Ak Bars looking to close the gap against Avangard in game five!
Salavat Yulaev faces Sibir looking to end the series, while Dynamo and Severstal are again on a tie. Three playoff games are on tap on an exciting KHL Thursday.
After losing the first three games of the series, Ak Bars was on the edge of an embarrassing first-round exit, but an OT masterpiece by Dmitry Kagarlitsky returned the series to Kazan and ended Ak Bars’ wins drought.
The KHL matchday starts with Salavat Yulaev facing Sibir, trying to end the series in five games after its 6:3 victory on Tuesday.
Emotions are guaranteed also when Dynamo Moscow hosts Severstal – so far the teams exchanged road wins, will the trend change for game five?
17:00: Salavat Yulaev vs Sibir
Series stand
Salavat Yulaev leads the series 3-1.
About the game
Alexander Kadeikin potted a double in game four and Salavat Yulaev run away with a 6:3 victory – for the first time in the series, more than a goal separated the teams. Kadeikin also had an assist, while Viktor Tikhonov and Sergei Shmelyov both had two points for Ufa. Salavat Yulaev has now a chance to end the series at home.
Sibir’s forward Valentin Pyanov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Sibir’s defenseman Michal Cajkovsky is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Sibir: Maxim Goncharov, Vyacheslav Litovchenko, Trevor Murphy.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Danil Golubev may reach 100 KHL points.
19:30: Dynamo Moscow vs Severstal
Series stand
After four games, the series is tied 2-2.
About the game
The Blue-and-Whites managed to turn the series upside down and tied things up with an OT goal by Slava Voynov in game four. In game three, Severstal was up until less than fifteen minutes to go, then Vadim Shipachyov had two assists in the tallies by Stanislav Galiev and Voynov. Also Andrei Mironov scored for Dynamo.
Severstal’s defenseman Ilya Khokhlov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Kirill Pilipenko is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Stanislav Galiev may net his 100th goal in the KHL (currently at 98).
Severstal’s forward David Dumbadze lines up for his 100th career game.
19:30: Ak Bars vs Avangard
Series stand
Avangard leads the series 1-3.
About the game
Ak Bars achieved its first victory of the series after a marvelous strike by Dmitry Kagarlitsky in game three’s OT. Kazan went up in the game at midpoint after Steven Kampfer’s first playoff goal – it was Ak Bars’ first lead in the series. Kirill Semyonov tied things up with fewer than five minutes to go in the closing stanza, but then Kagarlitsky beat Simon Hrubec glove-side as the series returns to Kazan.
Injury list
Avangard: Alexander Dergachyov.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ goalie Igor Bobkov may reach 30 KHL shutouts.
