Game seven in Magnitogorsk and Moscow!

In two series – one in each conference – six games weren’t enough to establish a winner, and tonight hockey fans will be treated with not only one, but two games seven in a miss-not matchday.

The defending champs weren’t able to finish Severstal off in game six, with Magnitogorsk being able to put on a big performance and achieve a high-scoring win to move the series back to Yekaterinburg for a decisive battle tonight. 

17:00: Avtomobilist vs Metallurg

Series stand

The series is tied 3-3 (4:2, 2:3 2ОТ, 1:2 2ОТ, 4:0, 6:3, 3:6)

About the game

It’s all or nothing tonight on the Urals, with Yekaterinburg blowing away its first match point on Sunday after losing 3:6 to a determined Metallurg side. The hero of the night wasn’t Nikolai Goldobin nor Brendan Leipsic, but Pavel Akolzin, who netted his first career hat-trick after having the Motormen scoring twice on his penalties, going from rags to riches as the series crosses the Urals back for game seven. Avtomobilist will have home ice advantage, but Metallurg has much more experience, with a 5-3 record in games seven throughout the KHL history. It will be the first such game for the Motormen, who may be without Swedish goalie Johan Mattsson.

Avtomobilist’s forward Curtis Valk is on a six-game scoring streak, with 10 (4+6) points.

Injury list
Avtomobilist: Johan Mattsson, Daniil Tarasov.

Milestone alert

Avtomobilist’s defenseman Yefim Gurkin may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99). 

Metallurg’s forward Brandon Leipsic lines up for his 200^th KHL game. 

19:30: CSKA vs Severstal

Series stand
The series is tied 3-3 (5:2, 2:3 2ОТ, 3:5, 9:3, 4:3, 0:3).

About the game
Most people was probably expecting CSKA defeating Severstal in game six to advance to the Western semifinals, but they were just putting their cart before the horse as the Steelers came up with a shutout win to send the series to an unexpected game seven in Moscow. Alexander Samonov made 26 stops, while Swedish defenseman Robin Press had two helpers, while trade deadline newcomer Daniil Pylenkov – in his 200^th career game – netted the game winner for Severstal. CSKA also has some good experience, with a 4-2 record in games seven, while the Steelers only played one such matches, with a loss to Dynamo Moscow last year.

Severstal’s goalie Alexander Samonov is on a 85:38 shutout streak.

Injury list

Severstal: Andrei Churkin, Makar Khabarov, Maxim Kolmykov, Nikita Sedov, Dmitry Shugayev.
CSKA: Danil Yurtaikin.