Eastern Conference final features two clear-cut underdogs! Preview Mar 29

Thoroughly unexpected and now thoroughly exciting Eastern Conference final pits two of the KHL’s most tradition-filled clubs, both vying for a Gagarin Cup berth against league titans CSKA or SKA!

19:30 Avangard (4th in the East) vs. Salavat (6th in the East)

Series stand

0 – 0

KHL Playoff history

2009 – Round 1 – Avangard defeats Salavat 3-1

2016 – Round 2 – Salavat defeats Avangard 4-3

2018 – Round 1 – Salavat defeats Avangard 4-3

Injury list

Avangard: Karri Ramo, Ilya Mikheyev

Salavat: Anton Burdasov

Suspensions

Salavat: Alexander Burmistrov will sit out this game as the first of a 2-game suspension.

About the game

- Avangard defeated Salavat three times this this season, namely 1-0 in OT, 1-0, and 5-4 in OT, while Salavat won a fourth game 3-2.

- Shumakov is hoping to collect his 100th career KHL assist.

- Beck has points in 8 straight games, going 2-11-13 over that span.

- Franson has points in 4 straight games, going 2-5-7 over that span.

- Chudinov has points in 3 straight games, going 3-1-4 over that span.

- Kemppainen is looking to suit up for his 200th career KHL game.

- Kemppainen has points in 4 straight games, going 3-1-4 over that span.

- Omark has points in 3 straight games, going 1-2-3 over that span.