Will Metallurg and Lokomotiv save the series?

Both sides tried hard in game two and were somewhat close to revert the game one trend, but in the end the home teams doubled their advantages.

Metallurg rallied back from a 0-3 deficit, while Lokomotiv grabbed a two-goal advantage in game two, but both efforts proved to be not enough as both Avangard and CSKA claimed the second straight wins in the Conference semifinals. Tonight, the series move to Magnitogorsk and Yaroslavl, respectively, as the teams will try to cut the gap. 

17:00: Metallurg vs Avangard

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

About the game

Avangard looked unstoppable at first, grabbing a three-goal lead in the opening frame. However, after substituting Ed Pasquale with veteran Vasily Koshechkin, Magnitka managed to even things up when Nikita Korostelyov scored the third for Metallurg with 16 minutes to the final hooter. However, a tally by Reid Boucher – who scored two in the night – broken the spell as the Hawks claimed a hard-fought win in the second game of the series.

Metallurg’s forward Brendan Leipsic had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, with a total of four helpers.

Metallurg’s defenseman Grigory Dronov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.

Avangard’s forward Reid Boucher is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points.

Avangard’s forward Corban Knight is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.

Injury list

Avangard: Stanislav Galimov

Milestone alert

Metallurg’s forward Denis Zernov may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 199).

19:30: Lokomotiv vs CSKA

Series stand
CSKA leads the series 2-0 (2:0, 3:2).

About the game

Lokomotiv started strong with an early goal by Denis Alexeyev after three minutes of play. Maxim Beryozkin doubled Loko’s advantage midway through the second period, but CSKA didn’t lost its composure, rallied back with Maxim Mamin and Darren Dietz, with Mikhail Grigorenko sealing the deal in the third stanza. Once again, Lokomotiv outshot the Muscovites, but it wasn’t enough and the series will now move to Yaroslavl for game three. Adam Reideborn had 40 saves for CSKA.

CSKA’s forward Mikhail Grigorenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.

CSKA’s forward Maxim Mamin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.

Injury list

Lokomotiv: Yegor Averin.

CSKA: Danil Yurtaikin.

Milestone alert

CSKA’s defenseman Darren Dietz may score his 200^th KHL point (currently at 199).

CSKA’s forward Pavel Karnaukhov may reach 100 points in the KHL (currently at 99).