Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Prospect Clinical Finisher on Breakaway
Buchelnikov nets winner against KHL leaders
The odds were supposedly stacked against Vityaz as they were facing KHL Western Conference leaders Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on Monday but evidently, Dmitri Buchelnikov and his teammates didn’t get the memo.
Despite sitting seventh in the West, Vityaz stunned Lokomotiv 2-1. And it was a highlight-reel first period breakaway goal by Detroit Red Wings prospect Buchelnikov that would provide the difference on the scoreboard.
Dima Buchelnikov on a breakaway 💨 pic.twitter.com/1Hr7i3stPc
— KHL (@khl_eng) October 14, 2024
Bursting behind the Lokomotiv defense, Buchelnikov drove toward the net. As he reached the top of the right hash marks, the speedy winger snapped a quick shot that seemed to catch Lokomotiv goalie Daniil Isaev by surprise. The puck would bank off of Isaev’s glove and squirt into the net to make it 2-0 Vityaz.
Buchelnikov Gets New Linemate
It stood as the game winner, the second of the KHL season for Buchelnikov. He also would tally an overtime winner earlier this season against Torpedo. That’s the club coached by former Red Wings icon Igor Larionov.
For the season, Buchelnikov, Detroit’s 52nd overall selection in the 2022 NHL entry draft, is showing four goals and 10 assists from 15 games. He was earning the game’s second star following Monday’s victory. He’s the owner of a share of the team scoring lead along with his two linemates.
Prior to the game, Vityaz Moscow Region coach Pavel Desyatkov made a change to his second forward line. He was inserting Ivan Chekhovich, a former Lokomotiv player, alongside Buchelnikov and American Derek Barach. That unit would account for both Vityaz goals.
Dimitri Buchelnikov(2nd round’22) with two good chances back to back. Couldn’t fully get a hold of this one-t. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/HzFdovIOJ6
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) October 14, 2024
“We needed a winger to pair with Barach and Buchelnikov,” Desyatkov explained to KHL.ru. “An option with Chekhovich appeared, and we latched on to him.”
Analytics from the KHL are displaying that Buchelnikov is showing the fastest acceleration in the league during game action this season. His top speed was tagged at 39.5 kph. It’s a mark he shares with Maxim Manin of CSKA Moscow.
