Line chemistry in hockey is a beautiful thing. You know it when you see it. Three players flowing out of the defensive zone together, knowing where each other is going to be, understanding where each other likes to receive the puck.
Three guys playing off the same sheet of music.
That’s what we’re witnessing in the early goings of the 2024-25 KHL season. The chemistry being built by Sabres prospect Prokhor Poltapov and CSKA linemates Maxim Sorkin and Vitali Abramov, who have been teammates for three years but have rarely joined forces, is leading to some pretty sweet music.
On Tuesday, Poltapov connected for his second short-handed goal and added a trio of assists for the first four-point game of his KHL career as CSKA defeated Sibir Novosibirsk 8-2. It was an efficient way for Poltapov to spend 13:28 of ice time, especially considering that 3:22 was spent as CSKA’s leading penalty-killer.
Sorkin, the unit’s centerman, recorded his first-ever KHL hat trick on Sunday. Tuesday was Abramov’s turn. Perhaps this means Poltapov is next?
Poltapov and his mates got their day started just 2:47 into the opening period. It was a simple play by Poltapov, but sometimes it’s all about the end result. Stationed on the right boards in the defensive zone, Poltapov received a puck and quickly shoveled it to his nearest teammate while taking a big hit to spark the breakout and the first of Abramov’s three tallies.
For the second straight game, CSKA would take a one-goal lead into the third period. And for the second straight game, Poltapov stacked points in the final frame as his club pulled away.
The band got back together at the 1:32 mark, with Poltapov gaining the zone and playing a nice game of catch with Abramov, who notched his hat trick goal to make it 3-1.
CSKA kept banging the drum from there, busting the game wide open to gain a 5-2 advantage. Poltapov added to the lead in the 52nd minute when he blocked a shot on the penalty kill and raced down the ice for the cool, calm finish and his second shorthanded goal of the young season.
Poltapov’s excellent defensive handiwork was highlighted in the recap of CSKA’s Sunday win over Admiral, and he put more of it on display for good measure en route to collecting his fourth point of the game.
Five minutes after scoring his second goal of the year, Poltapov pounced on veteran Sibir defender Yegor Martynov with a quick stick lift to strip the puck. Abramov scooped it up, and with Poltapov galloping into the center lane to clear space, dropped it off to a streaking Vladislav Provolnev for CSKA’s fifth goal of the period.
The productive night gives Poltapov seven points (2+5) through the first three games of the season, which ties him with Sorkin for second in KHL scoring. Abramov is currently alone atop the KHL leaderboard with five goals and nine points.
Sweet music indeed.
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