Traktor on the verge of ending its season!

Do-or-die for the Black-and-Whites today as Avto has a three-match advantage in the semis.

17:00: Traktor vs Lokomotiv

Series stand:
0-3 (2:5, 2:3 ОТ, 1:2)

About the game
The return to Chelyabinsk didn’t change much in the series, with Traktor unable to get past the Railwaymen, who are now at just one game to a qualification to the Gagarin Cup finals fifteen years later its first and so far, only appearance. Lokomotiv left little chances to Traktor in game three as well, with a beautiful backhand shot by Georgy Ivanov in the middle frame sealing the deal for the Igor Nikitin’s men, who also enjoyed Yegor Averin’s first goal in this year’s elimination stage in the opening stanza. In the closing minutes, Traktor halved its deficit with a powerplay tally by Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, but it was too late for the Chelyabinsk side, which outshot Lokomotiv 30-28. Traktor will need to further up its game in the fourth match.
Lokomotiv’s forward Georgy Ivanov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.

Injury list
Traktor: Andrei Chibisov.

Milestone alert
Traktor’s defenseman Artyom Blazhiyevsky may record his 100^th KHL point (currently at 99).
Traktor’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov collects his 100^th appearance in the Gagarin Cup playoffs, while Lokomotiv’s defenseman Alexander Yelesin gets to 50.
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Alexander Polunin lines up for his 500^th KHL game, while forward Georgy Ivanov will be at his game number 400.