WATCH: Pavel Datsyuk fools goalie with devastating backhand for first KHL goal
The Magic Man is feeling right at home with SKA St. Petersburg
If you're like many hockey fans out there, you're still in mourning over Pavel Datsyuk's departure from the NHL. The good news is that even though the Magic Man is playing in Russia, YouTube still exists and he's still going to pop up on it quite a bit. It took him barely any time at all to register his first highlight as a member of SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.
While playing on the same line as former NHL star Ilya Kovalchuk (seriously, not fair), Datsyuk needed just 33 seconds to break open the scoring in Thursday's game against Salavat Yulaev Ufa.
Kovalchuk brought the puck through the neutral zone before dishing a perfect backhand pass to Datsyuk streaking down the right wing. Datsyuk made the most of the space as the Salavat defense failed to close the gap.

For whatever reason, Ufa goalie Viktor Svedberg didn't cut off the angle. Perhaps he was expecting a Datsyukian backhanded saucer pass back to Kovalchuk, but he ended up way out of position. Datsyuk showed backhand the whole time and instead of whipping a pass, he delivered a deceptive,quick shot right off the back of his blade.
Datsyuk didn't have the best angle, but with the goalie so far off the line, Svedberg didn't give himself a chance. The puck sailed into the net for Datsyuk's first goal of the season.
Along with Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane, Datsyuk has to have one of the most dangerous backhand shots in the game today and that's been true for a long time.
Datsyuk added two assists in the game, while Kovalchuk dropped six points on Salavat including three goals as SKA won 7-1. The KHL is going to have a tough time with these two together. Just a guess.
North America might get one more up-close look at Datsyuk this fall. He is currently slated to join Team Russia at the World Cup of Hockey this September.
Hopefully the Magic Man brings his bag of tricks with him to Toronto.
















