Yaroslavl close to long-awaited final

Elsewhere, a long-serving import reaches 50 playoff points and Avangard confirms its new head coach.

Lokomotiv close on Gagarin Cup final

The first semi-final could be finished today. Traktor entertains Lokomotiv in game four knowing that only victory will do. The Railwaymen kept up their winning streak on Saturday as the series moved to Chelyabinsk, edging a 2-1 verdict to go up 3-0. Igor Nikitin’s team needs one more win to make the final, which would be Loko’s first since the inaugural KHL season.

Railwaymen close to booking cup final berth. April 6 playoffs

Traktor’s injury blow

The task facing Traktor was made more challenging after an injury to goalie Zach Fucale. He had to leave the ice during game one after a collision with Loko forward Maxim Shalunov. Since then, he’s been day-to-day but was unable to feature in the next two meetings. His place went to 24-year-old Sergei Mylnikov, thrown into his first playoff action. The youngster is letting nobody down, taking game two to overtime then falling foul of a 1-2 verdict in game three. Nonetheless, many commentators believe that a healthy Fucale would be crucial to Traktor’s hopes of prolonging the semi-final contest.

Advantage Metallurg as Yekaterinburg hosts first ever semi

In the second series, things are tighter. Metallurg is up 2-1 on Avtomobilist after an overtime success on Sunday. That game was the first playoff semi-final game held in Yekaterinburg, where the Motormen are enjoying the best season in their history. However, Luke Johnson’s goal at the start of the extras was enough to give Magnitka the edge on the day and in the series.

Johnson goal lifts Magnitka to OT win. April 7 playoffs

Last-gasp Romantsev

Danil Romantsev might be down in the series, but he’s showing a rare talent for grabbing late goals. In each of the three games so far, Romantsev has found the Metallurg net – empty or otherwise – in the last couple of minutes. The run started on April 3, when his goal on 59:18 proved insufficient to inspire a fightback from 0-2 in the opening game. Two days later, he fired into an empty net to seal a 4-2 win and tie the series. Then on Sunday, Romantsev scored with 48 seconds left to force overtime. Apparently, it’s not over until Danil scores.

Da Costa’s half century

Avtomobilist’s French forward Stephane Da Costa produced a game-winning display in game two, grabbing two goals and an assist. That also took him past 50 points in KHL playoff action in his 77^th post season appearance. He’s been in the league since 2014-2015, representing Ak Bars and Lokomotiv as well as Avto. Currently he has 53 (25+28) points in 78 playoff games.

Zvyagin gets Avangard gig

Sergei Zvyagin’s spell as interim head coach of Avangard could not save the team from defeat in its second-round playoff series against Lokomotiv. However, his efforts in dragging the Hawks to game seven did not go unrewarded. Last week in Omsk, Zvyagin signed a two-year contract as head coach. A former international goaltender, Zvyagin had been goalie coach at Avangard since 2018. Previously he held similar roles with Barys and Metallurg.

Dynamo secures imports

A promising season for Dynamo Moscow ended in disappointment when the Blue-and-Whites crashed out in the second round of the playoffs. However, the Muscovites have been quick to extend their contracts with two imports. Eric O’Dell inked a two-year deal after compiling 57 (27+30) points last season. The Canadian played the last three seasons with Dynamo, having also represented Metallurg and Sochi. In total O’Dell has 397 KHL games for 120 goals and 136 assists. Fellow Canadian Jordan Weal, 31, also signed a two-year deal. Last term he had 86 (34+52) points in 76 games.

Barberio stays at Severstal

Another import, defenseman Mark Barberio, will be back in Cherepovets next season. The 34-year-old agreed another year with the Steelmen, where he played 69 games last season.

Dynamo Neva leads in women’s final

After four games of the Women’s Hockey League final, Dynamo Neva is one game away from claiming its first ever title. The team from Petersburg opened with a 2-0 win on the road at Biryusa, but then hit adversity. Biryusa hit back to win game two in Krasnoyarsk and the opener in St. Petersburg went to overtime before Alexandra Vafina snapped a 2-2 tie in the home team’s favor. A 4-1 verdict on Sunday in game four means Dynamo can wrap it up when the action returns to Siberia on April 10.

Junior semi-finals unfold

Another Petersburg team, SKA-1946, is one win away from reaching the Kharlamov Cup final. Up 3-1 in its series against Belye Medvedi, the juniors can wrap up that contest tomorrow on home ice. If successful, they will face the winner of the Loko vs Chaika series, currently locked at 2-2. All four games so far have gone to the home team: will Monday’s encounter in Yaroslavl continue that trend?