Metallurg eyes control, Dinamo Minsk seeks response in Game 2 showdowns
Metallurg looks to build on a narrow Game One win despite Torpedo’s fightback, while Dinamo Minsk aims to respond on home ice after dropping the opener to Ak Bars in a tightly contested series opener in front of a packed Minsk Arena.
13:30: Metallurg (1st E) vs Torpedo (6th W)
Series stand:
1-0 (4:3).
About the game
Torpedo recovered from a two-goal deficit in the opening frame of the playoff second round opener. But the outsider could not force an upset against the regular season champ, falling 4:3 as a double by Vladislav Firstov wasn’t enough. Daniil Vovchenko and Vladimir Tkachyov scored two fast goals, joined in scoring by Danila Palivko and Nikita Mikhailis. Vasily Atanasov also scored for the Nizhny Novgorod franchise, who had a two-point performance from Bogdan Konyushkov on the blue line. For the first time in this year’s elimination stage, both Alexander Smolin and Denis Kostin weren’t a factor between the piping – maybe today at least one of the coaches will opt for a change.
Torpedo’s forward Vladislav Firstov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Metallurg: Dmitry Silantyev.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s forward Roman Kantserov lines up for his 200th league appearance.
Torpedo’s forward Dmitry Shevchenko may score his 100th career point (currently at 99).
16:30: Dinamo Minsk (2nd W) vs Ak Bars (3rd E)
Series stand
0-1 (1:2).
About the game
A double from forward Alexei Pustozyorov got Ak Bars off to a winning start in its 2026 Gagarin Cup Round 2 playoff series in Belarus. Vadim Moroz scored his first goal in this year’s elimination stage, but that tally meant little with the guests already up by two. Both netminders looked solid, with Zach Fucale posting 21 saves, and Timur Bilyalov stopping 27 shots from Ak Bars. It will be an exciting second game today in a packed Minsk Arena as the Belarusians will try to please the home crowd and tie the series up.
Ak Bars’ goalie Maxim Arefyev is on a 63:21 shutout streak.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Nikita Lyamkin had at least an assist in each of his previous five matches, totaling six helpers.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Andrei Stas becomes the fifth player in KHL history to reach 1,000 games, following Vadim Shipachyov, Ilya Kablukov, Sergei Plotnikov, and Evgeny Biryukov.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Kirill Voronin may reach 600 career appearances.
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may record his 30th shutout in the KHL.
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov may record his 40th career shutout.
