Lokomotiv and Atlant Victorious in KHL Action

Lokomotiv 2 - SKA St. Petersburg 0

Currently sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference, Lokomotiv needs points.  Unfortunately, the task at hand was to defeat the West's best in SKA.  Vitaly Kolesnik was up to the task, stopping 27 shots and earning his first shutout of the season in Lokomotiv's win over SKA.  Subbing for Curtis Sanford, Kolsenik had a good performance behind a solid defense for Loko.  The first goal did not come until the beginning of the third period, when Galimov snuck a shot past Salak (23 saves).  Apalkov got the empty netter to put the nail in SKA's coffin and give Loko a much needed three points in the standings.

Atlant 3 - Severstal 2 (SO)

Atlant earned two important points over Severstal in a crowded Western Conference.  Both teams were looking for three points however, which led to a close battle between these two evenly matched sides.  Nine teams are fighting for playoff positioning right now and Atlant and Severstal are outside looking in.  With the Lokomotiv win, both teams needed three points, but had to settle for less.  

Engqvist and Haataja scored the goals for Atlant in regulation, but it was not enough to hold off Salavat from keeping pace.  Vadim Berdnikov scored his second goal for Salavat with ten minutes to play, sending the game into overtime.  Severstal was the busier team in overtime, but could not get the sudden death goal on Galimov in their three shots.

The shootout took three rounds to decide a victor with Yury Trubachyov being awarded the game-winner in his second attempt.  

Haataja also had an assist on the Engqvist goal for a two point game.  

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