14:00: Avangard vs Metallurg
Series stand
0-2 (4:1, 3:2 OT)
About the game
Metallurg was urging to get a win and started the game strong, going up in the score twice, but Avangard rallied back both times and eventually claimed the game in extra time with the help of a goal by its leader Vladimir Tkachyov. Magnitka returned to its lineup Danila Yurov, who was missing for a long time after an injury that required surgery, but the move wasn’t enough to guarantee victory, with Igor Gerasking and Canadian Troy Joseph scoring for them. Nabokov played well between the piping for the Gagarin Cup reigning champion, but couldn’t do much as Nikolai Prokhorkin, Reid Boucher, and Tkachyov found the back of the net with the Hawks flying high after two road games.
Avangard’s forward Nikolai Prokhorkin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Avangard’s forward Michael McLeod had at least one assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
Metallurg: Vladislav Yeryomenko.
Avangard: Sergei Boikov.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s forward Nikita Mikhailis may score his 300th KHL point (currently at 299).
17:00: Ak Bars vs Avtomobilist
Series stand
1-1 (4:1, 3:4).
About the game
The Motormen managed to turn the tide in game two, recovering to square the series. Despite a below-expectations performance in game one, Evgeny Alikin retained his place in the Avtomobilist’s crease as the home team scored three unanswered goals that eased pressure. Stepan Falkovsky pulled a goal back for Kazan, who pushed the gas at the start of the closing frame to try to cut the Motormen’s lead. Somehow, it worked, with Kirill Semyonov making it a one-goal game, but Avtomobilist quickly retained a two-goal lead, with Dmitrij Jaskin’s late goal being nothing more than a glimpse of hope for Ak Bars. The series is now tied and can easily go either way at this point.
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa and defenseman Darren Dietz each had an assist in each of their previous three matches.
Ak Bars’ forward Kirill Semyonov is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 9 (4+5) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ forward Dmitrij Jaskin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Curtis Valk.
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s head coach Nikolai Zavarukhin may celebrate his 200th league win.
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nick Ebert is one point away from reaching 100 career points in the league (currently at 99).
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Barabanov lines up for his 400th league appearance and may score his 100th league tally (currently at 99).
17:00: Severstal vs Spartak
Series stand
0-2 (4:5 ОТ, 2:4).
About the game
Severstal tried hard to shift the momentum of the series, with a double coming in from Mikhail Kotlyarevsky, but failed to disappoint Spartak in its jubilee game – it was the 1,000th KHL game for the Red-and-Whites. Usual suspect Pavel Poryadin opened the score for Spartak, with Kotlyarevsky’s double adding excitation to a big crowd in Moscow, that celebrated a second win in the series with goals coming also from Alexander Pashin, Andrei Loktionov, and Slovak man Adam Ruzicka. Dmitry Nikolayev had an impressive 41 saves for the home side, who would be difficult to stop should they take another game in Cherepovets.
Severstal’s forward Alexei Kruchinin had an assist in each of his previous four matches.
Spartak’s forward Nikolai Goldobin is on an eight-game scoring streak, with 10 (6+4) points over that span.
Spartak’s forward Pavel Poryadin is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 9 (2+7) points.
Spartak’s forward Alexander Pashin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
Severstal: Yaroslav Dyblenko, Adam Liska.
Milestone alert
Spartak plays it’s 1,000th game in the KHL.
Spartak’s goalie Dmitry Nikolayev and Artyom Zagidulin may each record their 10th KHL shutout.
17:00: CSKA vs Dinamo Minsk
Series stand
0-2 (2:5, 3:5).
About the game
For the second time in a row, Dinamo Minsk sent five goals to CSKA’s crease and will now have to chase a home win should they want to stay in contention and Ilya Vorobyov avoid a first-round exit in his debut season with the team. After a goalless first period, the Muscovites again opened the score with Vladislav Provolnev, but this time didn’t double the advantage and allowed three to the home side, with Vadim Moroz, Vadim Shipachyov, and Vitaly Pinchuk celebrating – the latter with a deft ‘no shot’ deke in a one-on-one with goalie Ivan Prosvetov. CSKA built some momentum and eventually returned to being a menace for the hosts with a tally by d-man Dmitry Samorukov, but the rest of the scoring was irrelevant as the Bison collected their second straight win.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Roman Gorbunov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Alexander Volkov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vitaly Pinchuk is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 6 (3+3) points.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Ilya Usov.
CSKA: Vitaly Abramov
Milestone alert
CSKA plays its 200th game in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.