Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk teaming up for this ridiculous goal reminds us why we miss our favourite Russians so much.Now teammates on St. Petersburg SKA in the KHL, the former NHL stars are playing often on the same line, creating a situation simply unfair to everyone else in the league.This was evident on Monday as the duo teamed up for one of the filthiest goals you will see all year, in any league. The speed and vision on the rush by Kovalchuk is vintage, the pass from behind the goal line is off the charts, and the finish by Datsyuk brings us back to a better time—a time where we could turn on the TV every morning and get our fill of the Russian Wizard on a near-daily basis.The pair has teamed up for big goals more than once this season, including this gem back in August to tie the game with under three seconds left.They also paired up to get Datsyuk his first goal with St. Petersburg SKA just 33 seconds into his first game.Kovalchuk left for the KHL in 2013 after an NHL career in which he put up 816 points over 816 career games with Atlanta and New Jersey. For several years he was one of the most lethal goal scorers in the world, especially the five seasons between 2005 and 2010, where he averaged 46 goals per season while twice putting up 52 tallies.Datsyuk retired from the NHL just last season and returned home to Russia to play with St. Petersburg SKA for the 2016-17 campaign. The sixth round selection in 1998 amassed 918 points over 953 NHL games, all with Detroit. He also captured the Lady Byng Trophy as the league's most sportsmanlike player four straight times from 2006-09, while capturing the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward on three occasions, and won two Stanley Cups.
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