Mayorov double brings Salavat level. Playoffs, Conference QF, March 8

Avangard Omsk 2 Salavat Yulaev Ufa 4 (1-1, 0-2, 1-1)

(Series tied at 2-2)

Two goals from Maxim Mayorov helped Salavat Yulaev tie up its series with Avangard – and ensured the Chernyshev Division rivals will need at least six games to settle their playoff match-up.

Photo: 08.03.18. KHL Championship 2017/18. Playoffs. Avangard (Omsk region) - Salavat Yulaev (Ufa)

Mayorov’s pair came in the second period, snapping a 1-1 tie and setting the visitor on the way to a 4-1 victory in Omsk. The 28-year-old forward only scored three goals in regular season, but he’s already matched that tally in the playoffs. He’s currently on course to better his strongest post-season showing of seven (3+4) points for Salavat Yulaev in 2016.

The visitor was boosted by the return of goalie Ben Scrivens, fit again after suffering an injury during Canada’s Olympic quarter final against Finland. He had faced little action by the time his team went ahead on a third-minute power play goal from Anton Burdasov. That lead was quickly cancelled out by a Maxim Chudinov goal, also on the power play, as the teams went into the first intermission with the scores tied at 1-1.

Then came Mayorov. He got his first three minutes into the second frame. Philip Larsen’s point shot was blocked by a defenseman, but the puck dropped kindly for Mayorov to rifle home the rebound. Three minutes from the end of the session, he struck again. This time Alexander Loginov supplied the point shot, and Mayorov shrugged off the attentions of Mikhail Fisenko to deflect the puck beyond Dominik Furch.

The third period saw the teams trade goals. Grigory Panin potted his third of the playoffs, firing home after Joonas Kemppainen won an attacking face-off before Semyon Koshelev got a late power play tally for Avangard. But there was no way back for the home team as Salavat Yulaev made it 2-2 in the series. The action continues in Ufa on Saturday and will return to Omsk for a potentially decisive sixth game on Monday.