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On Sunday in Moscow, the season opener of the KHL 2019/2020 season was played between last years finalists Avangard Omsk and hosts CSKA Moscow.
Avangard managed to win the game with a score 3:1 (1:1, 1:0, 1:0) earning the KHL's Opening Cup that was previously named after Lokomotiv team to honor the people lost in the tragic plane crash.
Blackhawks prospect Max Shalunov came out flying and managed to score the first goal of the season.
First goal of the season - Max Shalunov with a snipe show for CSKA giving them their first lead of the season. Okulov picks up the lone helper earning him his 50th career assist. pic.twitter.com/3QQDSjp7a7
— Aivis Kalniņš (@A_Kalnins) September 1, 2019
Cody Franson was up next - a pass from Sven Andrighetto that found Taylor Beck who then connected with the goal scorer on PP to give a tie to the visiting Omsk squad.
Cody Franson! He ties it up on powerplay! Taylor Beck with the assist there. It's a 1:1 game now. pic.twitter.com/7WOZBVW8QB
— Aivis Kalniņš (@A_Kalnins) September 1, 2019
The 2nd period was pretty close for both teams up until Max Chudinov did what he does best - yet another shot from his own zone that ended up in the opposing net.
Из Ñвоей зоны!!1! #ЦСКÐВГ pic.twitter.com/GrbEH0P7ji
— КХЛ (@khl) September 1, 2019
Although CSKA tried to make a comeback - Cody Franson put an end to the game after scoring on an empty net and getting his second of the game.
Cody Franson with his 2nd of the game! It's 3:1 Omsk. They are going to win the Opening cup! CSKA with an early mistake not playing Sorokin in the game. It cost them. pic.twitter.com/rFzAAXeqQ7
— Aivis Kalniņš (@A_Kalnins) September 1, 2019
Game over!
— Aivis Kalniņš (@A_Kalnins) September 1, 2019
Omsk 3:1 CSKA.
0:1 Shalunov (Okulov)
1:1 Franson (Beck, Andrighetto)
2:1 Chudinov
3:1 Franson pic.twitter.com/qQaYvM6oT7
Bob Hartley, head coach, Avangard:
I’m proud of my team. We were disciplined all through the game, nobody panicked after the first goal and in the end we got a great win. Voynov didn’t play in this one because he has a minor injury, we expect him back in the next game. As for Zernov, he had surgery and will likely miss five or six months.
Igor Nikitin, head coach, CSKA:
We couldn’t beat a well-organized team because we didn’t have the right spark up front and we lacked concentration at times. It was tough for us to break down a well-drilled defense. But games like this can only help us, we will learn from it.