While the word "epidemic" has been tied to concussions in North America over the past year, there's an epidemic going on in Russia within the KHL. No, it has nothing to do with the health of its players; it has everything to do with every goaltender having the inability to stop a shot from the other end of the rink.
From the troubles of Erik Ersberg and Karri Ramo, it seems as if KHL goaltenders can't go a few weeks without giving us a highlight to remember. On Friday, Jeff Glass of Barys Astana had his number called to find himself on the blooper reel.
During a 6-4 loss to Ak Bars Kazan, Glass allowed a shot from just inside the opponent's blue line, and you betcha that this goal ended up standing as the game-winner.
Glass' pain is understandable. The Ak Bars player who scored was none other than Denis Kulyash, last year's KHL's Hardest Shot winner who blasted a then-world record 110 mph attempt before Traktor Chelyabinsk's Alexander Ryazantsev came along last month and slapped one recorded at 114 mph.
Kulyash didn't go full slapper on this shot and offered the equivalent of a change-up here. No wonder Glass was thrown off.
Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy
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