The battle for the Gagarin Cup commences!

Metallurg welcomes Barys for the fourth time in the last eight years while SKA faces Dinamo Minsk for the first time ever in the hunt for the Gagarin Cup.

Two other match-ups are also completely new. Dynamo Moscow takes on Severstal for the first time ever while Avangard hosts Avtomobilist. Interestingly, none of these teams dominated their respective playoff opponent in the regular season, so some very tight series are looking possible here.

17:00: Metallurg vs Barys

Series stand

0 – 0

Series history

2012: 1^st round meet-up. Metallurg defeated Barys 4-3
2017: 2^nd round meet-up. Metallurg defeated Barys 4-0
2020: 1^st round meet-up. Barys defeated Metallurg 4-1

Injury list

Metallurg: Bogdan Potekhin
Barys: Viktor Svedberg, Leonid Metalnikov, Curtis Valk

About the game

Metallurg defeated Barys three times this season by scores of 2-1 in the shootout, 3-1, and 3-2 while having lost once 3-2 in overtime.
Prokhorkin has points in three straight games, going 1-2-3 over that span.
Dietz has points in three straight games, going 3-2-5 over that span.

19:30: SKA vs Dinamo Minsk

Series stand

0 – 0

Series history

These two teams have never faced off against each other in the KHL playoffs.

About the game

The teams have exchanged victories in two outings this season, with SKA having won 4-2 and Dinamo Minsk by an overtime score of 4-3.
Tkachyov has points in three straight games, going 0-3-3 over that span.
Marchenko has points in three straight games, going 3-3-6 over that span.
Klinkhammer has points in four straight games, going 2-3-5 over that span.

Injury list

SKA: Marat Khusnutdinov
Dinamo Minsk: Vladislav Yeryomenko, Vladislav Kolyachonok, Dmitri Deryabin, Ivan Drozdov

Milestone alert

Forward Malte Stromwall is hoping to suit up for his 100^th career KHL game (currently at 99).

19:30: Dynamo Moscow vs Severstal

Series stand

0 – 0

Series history

These two teams have never faced off against each other in the KHL playoffs.

About the game

Dynamo Moscow defeated Severstal this season by a score of 5-2, but also lost to the boys from Cherepovets by a shootout score of 3-2.
Yeremenko has played 88:26 straight minutes of shutout hockey.
Jaskin has points in six straight games, going 5-6-11 over this span.
Kagarlistsky has points in six straight games, going 3-6-9 over this span.
Lindberg has points in five straight games, going 2-4-6 over this span.

Injury list

Severstal: Artyom Gareyev, Vladislav Provolnev

19:30: Avangard (35-12-12) vs Avtomobilist (31-21-7)

Series stand

0 – 0

Series history

These two teams have never faced off against each other in the KHL playoffs.

About the game

Avtomobilist defeated Avangard twice this season by scores of 4-1 and 4-3 in OT, but also lost to them twice by scores of 3-1 and 6-3.

Injury list

Avangard: Nail Yakupov

Avtomobilist: Sergei Shumakov

Milestone alert

Forward Jiri Sekac is hoping to score his 100^th career KHL goal (currently at 99).

Forward Alexei Potapov hoping to collect his 100^th career KHL point (currently at 99).

Forward Ilya Kablukov is hoping to collect his 100^th career KHL assist (currently at 99).

Defenseman Maxim Berezin is hoping to collect his 100^th career KHL point (currently at 99).