Game four verdict looming as Lokomotiv and Avangard eye series sweeps
Lokomotiv and Avangard stand one win away from a sweep as both series stay on the road, with Salavat Yulaev and CSKA facing must-win games on home ice to keep their seasons alive and force a return to Yaroslavl and Omsk.
17:00: Salavat Yulaev (5th E) vs Lokomotiv (1st W)
Series stand
0-3 (0:1, 0:2, 2:3).
About the game
Salavat Yulaev scored its first goals of the series but could not avoid a third successive loss to Lokomotiv. Kayumov potted the game-winner as the defending champ is now up by three games and can punch its ticket for the next round with a win today. Sergei Varlov and Devin Brosseau scored for Ufa, who also got help from Jack Rodewald’s pair of helpers. But that wasn’t enough as the Railwaymen scored also with Denis Alexeyev and Alexander Yelesin. In goal, Daniil Isayev allowed two goals for the first time in the quarterfinal, but finished the game with 33 saves. In a do-or-die situation, Salavat Yulaev must win to return the series to Yaroslavl.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Alexander Komarov, Prokhor Korbit, Evgeny Kulik, Gleb Kuzmin.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Evgeny Kuznetsov may score his 100th goal in the KHL (currently at 99).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Pyotr Khokhryakov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Semyon Vyazovoi may record his 10th KHL shutout.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th KHL shutout.
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Radulov lines up for his 150th appearance in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
Lokomotiv’s forward Artur Kayumovam y reach 50 points in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
19:30: CSKA (5th W) vs Avangard (2nd E)
Series stand
0-3 (0:3, 2:3, 2:3 ОТ).
About the game
Another team in a do-or-die situation is CSKA. In Game Three, Konstantin Okulov’s overtime winner saw Avangard take a 3:2 verdict in Moscow. The Hawks now lead the series 3-0 and can wrap it up with a win today. A fourth goal in three games from Konstantin Okulov in this series proved decisive for the Hawks’ win. Giovanni Fiore and Mikhail Gulyayev also had two points for Avangard. Pavel Karnaukhov and Jeremy Roy scored for CSKA, who will be looking to reopen the series today.
Avangard’s Konstantin Okulov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 10 (6+4) points over that stretch.
Avangard’s forward Giovanni Fiore is on a three-game scoring streak instead, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
CSKA: Danila Moiseyev, Vladislav Provolnev.
Avangard: Ivan Igumnov.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s defensemen Artyom Blazhiyevsky and Semyon Chistyakov may record their 100th career assist (both currently at 99).
