CSKA at one step to the Gagarin Cup!

In Moscow, CSKA achieved a hard-fought win, with Viktor Kamenev netting the game-winner with fewer than five minutes to go as the Moscow franchise went ahead also in head-to-head meetings in the KHL, with 21 victories against 20. The series will now move to Kazan.

19:30: Ak Bars vs CSKA

Series stand

CSKA is leading the series 3-1 (1:4, 3:0, 3:2, 2:1)

About the game

Kirill Semyonov opened the score for the guests midway through the opening frame, following a play by Stanislav Galiyev. However, Ak Bars’ advantage was short-lived, with Anton Slepyshev tying things up four minutes later. In the second period, the guests survived a penalty whistled to d-man Dmitry Yudin, but after killing another penalty in the closing frame, Timur Bilyalov allowed Kamenev the game-winner as Konstantin Okulov had two assists in the night and reached the 200-pass mark. Now, the pressure is on Ak Bars as CSKA will have its first match point.

CSKA’s forward Konstantin Okulov had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling five helpers.

Injury list

CSKA: Danil Yurtaikin.

Milestone alert

CSKA’s forward Maxim Mamin may enter his 100th postseason game tonight.

Ak Bars’ defenseman Vyacheslav Voynov may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 199).

Ak Bars’ forwards Vadim Shipachyov and Dmitry Kagarlitsky are in the run to reach an assist milestone, with Shipachyov getting close to 600 (currently at 598), and the latter seeking his 300th (currently at 299).