Behind a hat trick from forward Ilya Kovalchuk, SKA Saint Petersburg is one win away from rewriting the KHL's record book.
SKA defeated Salavat Yulaev 6-1 on Wednesday, earning its 18th consecutive win and tying the KHL record set by Avangard in 2010-11. SKA has not lost since the KHL season began Aug. 21.
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18-0@hcSKA_News ties KHL record with 18 straight wins.#SALvsSKA pic.twitter.com/y8JqpQU33S
— KHL (@khl_eng) October 4, 2017
SKA's offense has become a dominant force during its winning streak, outscoring opponents 85-23, clicking at 4.72 goals per-game.
Four of the KHL's top leading scorers are on the SKA Saint Petersburg roster. Forward Nikita Gusev has 27 points, Kovalchuk has 26, and Sergei Shirokov and captain Pavel Datsyuk each have 22 points; they all are in the top-five among the league-leaders. And while the offence is doing its part — SKA has scored 33 more goals than the second-best offense in the league — the goaltending duo of Igor Shestyorkin and Mikko Koskinen has been as vital to SKA's success.
Shestyorkin has proved himself as one of the league's elite goaltenders. A New York Rangers fourth-round pick in 2014, Shestyorkin is 13-0 this season with a 1.17 goals against average.
Saint Petersburg will face Sibir Oct. 6 with an opportunity to set the KHL record and win their 19th consecutive game.