Spartak closes on round two, CSKA revives its chances

Both Moscow teams picked up wins in today’s Western Conference playoffs. For CSKA, a come-from-behind success at home to Dinamo Minsk was vital to keep the series alive. Ilya Vorobyov’s team gave up an early goal but rallied to draw back to 1-2 in the series. Spartak, meanwhile, is just one game away from progress after edging a 1-0 verdict at Severstal. The Red-and-Whites could complete the sweep on Tuesday. 

Afanasyev double revives CSKA’s hopes

CSKA Moscow 4 Dinamo Minsk 1 (0-1, 1-0, 3-0)

(Dinamo leads the series 2-1)

At the end of the first period, CSKA was staring down the barrel. Twice beaten in Minsk, Ilya Vorobyov’s team was behind again on home ice and facing a daunting 0-3 scoreline in this Gagarin Cup first-round series.

But this time the host found a way back. An early goal in the second tied the game, and the final frame saw the Muscovites approaching their best hockey with three more goals.

The Belarusians, buoyed by back-to-back wins at the start of the series, made a perfect start in game three. Chris Tierney struck in the second minute on the counterattack and, for the first time, Dinamo opened the scoring in this series.

Subsequently, CSKA had the bulk of the play – helped by two power plays. However, the home team struggled to carve out big scoring chances, while the visitor repeatedly got bodies behind incoming shots. At the other end, Dinamo relied on counterattacks: Tierney came close to a second goal on the penalty kill, and late in the session, Yegor Borikov fired against the post.

At the start of the second period, the home team got the all-important tying goal. Dinamo came out strongly after the intermission, but CSKA won possession and launched a swift counter. Ruslan Iskhakov raced away from Jordan Gross down the right and drilled the puck across the face of goal. A deflection off Yegor Afanasyev’s skate took it past Vasily Demchenko and into the net.

Again, both teams were happy to fire shots at will, but the closest we came to another goal was a penalty shot for Dinamo late in the frame. Vadim Shipachyov’s progress towards Ivan Prosvetov’s net was rudely halted by Fredrik Claesson, but Tierney was unable to beat the goalie with his attempt.

For the third period in a row, we saw an early goal. This time it went to CSKA, and came on the power play after Daniil Sotishvili sat for high sticking. The home PP created a couple of decent looks even before Ivan Drozdov set up Iskhakov for a shot from the center of the zone to the top corner.

Once in front, CSKA did not look back. Another power play – far from the most inevitable of penalties – saw Afanasyev get his second of the game in the 53rd minute, giving the home team some breathing space. A minute later, Drozdov got clear and won his duel with Demchenko to add a fourth goal and put the game beyond reach.

The turnaround in today’s game was complete. Now CSKA has a chance to bring the series level when the teams meet again in Moscow on Tuesday.

Zagidulin denies Severstal

Severstal Cherepovets 0 Spartak Moscow 1 (0-1, 0-0, 0-0)

(Spartak leads the series 3-0)

Games between these teams are usually full of goals. Sunday’s encounter in Cherepovets proved to be the exception. Spartak scored midway through the first period, and that proved sufficient to take the win.

An impressive goaltending performance from Artyom Zagidulin – preferred to Dmitry Nikolayev for today’s game – made the difference. He posted his first ever KHL playoff shut-out in his first post-season action since 2019.

As a result, the Red-and-Whites move 3-0 up in the series, and can finish the job here on Tuesday. For Severstal, the success of making the playoffs for a fifth season in a row is already turning into a familiar tale of frustration: in four previous campaigns, the Steelmen were unable to get beyond the first round and it will take a rare recovery to escape that fate once again.

Sunday’s only goal came in the ninth minute. A promising position for Severstal broke down when Mikhail Maltsev intercepted an Ivan Podshivalov pass. Maltsev set off on the counter with Ansel Galimov in support; a pass out to the right invited Galimov to shoot and he beat Alexander Samoilov with a one-timer from the face-off dot.

Severstal was unable to find a way back. Spartak, noted for its cavalier approach to the game, produced a hugely disciplined defensive performance to preserve its lead. The visitor blocked 31 shots in the game, compared with nine for Severstal. That helped to cope with the pressure that the home team generated during almost 20 minutes of attacking possession. And when shots did get through, Artyom Zagidulin made 40 saves to secure a shut-out and ensure that Galimov’s goal was enough to win it.

Among the visiting goalie’s finest stops, he performed a spectacular splits in the 34th minute to deny Mikhail Ilyin’s point-blank one-timer. However, for the most part Severstal found it tough to get close looks at Zagidulin: the Spartak defense dug deep to protect the netminder and preserve that slender lead.

We saw less of the Muscovites as an attacking force today. Nonetheless, there were chances to pad the lead on the breakaway. Pavel Poryadin’s stretch pass early in the third period sent Ivan Morozov clear. He produced a dangerous shot on the backhand, but Samoilov froze the puck. Later, Maltsev had a chance on the counter but Samoilov again closed the door.

Maltsev was a lively presence for the Spartak offense, but in the closing stages he almost gave Severstal a way back into the game. On 59:11 he was assessed a tripping minor and the home team had one last chance. Playing six-on-four, Severstal caused chaos on the crease but Zagidulin stood up to the onslaught. David Dumbadze came closing to forcing the game into overtime, but he was unable to convert a late chance and Spartak held on to open a commanding lead in the series.