One step from game seven: will the chasers turn the tide?
Game 6 drama takes center stage across the league, with three teams aiming to force a decisive showdown. Admiral, SKA, and Sibir all return home with their seasons on the line, hoping to channel the energy of the friendly walls and flip the script in their series. Traktor, Dynamo Moscow, and Salavat Yulaev, meanwhile, are just one win away from sealing their spot in the next round. With emotions running high and momentum swinging wildly, expect intensity, highlight-reel plays, and playoff tension at its finest. Will the chasers turn the tide?
10:00: Admiral vs Traktor
Series stand
2-3 (5:4, 1:2 ОТ, 4:3 ОТ, 3:7, 4:5 ОТ).
About the game
Admiral must have thought it was destined to return home with a 3-2 advantage in the series when it led by four at the second intermission. But then Traktor pulled off a spectacular fightback to tie the game in the third period and win in extra time. Vyacheslav Osnovin netted a double for the Sailors in the opening frame, with leading forwards Pavel Shen and Daniil Gutik also scoring for Admiral. Then, in the third period, with Zach Fucale already swapped for Sergei Mylnikov, Traktor rallied back with five different scorers, including Semyon Der-Arguchintsev in OT – it was his second goal in the series, the most important by a great deal. Goalie Sergei Mishurov made an impressive 48 saves for Admiral, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win in the team’s 700th game in the league. The Sailors will now try to force a seventh game in the series.
Traktor’s forward Alexander Kadeikin is on an eight-game scoring streak, with 8 (2+6) points over that span.
Traktor’s defenseman Steven Kampfer is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Traktor’s forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 4 (2+2) points.
Traktor’s forward Vasily Glotov had at least one assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
Admiral: Artyom Nikolayev, Jack Rodewald.
13:30: Sibir vs Salavat Yulaev
Series stand
2-3 (0:7, 2:8, 2:0, 2:1, 2:5).
About the game
Salavat Yulaev also came from behind, albeit in less spectacular fashion. Sheldon Rempal’s hat-trick amply cancelled out Sibir’s early goal in Ufa, paving the way for a 5:2 victory. After two straight losses in Novosibirsk, with only one goal scored, Salavat Yulaev’s forward gained their form back and rallied for a key win in game five. And that without Nathan Todd, who sustained a lower body injury in the previous game and had to step down from his role centering the top line. Head coach Viktor Kozlov decided to shuffle his lines and the move paid off, with Salavat Yulaev now at one step to the second round.
Sibir’s forward Taylor Beck is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Sibir’s forward Andy Andreoff is equally on a three-game scoring streak, but with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin, Nathan Todd.
Sibir: Georgy Belousov, Vladimir Butuzov, Fyodor Gordeyev, Anton Krasotkin.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s defensemen Trevor Murphy and Timur Akhiyarov line up for their 300th and 200th league appearance, respectively.
19:00: SKA vs Dynamo Moscow
Series stand
2-3 (1:3, 1:2 ОТ, 5:3, 4:5 2ОТ, 4:3 ОТ).
About the game
SKA kept itself in the Gagarin Cup playoffs with an OT victory in Moscow. The visitor led three times in regulation, but could not hold a lead. However, in the 72nd minute Sergei Sapego’s goal means that SKA has now a chance to tie things up at home and get the series to a seventh game. Other than Sapego, also rookie forward Ivan Demidov was in fine shape, scoring a goal and adding a helper in Sergei Plotnikov’s goal in the first period. Demidov added another highlight-reel goal during the game, but it was ruled out for offside. In the third period, Jordan Weal scored his first goal of this season’s Gagarin Cup playoffs, but it wasn’t enough for the Blue-and-Whites to close out the series. Will SKA force a seventh match or can Dynamo wrap up the contest today?
SKA’s forward Ivan Demidov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.
SKA’s defenseman Alexander Nikishin is on a three-game scoring streak instead, with 3 (2+1) points.
SKA’s forward Evgeny Kuznetsov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Cedric Paquette is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that stretch.
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Daniil Pylenkov had at least one assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four assists.
Milestone alert
SKA’s forward Vladimir Alistrov may score his 100th point in the league (currently at 99).
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Nikita Gusev may tally his 250th KHL goal (currently at 249).
