Conference finals to start in the East

Ak Bars, Avangard meet in yet another heated battle.

The Gagarin Cup playoffs are getting closer to the grand finals, as today the Eastern Conference will start the series that will ultimately elect a champion to be sent to the final stage against the Western Conference winners. Ak Bars and Avangard have met a total of six times in the Gagarin Cup playoff and are now tied for the lead with three series wins for each team. Most recently, the two Eastern giants met one year ago, when the Hawks downed Ak Bars 4-2 in the first round. This season, Ak Bars achieved four seasons over Avangard, with two victories for the Hawks.

To get here, Avangard has only lost once in the elimination stage, when Sibir surprised the Omsk side in the very first game. Eight straight wins have followed, including a sweep of Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the second round. Reid Boucher is currently tied for second place in the league with six goals in the postseason, with a fourth place in overall scoring with eleven points.

Ak Bars had it harder, with both the previous series ending with a 4-2 score, against Neftekhimik and Admiral, respectively. Leader Alexander Radulov is leading the league with seven goals in the elimination stage, and trails only Mikhail Grigorenko and Marat Khairullin in overall scoring.

17:00: Ak Bars vs Avangard

Series stand
0-0

Series History
2009. Second round meet-up. Ak Bars defeated Avangard 3-2.

2015. Second round meet-up. Ak Bars defeated Avangard 4-1.

2017. Second round meet-up. Ak Bars defeated Avangard 4-2.

2019. First round meet-up. Avangard defeated Ak Bars 4-0.

2021. Eastern Conference finals. Avangard defeated Ak Bars 4-3.

2019. First round meet-up. Avangard defeated Ak Bars 4-2.

About the game

Avangard’s forward Reid Boucher is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 11 (6+5) points over that span.

Avangard’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four helpers.

Avangard’s forward Corban Knight is also on a seven-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points.

Injury list

Avangard: Stanislav Galimov, Damir Sharipzyanov.

Milestone alert

Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Radulov may get to 650 KHL points (currently at 649).

Ak Bars’ forward Artyom Lukoyanov lines up for his 700^th KHL game.

Ak Bars’ forward Dmitry Kagarlitsky and Avangard’s forward Sergei Tolchinsky will hit 50 KHL playoff games tonight.