Vishnyakov, Albert

Vasily Koshechkin's record fell to 6-3-2 today as Togliatti fell to CSKA 3-2 on a Denis Parshin goal with 10 seconds left in the third period.

Evgeny Artyukhin scored his first goal of the season, a power play marker, in Yaroslavl's 3-2 win over Cherepovets. Alexei Glukhov was scoreless for Severstal in the match. Artyukhin now has 1 goal and 2 points in 13 games this season with a -3 rating and 64 penalty minutes.

Omsk dismantled Dynamo 5-2 despite a goal by Lightning prospect Albert Vishnyakov.

Khimik shut out Tver 2-0.

Alex Polushin remains on injured reserve recovering from knee surgery. Polushin had knee surgery in 2003-04 also.

Denis Kazionov was scoreless for Tver.

Lightning Europe Playoff Extravaganza!!!:

Just a quick note on talented former 2001 second round pick Alexander Polushin:

It appears the Cold War between he and Coach Bykov may finally be thawing. After spending much of the season relegated to the First/Farm League, Polushin has suited up for the last three games for CSKA. The move might've been a last desperate effort my Bykov to make the playoffs as CSKA was all but eliminated from contention Saturday at the hands of Nikolai Khabibulin and Vincent Lecavalier's Ak Bars Kazan 5-2. CSKA sits in 10th place behind 8th place Nizhnekamsk with just three games left to go in the regular season. The Russian Superleague tabulates their standings by awarding 3 points for a win. Polushin now has 3 goals and 7 points in 15 games at the Superleague level. At last check, he also had 13 goals and 23 points in 21 games in the First League as well.

Ahhhhh, my first European Hockey Update away from the third world dictatorship that HF has become. Lets begin:

All in all, the beat goes on in Europe for the Lightning's prospects. They have some excellent overage properties like Somervuori, But and Norrena but have yet to see the explosion from youngsters like Polushin and Kazionov they might've hoped for. The exception to the rule is 2004 entry draft 6th rounder Karri Ramo, who is emerging as one of the two best young goalies in all of Finland after having a remarkable performance at Traverse City.