Magnitka completes cup final sweep. April 24 playoffs
Metallurg won the 2024 Gagarin Cup, lifting the trophy for the third time in its history. A road win in Yaroslavl saw the Steelmen sweep Lokomotiv, with Daniil Vovchenko claiming the winning goal midway through the third period. Vovchenko is one of several players who followed head coach Andrei Razin from Severstal to Magnitogorsk. Behind a different bench, Razin claimed his first championship in his first season with the club, consolidating his status as one of Russia’s most exciting coaches.
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 1 Metallurg Magnitogorsk 2 (1-0, 0-1, 0-1)
Metallurg wins the Gagarin Cup Final 4-0
Game four had the potential to decide the 2024 Gagarin Cup final. However, despite the enhanced significance, neither team made big changes. Metallurg, up 3-0, saw no reason to switch up a winning team with captain Yegor Yakovlev still out of action. Lokomotiv was once again without the injured Maxim Shalunov. Igor Nikitin made his now-familiar tweak to his offense, resting Ivan Chekhovich and bringing back Nikita Kiryanov.
With no margin for error, Lokomotiv began the game on the front foot. After three games in which the opening goal arrived no earlier than 35 minutes, the Railwaymen were determined to deliver a fast start. The opening exchanges saw most of the play in front of Ilya Nabokov’s net and that led to the host taking the lead in the ninth minute. Daniil Tesanov moved down the left, got to the goal-line, then steered the puck back to the slot. Yaroslav Likhachyov was arriving at just the right time to slot a one-timer into the net. That was the first time either team produced a goal in the first period of a game in this year’s final and it was a vital marker for Lokomotiv.
Up until that point, Metallurg’s offense was barely visible. Gradually it got into the game, and there were chances for a tying goal. However, Igor Geraskin’s redirect flashed wide of the target then a dangerous play from Nikita Grebyonkin skittered to safety with no team-mate able to apply the finishing touch.
However, Lokomotiv had more of the puck and Magnitka’s defense had to block 10 shots to keep Nabokov out of peril in the opening stanza.
During the intermission, Andrei Razin clearly asked for more from his forwards. The visitor came out for the second period and immediately looked to put pressure on Daniil Isayev.
That did not herald a dominant display from the Steelmen. Instead, the teams exchanged attacks more evenly than in the opening frame. However, while the first session saw Lokomotiv creating more danger, Isayev was the busier goalie in the second and the home defense was actively blocking shots to support the goalie.
Midway through the session the teams traded good chances. First, Alexander Polunin went round the back of Nabokov’s net before setting up Denis Alexeyev in a great position out in front. However, the Loko forward’s shot hit Maklyukov’s knee and bounced to safety. At the other end, Isayev was stretched by Dmitry Silantyev’s shot but recovered in time to deny Roman Kantserov on the rebound.
As the intermission approached it looked as though Lokomotiv would protect its lead through 40 minutes. However, with 27 seconds left on the clock, Denis Zernov changed all that. A spell of extended pressure saw Isayev deny Silantyev but send the puck out to Artyom Minulin on the boards. The defenseman lashed in a shot which bounced off two Yaroslavl skates and dropped kindly for Zernov to tap into an empty net from a meter away. The home bench immediately challenged the play, believing that Isayev was impeded, but the review awarded Zernov his 12th goal of this year’s playoffs.
That failed challenge gave Metallurg a power play at the start of the third period. Nikita Mikhailis almost took advantage, getting a touch on Kantserov’s shot but seeing the puck go wide of the goal.
However, the next PP chance was enough for the visitor to get ahead. Yegor Averin was called for a trip on Mikhailis, and Magnitka took advantage. Alexander Petunin, who has finished off some big plays in this final, went behind the net before dishing off the puck for Daniil Vovchenko. The former Severstal man, one of several players Razin brought with him from Cherepovets to Magnitogorsk, produced an emphatic shot from the circle that ripped past Isayev to move Metallurg to within nine minutes of glory.
Two of those minutes were spent playing four on four after a clash between Petunin and Martin Gernat in center ice. The extra space suited Lokomotiv, and there were chances for Artur Kayumov and Georgy Ivanov as the home side chased a season-saving goal. However, Lokomotiv had not scored more than one goal in any of three previous games and Nabokov continued his impressive form to preserve Metallurg’s lead.
On 57:01, Loko called a time-out and benched Isayev in favor of another skater. Almost immediately, Kantserov had a chance to wrap it up, but Gernat got back to stop him scoring into an empty net. Isayev had to return to the ice to deal with the subsequent face-off and it took almost a minute for Lokomotiv to be able to play six-on-five again.
The final seconds were played in front of Nabokov’s net. Stepan Nikulin twice fired in dangerous shots from distance, but could not hit the target and there was no luck with rebounds for the home team. With 20 seconds to play, Geraskin managed to clear the puck and that effectively ended Lokomotiv’s hopes. Magnitka played out the closing shift to claim the win and lift the cup.
