Lokomotiv may find itself in West semifinals tonight

Just one win will be enough for Loko to become the first team to book a ticket to the conference semifinals tonight.

After Rushan Rafikov’s tally in game four – with another game entertaining the fans with a double-OT finish – Lokomotiv has the chance to be the first team in the league to end things up in the first round as they now are up 3-1 in the series over Vityaz. The other clashes of the day are all settled to a 2-2 score. 

17:00: Salavat Yulaev vs Admiral

Series stand
The series is tied 2-2 (1:2 ОТ, 5:2, 2:3 ОТ, 1:0).

About the game
Salavat Yulaev’s captain Grigory Panin netted one of his rare goals when it mattered the most – in a close, one-game playoff contest. Ilya Ezhov had 19 saves for Ufa for his third career shutout in the postseason.

Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Ilya Ezhov is on a 59:34 shutout streak.

Salavat Yulaev’s forward Ivan Drozdov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.

Salavat Yulaev’s forward Daniil Bashkirov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.

Injury list
Admiral: Dmitry Sayustov, Gleb Zyryanov.

19:30: Ak Bars vs Neftekhimik

Series stand
The series is tied 2-2 (2:3 ОТ, 4:1, 4:1, 2:4).

About the game
Ak Bars blew away a 2:0 lead and a five-minute powerplay in the second period as Neftekhimik managed to level the series, with Raul Yakupov and Evgeny Mityakin netting their first postseason goals and extra tallies by Vyacheslav Leshchenko and Semyon Kizimov. Goalie Alexander Sudnitsin stopped 32 shots out of 34 as coach Oleg Leontyev opted for a change between the piping after Andrei Tikhomirov allowed four in game three, while Vadim Shipachyov had little to celebrate in his 900^th game.

Injury list
Neftekhimik: Rafael Bikmullin, Ilya Fedotov, Emil Garipov.

Milestone alert

Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Radulov enters his 550^th KHL game tonight. 

19:30: SKA vs Dinamo Minsk

Series stand
The series is tied 2-2 (4:6, 5:2, 4:0, 2:4).

About the game
It was a tight game in Minsk, with the score still stuck on 0:0 until the third period. Just as Neftekhimik, also the Belarusians opted for a change in goal, and Alexei Kolosov delivered for Minsk, keeping his crease clean for 44 minutes despite exceptional pressure put on his defense by SKA. Roman Gorbunov netted the game-winner in the third period as the series returns to St. Petersburg on a level score.

SKA’s forward Nikita Gusev is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 13 (5+8) points over that span.

Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Nikita Zorkin.
SKA: Danila Moiseyev, Nikolai Prokhorkin, Artyom Shvets-Rogovoi.

19:30: Vityaz vs Lokomotiv

Series stand
Lokomotiv leads the series 3-1 (0:1 ОТ, 6:2, 4:0, 3:2 2ОТ).

About the game
Lokomotiv got full advantage of a Rushan Rafikov’s shot in game four’s second OT and a ricochet gave the Yaroslavl side the third win in the series – they only need a single win to become the first team to qualify to the next round. Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin had 62 saves, but that wasn’t enough for the Moscow Region franchise.

Milestone alert

Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev has a chance to record his 10^th KHL shutout tonight.

Vityaz’s forward Kirill Rasskazov lines up for his 400^th KHL game.