On February 27, 2025, CSKA Moscow showcased their dominance by defeating Kunlun Red Star 6-0 in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) regular season. The match took place at CSKA's home arena, where they were greeted by nearly 6,000 fans eager to witness the clash.
The first period was scoreless, but CSKA took control early in the second period when forward Prokhor Poltapov netted the first goal at 22:19 with assists from Williams. This breakthrough created the momentum CSKA needed, and they capitalized on it as the game progressed.
The following scoring came from Vladislav Kamenev, who doubled CSKA's lead to 2-0 at 44:56, converting on the power play with assists from Nesterov and Poltapov. The floodgates opened for CSKA, who went on to score four more goals within the final period, turning the match decisively in their favor.
Quick to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, Kirill Dolzhnikov scored at 50:52 to bring the score to 3-0. Just moments later, Denis Guryanov added another tally at 51:35, following which Ivan Drozdov struck at 56:32, marking it 5-0. Nikita Nesterov capped off the impressive performance at 58:32 with the final goal, securing the emphatic 6-0 victory.
Statistics from the match reflected CSKA's offensive prowess as they outshot Kunlun 64 to 46, with 38 shots on goal compared to Kunlun's 20. The match also saw CSKA dominate faceoffs, winning 34 to 29.
This latest victory extends CSKA Moscow's unbeaten streak to three matches, and with 76 points, they are now firmly positioned at fourth place within the Western Conference standings. The team has displayed resilience and adaptability, bouncing back from recent struggles where they suffered three consecutive losses earlier this season.
Conversely, Kunlun Red Star—a team fighting for their playoff lives—faces challenges after this defeat, maintaining ninth place with 57 points. Despite showing some competitive spirit earlier this month, including notable victories, they could not find their rhythm against CSKA's strong lineup.
Looking forward, CSKA's success solidifies their bid for the playoffs, where they have ambitions to contend for the championship. The next match for CSKA is scheduled against Torpedo on March 1, 2025, where they hope to continue their positive momentum.
On the other hand, Kunlun aims to regroup quickly, with their next matchup against Moscow Dynamo on the same date, where earning points will be imperative if they want to challenge for the playoffs.
The atmosphere was electric, with fans celebrating each goal loud and proud, capturing the essence of what it means to be part of the KHL action. The day's performance from CSKA proved they are ready to face tougher teams as the playoffs approach.