Published: 12 September, 2009, 13:53
Edited: 12 September, 2009, 10:46
CSKA Moscow, sporting a new coach and a new-look line-up, have made a victorious start to their KHL season, earning a 3-2 overtime win against city rivals Dynamo.
One of this year's favorites, Dynamo, started their quest for the Gagarin Cup with a much improved squad.
CSKA entered the campaign without the coaching duo of Bykov and Zakharkin – who also head the national team – and key players Vadim Epanchitsev and Oleg Saprykin, who moved to Dinamo.
The Army men started the better though. They managed to shock their opponents 4 minutes into the game through Denis Parshin's power play goal.
With Dynamo making too many mistakes in passing at that stage, and their star signing Jiri Hudler, who moved from the Detroit Red Wings, couldn't get into the game.
However, the home side managed to level matters with a power play goal of their own, as another summer recruit, Leonid Komarov, came up with a nice shot into the top corner.
Parshin could have put his side in front again early in the second, but failed to convert his penalty shot.
And Dynamo made them pay. Dmitry Afanasenkov put the Blue-and-Whites in front 2-1, making the home crowd jump to their feet.
Dynamo were in the driver's seat in the third period and kept threatening, but with just 50 seconds left in the game, Parshin managed to take it to overtime.
The momentum was then on CSKA's side, and they grabbed a winner with Dmitry Monya giving his side a surprising victory.
Dynamo, though, claimed they need more time to bond as a team.
“We've got a new team. We're adjusting to each other. Some of us are adjusting to the new league. Give us time. We know we need to win the Cup, and I think we'll be able to do that,” Dynamo’s Leonid Komarov said.
3-2 was the way it finished, with CSKA producing the first big upset of the KHL season.