Metallurg stays in contention, Avto moves in front

Defending champion Metallurg will not give up it title without a fight: after dropping the first three games of the series against Avangard, Magnitka is now back to 2-3 ahead of the weekend trip to Omsk. A 3-1 win in Magnitogorsk means it’s all to play for here. Today’s other Eastern series is also poised at 3-2, with Avtomobilist enjoying the upper hand following a 2-0 win over Ak Bars. The visitor scored seven in game four, but could not beat Evgeny Alikin today.

Alikin blanks Ak Bars

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 2 Ak Bars Kazan 0 (1-0, 1-0, 0-0)

(Avtomobilist leads the series 3-2)

The Motormen moved back in front in this first round series, bouncing back from Tuesday’s 2-7 mauling in Kazan to frustrate the visiting offense in a 2-0 victory. Evgeny Alikin, who got the start ahead of Vladimir Galkin after that heavy loss, made 33 saves as Ak Bars failed to recreate its scoring form on the road. At the other end, goals from Nick Ebert and Stephane da Costa had the home team up by two and that lead held to the end.

The first period was played at a lively tempo, with both teams trading pacey attacks. In total, they generated 25 shots between them, but only managed one goal. It went to the home team, with Ebert joining a counterattack in time to fire home Brooks Macek’s feed in the 14th minute.

Immediately after that, Ak Bars got the first power play of the game when Alexei Byvaltsev sat for holding. Mitch Miller’s powerful shot from the blue line had Evgeny Alikin in trouble, but Artyom Galimov steered the rebound over the top of the net.

The officials were busy again early in the second period. The teams played four-on-four for a time after a scuffle between Miller and Nick Merkley. Then Ak Bars got another power play in the 26th minute. This time, Avtomobilist had a chance at a breakaway but couldn’t make it work. At the other end, Alikin faced several shots but kept his goal intact.

The first home power play came midway through the game. It took some time for the PP unit to hit its stride, but in the end only a brave block from Konstantin Luchevnikov stopped Darren Dietz from a dangerous position. When the penalty elapsed, Nic Petan almost jumped from the box straight onto a shooting chance, but a well-timed hit denied him.

But Avtomobilist generally looked the better side in the middle frame and got its reward close to the hooter. There was an air of flamboyance about the way the home team moved the puck around the Ak Bars zone before da Costa’s one-timer doubled the lead.

Not surprisingly, Ak Bars tried to raise the tempo at the start of the third period. However, despite plenty of activity, the visitor found it hard to get through the Yekaterinburg defense and test Alikin. A power play as the midway stage approached saw Alexander Barabanov’s redirect give the goalie something to worry about, then Ilya Safonov rattled the netminder’s mask as the home team clung on. The pressure continued, and Galimov’s shot on the turn, from a tight angle, bounced crazily around the crease before bouncing to safety off Anatoly Golyshev’s skate. By that point, there were barely five minutes to play and the visitor’s hopes were fading fast. A late surge brought more work for Alikin but he held firm to record his shut-out and secure a 3-2 lead in the series for Avtomobilist.

Korobkin’s double keeps Metallurg’s hopes alive

Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3 Avangard Omsk 1 (2-0, 0-1, 1-0)

(Avangard leads the series 3-2)

This series just keeps going. Avangard looked poised to progress when it won the opening three games, but Metallurg – boosted by the return to fitness of captain Yegor Yakovlev – responded by winning the next two. Now the teams return to Omsk on Saturday with everything to play for in game six.

After winning Tuesday’s encounter in Omsk to keep the series alive, Metallurg made a bright start on its return home to Magnitogorsk. A neat play in the fifth minute almost presented Danila Yurov with a scoring chance, and a moment later Yegor Korobkin’s perceptive pass picked out Dmitry Moiseyev but visiting goalie Nikita Serebryakov was well placed to make the save.

The Hawks’ problems continued, and it had to kill a couple of penalties. Magnitka’s breakthrough arrived in the 14th minute when Nikita Kamalov drilled in a shot from the point. Luke Johnson got a touch, then Korobkin steered it home from the slot.

Once in front, Metallurg continued to press and after Danila Palivko tested Serebryakov, Andrei Kozlov potted a second goal just before the intermission via a deflection off Ivan Igumnov. Avangard offered little going forward in the opening frame, but in the final seconds Damir Sharipzyanov fired a warning shot.

The second period began with Avangard looking to build on that effort from its captain. Mike McLeod went close in the 23rd minute and a couple of minutes later he set up the Hawks’ first goal. His pass sent Reid Boucher down the left, from where he hit a powerful shot that gave Ilya Nabokov no chance.

For a time, the visitor seemed to be getting on top. However, it couldn’t find a tying goal and gradually Metallurg came back into contention. Serebryakov made a double save to deny Denis Zernov and Dmitry Silantyev, then another moment of danger sparked a skirmish among the players. Kamalov took on Sharipzyanov and, with two blows, put him on the ice.

But there was no knock-out hockey blow to be seen. There were chances at both ends, and Avangard’s closest effort came midway through the frame. Boucher tried to force the puck home from slot, but Nabokov got a pad behind it to save his team and preserve the lead.

Guy Boucher called a time-out in the final moments and Sharipzyanov fired in a dangerous effort from the point that was just begging for a team-mate to touch it home from the slot. However, there was nobody in place for that finishing touch and the next moment saw Korobkin force a turnover before scoring into the empty net to make the final score 3-1.