Magnitka reaches Gagarin Cup final. April 15 playoffs
Metallurg edged past Avtomobilist in game seven of the teams’ 2024 KHL semi-final, booking its place in the Gagarin Cup final for the fifth time. A dominant first-period display proved sufficient, with goals from Dmitry Silantiev and Danila Yurov setting the Steelmen on the right path. Maxim Denezhkin scored twice for Avtomobilist to keep the game alive, but Denis Zernov’s 24th-minute tally proved decisive. The 2024 Gagarin Cup final starts April 18 in Magnitogorsk, with Andrei Razin’s Metallurg facing Ilya Nikitin’s Lokomotiv. The two head coaches previously met as players in the 2001 Russian Superleague final, with Razin’s Metallurg defeating Nikulin’s Avangard.
Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 2 (2-1, 1-1, 0-0)
Metallurg wins the series 4-3
Avtomobilist continued with Vladimir Galkin in goal after he backstopped Saturday’s series-saving 5-3 win on home ice. Once again, Evgeny Alikin was not involved at all. The visitor also welcomed back Sergei Shirokov, who missed the previous game. Vladimir Kuznetsov made way for the experienced forward. Metallurg, once again, was unchanged.
The home team dominated the first period, tearing into Avtomobilist from the start. Inside the first 10 minutes, Makar Khabarov hit the post, Galkin robbed Denis Zernov of an opening goal and Nikita Grebyonkin went all the way around the net and just failed to put the puck onto Daniil Vovchenko’s stick for a simple finish. Then came the opener from Dmitry Silantyev, who capitalized on an odd-man rush after Maxim Osipov slipped and fell in center ice, coughing up the puck.
Not even a power play for Avtomobilist, the first of the game, could change the flow and after Khabarov returned from the box, Roman Kantserov found the unmarked Danila Yurov to make it 2-0. Almost immediately, Magnitka got its first PP of the evening and Galkin twice had to deny Igor Geraskin as the home team looked for a third.
By the time Kirill Vorobyov returned to the ice, the Motormen had mustered just one shot on goal. However, the second attempt found the net seven seconds before the hooter. Maxim Denezhkin ran on to Sergei Zborovsky’s pass and raced clear to beat Ilya Nabokov. Although the first period shot count was 14-2 in Metallurg’s favor, that late goal changed the complexion of the game and put Avtomobilist right back in contention.
The second period began with more Metallurg pressure and in the fourth minute Zernov scored for the third game in a row. He pounced on the rebound from a Silantyev shot to restore his team’s two-goal lead – but not for long. Avto responded within 22 seconds as Denezhkin’s second of the night kept the intrigue bubbling over nicely.
Now the balance of play began to shift. As the game reached its midway point, Avtomobilist was creating the clearer chances. Nabokov had another nervous moment when he blocked Artyom Kashtanov’s shot right onto Danil Romantsev’s skate but the puck skittered wide of the target. At the other end, Denezhkin carelessly lost possession and Galkin was again grateful to the post as it stopped a Nikita Mikhailis effort. Then came two more unsuccessful Avtomobilist power plays as the momentum ebbed and flowed.
The third period began with Magnitka enjoying a man advantage as Jesse Blacker’s foul carried over from the middle session. There was even a two-man advantage, albeit for just 12 seconds, after Nikita Tryamkin also fell foul of the officials. However, despite one big scramble in front of Galkin’s net, the home team was unable to extend its lead.
By now, the atmosphere was very different. The second period was full of attacking play from both teams, with 29 shots on goal between them. The third, with a place in the final within touching distance for Metallurg, was far more cautious. The home team focussed on defense, pressing hard in center ice to limit Avtomobilist to rare chances. As the action went into the last five minutes, the visitor had just two efforts at Nabokov in the third period and the best chance of the session went to Maxim Karpov on the counter.
In the closing moments, Nabokov attempted a shot at the empty net after making a save from Stephane Da Costa. However, his effort drifted wide of the target and Avtomobilist launched a last, desperate push for a tying goal. However, there was no way back and Metallurg secured its place in another Gagarin Cup final.
