At 40 years of age, Pavel Datsyuk is playing in his 22nd season of professional hockey, and so far through 16 games into the 2018-19 season, The Magic Man is still performing at over a point-per-game pace.

Playing in his third season with St. Petersburg SKA since returning home to play in the KHL after 14 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Datsyuk’s club was in action on Sunday against the Severstal Cherepovets. 

SKA went on to win the game 2-0 with Datsyuk leading the way by scoring both the team’s goals for his third and fourth of the season, bringing his point total up to 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 16 games.

Datsyuk’s first goal of the game was particularly nice, as took a feed from Nikita Gusev, the KHL’s leading point scorer, from the corner. With a defender closing in just behind the goal line, Datsyuk slammed on the breaks and cut inside towards the net.The defender couldn’t contain him, as Datsyuk crossed him up, which drew over two more Severstal defenders.

Using his long reach, Datsyuk protected the puck by dragging it from the goal line right out in front to slip it by the goaltender’s left pad right into the back of the net.
 

 

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So smooth. He’s still got it, folks. While his speed might be slowing down, there’s aren’t too many players in the world that think the game at the level of Datsyuk even if he’s no longer in the NHL.

(h/t Instagram/intereshockey)