Traktor, Lokomotiv looking for third win

The two road teams collected two straight wins as the second round started with two sensations.

17:00: Traktor vs Dynamo Moscow

Series stand
2-0 (4:2, 5:4 ОТ)

About the game
Dynamo Moscow rallied back from a 2:4 deficit in the third period, with tallies from Nikita Gusev and Dmitry Rashevsky, but Alexander Sharov’s second goal of this year’s elimination stage in extra time gave Traktor a two-game advantage in the second-round series. Once again, Ilya Konovalov didn’t deliver between the piping for the Blue-and-Whites, who could however count on two points from Gusev and Jordan Weal. Maxim Shabanov repeated the feat for Traktor, who will be on the lookout for a third win.
Traktor’s forward Maxim Shabanov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Traktor’s forward Charles Robinson is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.

Injury list
Traktor: Andrei Chibisov.
Dynamo Moscow: Artyom Volchenkov

Milestone alert
Traktor’s defenseman Artyom Blazhiyevsky may reach 100 league points (currently at 99).
Traktor’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov may record his 200^th KHL helper (currently at 199).

19:30: Lokomotiv vs Avangard

Series stand
2-0 (2:1 2ОТ, 7:0)

About the game
If the first game of the series was a double-OT thriller, there was virtually no game in the second contest, with Lokomotiv sending seven unanswered goals to the Hawks’ net. Stepan Nikulin potted a double for the Railwaymen, who also enjoyed a three-point performance by Artur Kayumov and Andrei Sergeyev. Daniil Isayev only needed to stop 18 shots to record his first shutout of this year’s Gagarin Cup playoffs. After the debacle, Avangard’s head coach Mikhail Kravets left his job, with goalie coach Sergei Zvyagin being named interim head coach for the Hawks.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev is on a 136:40 shutout streak.
Lokomotiv’s forward Artur Kayumov had at least an assist in his last four games, including a hat-trick of assists in game two, collecting a total of seven helpers.
Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Beryozin is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Polunin is on a three-game scoring streak, also with 5 (2+3) points.

Injury list
Avangard: Ivan Telegin.