Russian forward Dmitry Voronkov made a spectacular NHL debut for Columbus in a match against Montreal, fighting with defenseman Arber Dzhekaj and making an assist. Sport Express writes about this.
Voronkov is a student of the Ermak club from Angarsk. From 2018 to 2023, he played 232 matches in the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan, scoring 52 goals and making 47 assists. In addition, as part of the national teams, he became the silver medalist of the 2020 World Youth Championship and the 2022 Olympic Games. In May 2023, he signed a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, after which he played four games in the AHL farm club Cleveland Monsters, making one assist.
On the night of October 27, due to an injury to Columbus forward Patrik Laine, Voronkov took to the KHL ice for the first time as part of the main club. At the same time, already in the fifth minute he performed a power move against Dzhekai, which is why the Canadian started a fight, knocking the Russian to the ice. As a result, both hockey players received deletions.
Returning to the ice, Voronkov helped Emil Bemström throw the puck, blocking the view of the opposing goalkeeper with his back. And then the Russian was able to save the puck and gave it to the same Bemström, who scored another point.
However, the match did not end in Columbus’ favor – Montreal still managed to prevail in overtime, ending the match with a score of 4:3.
A day earlier, Washington’s Russian forward Alexander Ovechkin scored a goal for the second match in a row.
