1 goal and 1 assist from former Lightning prospect Anton But in the win.

Novgorod 2 @ Kazan 3
Dmitri Kazionov, Kazan, 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM, 2 SOG
Season totals: 47 GP, 18-7-25, +7, 16 PIM

Kazionov played 14:01 in the match for Kazan. Kazan got assists from former NHLers Niko Kapanen and Alexei Morozov in the victory.

Omsk 4 @ Khabarovsk 1
Karri Ramo, Omsk, Win, 23/24, 1.00 GAA, .958 sv%
Season totals: 35 GP, 20-14, 3 SO, 2.02 GAA, .914 sv%

Karri Ramo was back in net after missing four games for Omsk, and he got his 20th win of the season in the return as Omsk stomped Khabarovsk 4-1. Jaromir Jagr led Omsk with 2 goals and 1 assist in the match.

Dynamo Moscow 4 @ Dynamo Riga 5
Martins Karsums, Dynamo Riga, 1-0-1, E, 0 PIM, 3 SOG
Season totals: 3 GP, 1-0-1, +1, 0 PIM

Johan Harju, Dynamo Moscow, 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM, 4 SOG
Season totals: 47 GP, 3-11-14, -7, 30 PIM

Contrary to previous reports that he would play for KHK MVD, Martins Karsums has surfaced for his home country team Dynamo Riga. The Latvian forward scored his first KHL goal today in 13:36 of ice time. For the other Dynamo, Johan Harju played 19:03 and was 47% on faceoffs.