European Leagues

Cherepovets 10 @ Ekaterinburg 1
Vasily Koshechkin, Cherepovets, DNP
Season totals: 31 GP, 17-14-0, 2 SO, 2.92 GAA, .906 sv%

That's not a typo. Ex-Lightning forward Martin Cibak had a pair of goals, his 9th and 10th of the season, to help Cherepovets embarass Ekaterinurg 10-1. Backup Rostislav Stana was in net for Severstal. Cherepovets currently sits in 5th in the KHL Western Conference.

Spartak Moscow 1 @ Kazan 4
Dmitri Kazionov, Kazan, DNP
Season totals: 43 GP, 2-4-6, +5, 30 PIM

Ex-NHLer Alexei Morozov had a pair of goals to lead Kazan to a 4-1 win over Spartak Moscow. As a division leader, Kazan currently holds 2nd place in the KHL's Eastern Conference.

Dynamo Riga 3 @ Magnitogorsk 1
Martins Karsums, Dynamo Riga, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Season totals: 51 GP, 16-13-29, -5, 46 PIM

Martins Karsums was scoreless in 15:37 of ice time in Riga's 3-1 win over Magnitogorsk. Ex-Lightning blueliner Janne Niskala assisted on Magnitogorsk's only goal. Riga is currently 7th in the KHL's Western Conference.

The final games of the regular season in the KHL will take place on Sunday.

Sodertalje 0 @ Lulea 3
Riku Helenius, Sodertalje, DNP
Season totals: 17 GP, 4-10-0, 0 SO, 2.89 GAA, .890 sv%

New York Islanders prospect Anders Nilsson stopped 25 shots to shutout Sodertalje 3-0. Sodertalje slipped 5 points out of a playoff spot with the loss and have a slim 2 point lead on 11th and 12th place MODO and Frolunda in the team's quest to avoid the Kval till Elitserien promotion/relegation stage. There are 7 games remaining in the Elitserien regular season.

Cherepovets 2 @ Kazan 1
Vasily Koshechkin, Cherepovets, Win, 18/19, 1.00 GAA, .947 sv%
Season totals: 31 GP, 17-14-0, 2 SO, 2.92 GAA, .906 sv%

Dmitri Kazionov, Kazan, DNP
Season totals: 43 GP, 2-4-6, +5, 30 PIM

Forward Evgeny Ketov scored the game winning goal in Cherepovets' 2-1 win over Kazan. Vasily Koshechkin stopped 18 shots for the victory.

Dynamo Riga 2 @ Ufa 3 (OT)
Martins Karsums, Dynamo Riga, 1-0-1, -1, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Season totals: 50 GP, 16-13-29, -5, 46 PIM

Martins Karsums scored his 16th goal of the season in 13:16 of ice time in Riga's 3-2 overtime loss to Ufa. Former NHLer Viktor Kozlov scored the overtime winner in the match. Ex-Predators first rounder Alexander Radulov led all scorers with 1 goal and 1 assist in the match for Ufa. Radulov currently leads the KHL in scoring by a commanding 15 points over teammate and former Edmonton farmhand Patrick Thoresen.

Russia 4 @ Czech Republic 2
Vasily Koshechkin, Russia, DNP
Tournament totals: 0 GP, 0-0-0, 0 SO, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 sv%

Ex-Ducks draft pick Maxim Rybin had a pair of goals to help lead Russia to a 4-2 win over the Czech Republic. Lightning overage netminder Vasily Koshechkin did not dress for the game and did not play in the tournament. He was listed on Russia's tournament opening roster, but the goaltending duties for the LG Hockey Games were handled by Mikhail Biryukov of Yaroslavl and Alexei Volkov of Ekaterinburg.

Elsewhere, Sweden defeated archrival Finland 3-2 in a shootout. Ex-Lightning goaltender Karri Ramo allowed 2 goals on 21 shots and 2 of 3 shooters to beat him for the shootout loss. Ex-Lightning camper Niklas Persson had an assist in the match for the Swedes while ex-Lightning defenseman Janne Niskala had an assist for the Finns.

Sweden wins the LG Hockey Games with Russia finishing second, Finland in third, and the Czechs in last place. Swedish Elitserien matches begin again on Thursday, 2/17/11, and the Russian KHL gets back into action tomorrow, with a match between Chekhov and Novokuznetsk.

Damian Crisdotero is reporting that forward Johan Harju is downplaying remarks that were reported in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet recently quoting Harju as being unhappy with his current situation in the Lightning organization. The article claimed Harju was contemplating returning to Europe next season with his path to the NHL seemingly blocked by the strong performance of the club's forwards in Tampa Bay.

Per Crisdotero:

Harju has a 1 goal and 2 points in 7 NHL games this season and 18 goals and 25 points in 40 games for Norfolk of the AHL. The 24 year old recently represented the Admirals in the AHL All-Star Game, posting an assist in that game. He was recalled recently with the injuries to Ryan Malone and Nate Thompson and will likely be in the lineup tonight against Carolina.