Metallurg and Avtomobilist kick off second semifinal

The KHL Gagarin Cup second semifinals series kicks off today as Avtomobilist pays a visit to Magnitogorsk to revenge for last year’s 3-4 defeat. Three of the four surviving teams have never lifted the Cup, with only Magnitka being a past winner.

The Gagarin Cup playoffs’ semifinals round starts today, with only one Western Conference team remaining. This formula was introduced for the 2023-2024 season as teams are now included in a unified pool, without the traditional Conference-split setup.

17:00: Metallurg vs Avtomobilist

Series stand
0-0

Series history
2016. 1^st round meet-up: Metallurg defeated Avtomobilist 4-2.
2018. 1^st round meet-up: Metallurg defeated Avtomobilist 4-2.
2023. 1^st round meet-up: Metallurg defeated Avtomobilist 4-3.

Playoffs path:
1st round: Metallurg vs Amur 4-2; 2nd round: Metallurg vs Spartak 4-2.
1st round: Avtomobilist vs Ak Bars 4-1; 2nd round: Avtomobilist vs SKA 4-1.

About the game
In the four regular-season meetings between the two Urals sides, Metallurg defeated Avtomobilist three times, with the Motormen claiming a single victory in the first meet-up (2.3 OT, 4:2, 2:1 SO, 4:0).
Metallurg’s goalie Ilya Nabokov enters the semifinals round on a 68:48 shutout streak.

Injury list
Avtomobilist: Vladimir Kuznetsov.

Milestone alert
Metallurg’s forward Pavel Akolzin may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa may score his 50^th point in the Gagarin Cup playoffs (currently at 49).