Three teams on the brink, who will survive to force game seven?
The battle for a spot in the next round intensifies as Avangard, Ak Bars, and CSKA fight to stay alive in their respective series. Metallurg looks to force a seventh game against Avangard, while Avtomobilist and Dinamo Minsk aim to close things out on the road. Goalies are stealing the spotlight, with Nabokov, Alikin, and Demchenko all coming off stellar performances for the winning sides. Will they be the difference-makers again, or will the opposition teams rally to extend their seasons?
14:00: Avangard vs Metallurg
Series stand
3-2 (4:1, 3:2 ОТ, 2:1 ОТ, 1:3, 1:3).
About the game
After three straight Avangard wins, Metallur replied with two consecutive victories to remain in contention in this first-round highly-anticipated series. Yegor Korobkin, who isn’t a big-time scorer but his goals are always key in the playoffs, netted a double in game five, with rookie forward Andrei Kozlov netting the eventual game-winner in the first period. Reid Boucher’s second snipe in the series wasn’t enough for the Hawks, who will now fly back home to try and finally close the series behind the friendly walls. Michael McLeod posted his series-leading fourth assist. Both goalies were strong in Magnitogorsk, with home netminder Ilya Nabokov making 31 saves against Nikita Serebryakov’s 26. Will Nabokov manage to backstop Metallurg to a third straight win and force a seventh game in the series?
Injury list
Metallurg: Vladislav Yeryomenko.
Avangard: Sergei Boikov.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s forward Danil Bashkirov may reach 300 league appearances.
17:00: Ak Bars vs Avtomobilist
Series stand
2-3 (4:1, 3:4, 2:3 2ОТ, 7:2, 0:2).
About the game
This series continues being unpredictable as after a fantastic win in game four, Ak Bars’ offense was scoreless in game five as goalie Evgeny Alikin had a 33-save shutout to blank the opposition for the first time in the series and marking a match point for the Motormen. However, it won’t be easy for Avtomobilist to reach a decisive win on the road. International skaters ruled for the Motormen in the home win, with Nick Ebert (it was his 100th point in the league) and Stephane Da Costa scoring, with Alikin mostly busy in the closing frame to protect the result and his own shutout. Game six will be a real battle in Kazan, with Ak Bars on the verge of a first-round elimination.
Avtomobilist’s goalie Evgeny Alikin enters today’s game on a 63:29 shutout streak.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
Avtomobilist: Curtis Valk.
17:00: CSKA vs Dinamo Minsk
Series stand
2-3 (2:5, 3:5, 4:1, 2:1, 0:7).
About the game
After losing twice on the road, Dinamo responded in fine style on home ice. A devastating first-period performance blew CSKA away and the Bison cruised to a victory that brought them to a strong lead in the battle of the capitals. With 25 saves, Vasily Demchenko completed the first-ever postseason shutout for a Dinamo Minsk goalie as the Belarusians will try to get a first road victory today to close out the series – only a few could anticipate such an outcome in the earlier months of play. Several players had two points for the Bison today, including Sam Anas, who just returned to the lineup after a short-timed injury. Game six will definitely be an exciting one in Moscow – the 1,200th for CSKA in the KHL.
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko enters game six on a 71:43 shutout streak.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Ilya Usov.
CSKA: Vitaly Abramov, Cole Cassels.
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).
CSKA celebrates its 1,200th game in the league.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Sam Anas may score his 100th point in the KHL (currently at 99).
