Key battles ahead as playoffs series intensify; Avangard and Spartak may advance
The Gagarin Cup playoffs heat up with crucial matchups across the board. Metallurg fights to stay alive at home against Avangard, looking to extend the series after avoiding a sweep. Avtomobilist and Ak Bars return to Yekaterinburg with their series tied, as both teams aim to take control. Spartak gets another chance to close out Severstal, while the Steelers hope to force a game six. Meanwhile, Dinamo Minsk and CSKA battle in a pivotal game five, with the winner gaining a crucial edge in this tightly contested series of capitals.
17:00: Metallurg vs Avangard
Series stand
1-3 (1:4, 2:3 ОТ, 1:2 ОТ, 3:1)
About the game
Metallurg was 20 minutes away from elimination in this first-round series, but hit back in the third period to get its first win of postseason as they at least forced a fifth game at home. The Hawks were determined to sweep the Steelmen and pushed the gas to get ahead with d-man Semyon Chistyakov. With Magnitka on the edge, Nikita Mikhailis found a critical goal to tie the game up, then Luke Johnson netted the game-winner – it’s not the first big goal for the American forward in the Gagarin Cup playoffs. Minutes later, another Kazakh – Valery Orekhov – found the empty net to seal the deal and return the series to Magnitogorsk. Goalie Ilya Nabokov returned to the lineup for the reigning champion and had 22 saves to win the game.
Injury list
Metallurg: Vladislav Yeryomenko.
Avangard: Sergei Boikov.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s defenseman Yegor Voronkov lines up for his 500th league appearance, while forward Danil Bashkirov may reach 300 games.
17:00: Avtomobilist vs Ak Bars
Series stand
2-2 (1:4, 4:3, 3:2 2ОТ, 2:7)
About the game
A first-period blitz gave Ak Bars a huge win in game four of its series against Avtomobilist. That leaves the teams tied at two as they return to Yekaterinburg, with at least two more games needed to settle the outcome. Ak Bars was up by four midway through the first period, and the Motormen failed to fully reply back. Alexander Sharov made it a 2:4 game in the middle of the second period, and for a moment, it seemed that the contest was coming back to life, but Ak Bars responded quickly as Nic Petan and Kirill Semyonov got on a two-on-one break and exchanged passes before Petan made it five, leaving Avtomobilist save energies for the fifth match at home.
Ak Bars’ forward Dmitrij Jaskin is on a six-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Mitchel Miller posted at least one assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
Avtomobilist: Curtis Valk.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s forward Artyom Kashtanov lines up for his 100th league appearance.
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nick Ebert is one point away from reaching 100 career points in the league (currently at 99).
19:30: Spartak vs Severstal
Series stand
3-1 (5:4 ОТ, 4:2, 1:0, 2:5).
About the game
Severstal remains alive in this year’s playoffs after grabbing victory in game four. Despite falling behind to an early goal from Spartak, Andrei Kozyrev’s team hit back in the second period to take control of the game and still have a chance. Ilya Ivantsov led the way for the Steelers with a double and one assist, while goalie Alexander Samoilov had 32 saves. For the Red-and-Whites, Adam Ruzicka had two helpers, while Mikhail Maltsev found the first goal of this year’s Gagarin Cup playoffs.
Injury list
Severstal: Yaroslav Dyblenko, Adam Liska.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s goalie Dmitry Nikolayev may record his 10th KHL shutout.
Spartak’s defenseman Andrei Mironov is at two points to reaching 200 in the KHL (currently at 198).
19:30: Dinamo Minsk vs CSKA
Series stand
2-2 (5:2, 5:3, 1:4, 1:2)
About the game
After four games, the clash of the capitals is locked at 2-2. CSKA recorded a second straight home victory and as result, Ilya Vorobyov’s team will definitely return to Moscow for at least one more game this season, regardless of the outcome in Belarus today. For two periods of this game, the guests were dominant, but failed to take their chances. Ivan Prosvetov was inspired for CSKA, making 30 saves through 40 minutes and another 17 in the third period alone. Former Dinamo Minsk’s forward Ivan Drozdov netted the game-winner after a strong performance in game three, while a late goal by Vitaly Pinchuk wasn’t enough for the Bison to save the game and restore advantage. It will be an important game today for the rest of the series.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Ilya Usov.
CSKA: Vitaly Abramov
Milestone alert
CSKA’s defenseman Nikita Nesterov may surpass former Gagarin Cup champion Ilya Nikulin for the most points in the Gagarin Cup Playoffs from the blue line (both are tied at 58).
