International flavor. Semifinals top imports
Despite the loss, Da Costa was one of the top players on the ice against Metallurg, while Lokomotiv can count on a top defenseman from Slovakia.
France
F, Avtomobilist, 7 G, 7 (4+3) points, +1
Stephane Da Costa and Anatoly Golyshev were a threat for Metallurg throughout the series. The Frenchman, who is at his ninth season in the league and at his second stint with the Motormen, had two three-point performances with two Avto wins in game two and four, respectively. Da Costa also netted a tally in Avtomobilist’s critical win in game six, when the Motormen were at just one loss to end their season. It has been another strong season for Da Costa, who will be returning in Yekaterinburg next year as the Motormen will try and improve a fantastic performance in the current campaign.
Slovakia
D, Lokomotiv, 4 G, 5 (3+2) points, +3
The Slovak defenseman was instrumental for the Railwaymen’s success in the quarterfinals, scoring more than a point per game in the short-lived series against Traktor that got Lokomotiv to the first qualification in the Gagarin Cup finals since 2009, when they lost to Ak Bars in the very first league’s season. The Kosice native was impressive against Chelyabinsk, scoring points in three games of four, with two multi-point games. He also netted the game-winner as Lokomotiv defeated Traktor in the fourth match, finding his fifth goals of this year’s elimination stage after a mere ten minutes of play. For his efforts, Gernat was awarded the Best defenseman honors for the semifinals.
Sweden
D, Metallurg, 7 G, 4 (1+3) points, -1
The Swedish defenseman was good once again on the blue line for Metallurg, despite a few mistakes, as he netted an important goal in game three, which Magnitka won 3:2 in extra time. Press also added three helpers in the series, including a two-assist performance in Metallurg’s losing effort in game four (3:5). The blueliner had shot attempts in each game of the series and helped the Andrei Razin’s men going through Avtomobilist as Magnitka qualified for the Gagarin Cup finals for the fifth time in their history – the first since 2022, when the Magnitogorsk men lost to CSKA (3-4). Press will help Magnitka in its hunt for its third Gagarin Cup triumph.
United States
F, Metallurg, 7 G, 2 (1+1) points, even
Perhaps Johnson didn’t post impressive numbers in the semifinals against Avtomobilist, yet he netted a critical goal in game three in Yekaterinburg – the Grand Forks native made the best of a smooth pass by Maxim Karpov and defeated Evgeny Alikin in OT with a swift one-timer from the slot that beat the goalie glove side as the win set the pace for Magnitka in the rest of the series. Johnson also had an assist in Metallurg’s losing effort in game four (3:5). The American forward’s experience will be critical in the final stage against Lokomotiv, with Magnitka bringing to the ice such a young lineup.
