Avangard looking to double its lead in Kazan.
The pressure is high on the Dmitry Kvartalnov’s side after game one’s loss to the Hawks. SKA and Salavat Yulaev are also looking to double their lead, while Dynamo Moscow will try to recover after losing the first battle to Severstal.
Game one has seen plenty of drama in all the clashes – with Severstal and Avangard achieving road victories, Salavat Yulaev surpassing Sibir by just one goal, and SKA thumping Dinamo Minsk. However, game two will be most likely a different story.
17:00: Salavat Yulaev vs Sibir
Series stand
Salavat Yulaev leads the series 1-0.
About the game
Salavat Yulaev’s Stepan Sannikov scored the game-winner to his former team, while Juha Metsola had a spectacular 29-save performanca between the piping in Ufa’s 2:1 win after Anton Shenfeld scored the go-ahead goal for Sibir after only three minutes in the first stanza.
Injury list
Sibir: Maxim Goncharov, Vyacheslav Litovchenko, Trevor Murphy.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Danil Bashkirov may line up for his 100th KHL game.
19:30: SKA vs Dinamo Minsk
Series stand
SKA leads the series 1-0.
About the game
SKA’s Nikita Gusev had a commanding performance, establishing a KHL record with 6 (1+5) points. SKA sent out a warning to other Western Conference teams with a sound 8:3 victory, despite being down 1:2 after the first intermission.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Mario Kempe.
Milestone alert
SKA’s defenseman Mikko Lehtonen and Dinamo Minsk’s forward Mattias Tedenby line up for their 100th KHL game.
SKA’s forward Emil Galimov may score his 200th KHL point (currently at 199).
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Malte Stromwall may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
SKA’s defenseman Vasily Tokranov may record his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
19:30: Dynamo Moscow vs Severstal
Series stand
Severstal leads the series 0-1.
About the game
Severstal surprised the Blue-and-Whites in game one. Nikita Pilipenko, Yegor Morozov, and Igor Geraskin all had two points for the Andrei Razin’s team, who scored six goals to the Muscovites for a 6:3 sensational win.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s Vadim Shipachyov can become the first player to reach 550 assists in the KHL (currently at 549).
19:30: Ak Bars vs Avangard
Series stand
Avangard leads the series 0-1.
About the game
The Hawks had the edge in game one courtesy of a double by Nikolai Prokhorkin – including the OT GWG – and a superb save by Simon Hrubec on Jordan Weal. In extra-time, the 2017 Gagarin Cup winner collected a drop pass from Peter Cehlarik and sealed the deal for the Hawks’ 2:1 away victory.
Injury list
Avangard: Alexander Dergachyov, Yaroslav Kosov.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ goalie Igor Bobkov may record his 30th career shutout.
