Magnitka battles back

(2) Metallurg Magnitogorsk 2
(7) Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 0
Series tied at 1-1

Metallurg got off the mark in its series against Avtomobilist – but it took a long time for the Steelmen to solve visiting goalie Jakub Kovar.

After Monday’s shock defeat, in which Kovar made 27 saves, the pressure was on Magnitka to take the series to Yekaterinburg with the scores tied. Once again, though, they found Kovar in unyielding mood. For 43 minutes he kept the home team at bay, adding 25 saves to his tally in the first two periods before he was finally undone. Oscar Osala got the goal: he was left unmarked in front of the net to shoot the puck home after Yaroslav Kosov battled his way to possession behind the piping.

With a lead in place at last, Magnitka tried to lock down the game. Avto managed just three shots in the third period. Even a penalty on Osala did not open the door for the visiting offense to test Vasily Koshechkin, who eventually ended up with 20 saves for his shut-out.

Victory was confirmed late on when Jan Kovar found the empty net recently vacated by his brother to make it 2-0.