Avangard close to the Conference finals!

After game three’s OT win, the Hawks may land in the Eastern Finals, but Magnitka isn’t ready to surrender just yet.

Arseny Gritsyuk netted yet another OT game-winner as Avangard grabbed its third straight win in the Eastern Semis, thus meaning that Magnitka is on the edge of being swept after reaching the Gagarin Cup finals last time around, and having defeated Avangard 4-3 en route to facing CSKA.

In the other series of the day, the picture is different. CSKA dominated the first two games, at home, but in Yaroslavl Lokomotiv reignited the contest with a sound 6:2 victory with home goalie Daniil Isayev finally delivering with 26 saves, including 12 in the opening frame. However, the real hero of the night was Ivan Chekhovich, who netted a hat-trick.

17:00: Metallurg vs Avangard

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

About the game

Arseny Gritsyuk netted his second OT goal in three games as the Hawks defeated Magnitka in extra time to get a precious three-match advantage. However, with their back against the wall, the Steel Foxes may still surprise and grab one game to get the ball rolling – the series isn’t over yet.

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

Metallurg’s defenseman Grigory Dronov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.

Avangard’s forward Reid Boucher is on a six-game scoring streak, with 9 (4+5) points.

Avangard’s forward Corban Knight is on a six-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+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 2-1 (2:0, 3:2, 2:6).

About the game

The Railwaymen returned to Yaroslavl with a bang, scoring six goals to CSKA, opposite to the just two tallies in the first couple of games. Ivan Chekhovich posted his first postseason hat-trick, while Pavel Kraskovsky, Alexei Marchenko, and Andrei Sergeyev had two points each as Lokomotiv grabbed game three on home soil.

CSKA’s forward Maxim Mamin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.

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).

CSKA’s defenseman Nikita Nesterov lines up for his 100 postseason game in the KHL.