Home teams look to double down on Game 2

All today’s pairs made their home ice count in Game One, with Avangard defeating Neftekhimik, Metallurg downing Sibir, Lokomotiv overcoming Spartak, and Dinamo Minsk beating Dynamo Moscow to take a 1–0 lead in their respective series, putting early pressure on the lower seeds to respond in Game Two.

16:30: Avangard (2^nd E) vs Neftekhimik (7^th E)

Series stand
1-0 (4:2).

About the game
In Game One, the seventh-ranked Wolves had the pre-series favorite tied at two until the 55^th minute, when Konstantin Okulov made the breakthrough as the Hawks took off to win the game with a final 4:2 score. Michael McLeod had two helpers for Avangard, who could enjoy four different scorers, with also Nikolai Prokhorkin (in his 700^th league appearance), Maxime Lajoie, and Giovanni Fiore finding the back of the net. Nikita Serebryakov had 36 saves guarding Avangard’s crease. The Wolves had a great effort in game one, but will be called to an even better one in Game Two today.
Avangard’s forward Konstantin Okulov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points over that stretch.
Avangard’s forward Alexander Volkov is also on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.

Injury list
Neftekhimik: Vladislav Barulin.

17:00: Metallurg (1^st E) vs Sibir (8^th E)

Series stand
1-0 (4:1).

About the game
In Game One Metallurg, runaway Eastern Conference leader, proved too much to handle for eighth-seed Sibir. The lethal partnership between Vladimir Tkachyov and Roman Kantserov yielded two more goals for the home team, while the architects of Sibir’s 2026 revival, Anton Kosolapov and Taylor Beck were silenced by the home defense. Andrei Razin opted for Alexander Smolin between the piping for the hosts as the young goalie replied with a strong, 28-save performance as he only allowed a late goal to Valentin Pyanov in the dying minutes in the closing frame. Mikhail Fyodorov and Yegor Yakovlev also scored for Metallurg. Sibir will need to change something as soon as possible to avoid a sweep.
Metallurg’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that stretch.
Metallurg’s forward Alexander Petunin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.

Injury list
Metallurg: Dmitry Silantyev.
Sibir: Ilya Fedotov, Sergei Shirokov.

Milestone alert
Metallurg’s forward Derek Barach lines up for his 200^th league appearance.
Metallurg may celebrate its 800^th win in KHL history.

19:30: Lokomotiv (1^st W) vs Spartak (8^th W)

Series stand
1-0 (5:3).

About the game
In game one, defending champion Lokomotiv got off to a winning start in the playoffs – but eighth seed Spartak gave Bob Hartley’s team something to think about. The Red-and-Whites managed to go up by two early in the game, but Martin Gernat netted the game winner in the closing frame getting Loko a game closer to its back-to-back goal for a good start in the elimination stage. Lokomotiv’s offense was in good shape, with four players recording a multi-point performance, but in game two Hartley will want to see more help to his goalie Daniil Isayev. Spartak’s Alexander Georgiyev recorded 40 saves, but it wasn’t enough to guarantee his team a win.

Injury list
Spartak: Brendan Biro.

Disqualifications
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Nikita Cherepanov serves the final game of a three-match ban.

Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Pavel Kraskovsky may score his 200^th career point (currently at 198), while defenseman Alexander Yelesin may reach 100 (currently at 99).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th KHL shutout.
Lokomotiv plays its 200^th game in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
Spartak’s defenseman Dmitry Vishnevsky lines up for his 100^th Gagarin Cup playoffs appearance.

19:30: Dinamo Minsk (2^nd W) vs Dynamo Moscow (7^th W)

Series stand
1-0  (3:1)

About the game
Dinamo Minsk’s win over its Moscow namesake in the opening game suggests that the hype for the Belarusians’ season might carry some justification. Yegor Borikov, Darren Dietz, and Andrei Stas scored for the Bison, with Zach Fucale recording 24 saves as Dylan Sikura denied him a shutout with a late powerplay goal in the closing frame. League’s all-time leading scorer Vadim Shipachyov had two helpers for the hosts, who were pushed by more than 15,000 home fans. Dinamo Minsk will look to please its home crowd again in game two today.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Sam Anas is on a six-game scoring streak, with 10 (3+7) points over that stretch.
Dinamo Minsk’s forwards Vadim Shipachyov and Ryan Spooner had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Darren Dietz is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that stretch.
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Daniil Pylenkov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 9 (2+7) points over that span.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Dylan Sikura is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (4+1) points.

Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Fredrik Claesson, Kirill Gotovets, Artyom Mikheyev.

Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Stanislav Galiyev may reach 300 KHL points (currently at 298).
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may record his 30^th KHL shutout.
Dynamo Moscow’s goalie Vladislav Podyapolsky may line up for his 400^th career appearance.
Dynamo Moscow’s goalie Maxim Motorygin may record his 10^th career shutout.