Metallurg closes in. January 18 round-up

Defending champion Metallurg Magnitogorsk moved to within three points of the top of the Eastern Conference thanks to a 3-1 home win over section leader Ak Bars. The home team recovered from going behind in the second period to Dmitry Obukhov by hitting three unanswered goals in the final session. Sergei Mozyakin tied it up on 42 minutes with a classic power play goal from Magnitka’s first line before Evgeny Timkin made it 2-1 when he turned home a Mikhail Yunkov shot from the center. Denis Platonov completed the scoring when he won the puck in his own zone and got away from two defenseman to score on Anders Nilsson. Jokerit into the play-offs League leader CSKA suffered a 2-1 loss at Jokerit in the biggest game of the day. Although the first period was goalless many rated it the most absorbing hockey seen in Helsinki this season as both teams playing skilful, high-tempo hockey. The pace dropped slightly in the second period but Steve Moses finally broke the de ...