EuroVision: Kovalchuk feasts on Bryzgalov

Ilya Kovalchuk is off to the KHL, but his sister tells a Russian news outlet that he could return to North American after he plays at least three seasons in Russia.

EuroVision: Highlights, notes, tweets and photos from across the pond – where the lockout doesn’t quite translate

SKA captain Ilya Kovalchuk, who has notched at least a point in all six of his KHL games played this season, scored a hat trick in his team’s 4-2 victory over Pavel Datsyuk’s CSKA on Monday. The red-hot Vladimir Tarasenko, Kovalchuk’s linemate and a St. Louis Blues prospect, had three helpers. In just his second start, CSKA goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov (.857 save percentage) again gave up four goals in a loss:

The contest also featured a nasty headshot, as Evgeny Artyukhin (199 NHL games played) delivered a cheap, feet-leaving elbow to the chin of Niklas Persson. Artyukhin, who leads the league in penalty minutes, was dealt a game misconduct. Somewhere, Brendan Shanahan wants to break this video apart in super slow-mo and point out the eight things wrong with Artyukhin’s actions:

Ottawa Senators forward Kyle Turris is set to leave Tuesday morning to join Oulun Karpat of Finland’s elite SM-liiga. Turris replaces Jussi Jokinen, who’s returning to North America, on the club’s roster.

“There’s been some craziness with getting temporary disability insurance, permanent disability insurance and getting things around the house here and my place in Phoenix set up. But I want to play at a high level and be ready for whenever the NHL starts back up, which I hope is soon,” Turris told The Province on Monday. “But I’m in a situation where more guys are going to Europe and the skates here are getting smaller with just one goalie. It’s hard to have a good pace and stay motivated. The quality is going to go down.”

Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds dropped the gloves with Ralf Rinke in Germany. Simmonds won, causing scores of Philly fans with YouTube access to type the phrase “Atta boy, Simmer!!!” in a comment field:

Is Winnipeg Jets forward Evander Kane the Nazem Kadri of the KHL?

Edmonton Oilers prized property Nail Yakupov was named Rookie of the Week in the KHL after scoring three goals in two games, plus three shootout goals.

Struggling early, Jason Spezza finally got things going in Rapperswil, breaking out with a four-point effort (two goals, two assists) against Lugano.

The brothers Kopitar, Anze and Gasper, filmed a five-minute Cribs-style piece that features Red Bull in a fridge, paper-rock-scissors, a mini-golf course in need of maintenance, and Gasper (the friendly Kopitar) admitting that he wanted to be a goalie:

Over the weekend Frolunda (SEL) put together financing to cover the cost of New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist’s insurance, an estimated $30,000 a month, reports Sweden’s Goteborgs-Posten. That said, Lundqvist has yet to commit to playing overseas.

Vincent Lecavalier’s agents have reportedly been in talks about the possibility of the Tampa Bay Lighting forward joining the KHL.

And Nashville Predators forward Sergei Kostitsyn signed with Avangard Omsk (KHL), where he will join former NHL winger Alexander Frolov.

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