Admiral, Ak Bars, and SKA may finish their series

The Sailors have a chance to collect their first-ever victory in a playoff series as they host Salavat Yulaev tonight with the series standing 3-2 in their favor after an OT win on Thursday.

SKA and Ak Bars also have a chance to finish off their opponents, but they will both play on the road tonight, and both Neftekhimik and Dinamo Minsk will be determined to force the series to the seventh game. Only three games are on tap tonight after Thursday’s Lokomotiv win over Vityaz.

10:00: Admiral vs Salavat Yulaev

Series stand
Admiral is leading the series 3-2 (2:1 ОТ, 2:5, 3:2 ОТ, 0:1, 4:3 ОТ).

About the game
Alexander Shevchenko potted a double in game five, including the OT game-winner as Admiral is sensationally leading the series. The Sailors, however, blew away a 3:0 lead as Alexei Pustozyorov netted his second of the night with just nine seconds to go in the final stanza. Tonight, Admiral will have a chance to end the series.

Injury list
Admiral: Alexander Gorshkov, Dmitry Sayustov.

Milestone alert

Admiral’s forward Gleb Zyryanov may line up for his 200^th KHL game.

Salavat Yulaev’s defenseman Viktor Antipin may reach 650 games.

Salavat Yulaev’s defenseman Grigory Panin enters his 150^th KHL playoff game tonight. 

17:00: Neftekhimik vs Ak Bars

Series stand
Ak Bars is leading the series 3-2 (3:2 ОТ, 1:4, 1:4, 4:2, 1:6).

About the game
Alex Radulov and Ak Bars showed their class in game five, with the forward scoring two goals and adding an assist as Kazan got the upper hand with a commanding 6:1 victory. Tonight, Ak Bars has a good chance to finish off their Tatarstan local rivals in a series that is most likely tighter than many were expecting.

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

Milestone alert

Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Radulov may become the fourth all-time player to reach 100 points in the KHL playoffs (currently at 96), following Sergei Mozyakin, Danis Zaripov, and Vadim Shipachyov. 

17:10: Dinamo Minsk vs SKA

Series stand
SKA is leading the series 3-2 (6:4, 2:5, 0:4, 4:2, 3:6).

About the game
SKA is now just one game away from booking its place in the second round of this year’s playoffs, but the top-seeded side had to work hard once again to get the best of a hard-battling opponent. SKA was in control for most of the game, even if Dinamo never surrendered and once again netted three goals or more with St. Petersburg netting twice into the empty net in the game’s dying minutes. Tonight, SKA has a chance to wrap up the series, but it won’t be easy. With that being said, Dinamo Minsk will have to find a way to contain Nikita Gusev – the flamboyant St. Petersburg winger has amassed nine points in the series’ five games and is also close to reach 100 career points in the KHL postseason.

SKA’s forward Nikita Gusev is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 15 (6+9) points over that span.

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