Loko keeps title defense alive

Two days after failing to score in Omsk, Lokomotiv blanked Avangard in Yaroslavl. Saturday’s 4-0 victory ensures this Gagarin Cup semi-final series will return to Siberia for game six with Loko still in contention at 2-3.

Isayev’s fifth shut-out

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 4 Avangard Omsk 0 (1-0, 1-0, 2-0)
Avangard leads the series 3-2

Goalie Daniil Isayev made 27 saves to claim his fifth shut-out of this year’s playoffs. And it was a timely one for Lokomotiv, which prevented Avangard from securing its place in the Gagarin Cup final after five games.

At the other end, Richard Panik’s early goal eased home nerves. There were further tallies from Maxim Beryozkin, Alexander Polunin and Maxim Shalunov to seal a big win for the defending champion – and potentially shift the momentum in this series.

Lokomotiv knew there was no further margin for error and made a bright start to the game. In the second minute, the home team had the first good chance, with Beryozkin battling behind the net before setting up Yegor Surin in the slot. The youngster forced a good save out of Nikita Serebryakov.

But the Hawks’ goalie had no answer a few minutes later when Panik opened the scoring. Byron Froese sent the Slovak forward down the left wing and he advanced to wire a shot into the top corner.

Avangard was never outclassed in the opening frame, but seldom stretched Isayev in the home net. It wasn’t until the 17th minute that Mikhail Kotlyarevsky gave the goalie something of a headache – literally, with a shot that bounced to safety of Isayev’s helmet.
Soon after, Avangard got the first power play of the game but could not take advantage of Surin’s infringement. However, the visitor was able to take momentum into the intermission and carried it into the start of the second period. There was an immediate chance for Andrew Poturalski before Nail Yakupov hit the crossbar.
Gradually, Lokomotiv moved play down the ice. Even when the Hawks got a second power play, the best chance went to the home team as Alexander Polunin raced away in search of a short-handed goal.
Back at equal strength, the Railwaymen increased their lead in the 35th minute. Andrei Sergeyev’s shot from the right wing was blocked, but Beryozkin picked up the rebound to score.
The third period began much like the second, with Avangard looking for a fast start. Kirill Dolzhenkov twice had opportunities to upset the home defense, but could not take advantage. And, after repelling those early threats, Lokomotiv responded with a third, knock-out blow. Alexeyev’s stretch pass released Polunin and made no mistake in his duel with Serebryakov in the 45th minute.
Lokomotiv then had its first power play of the game, focusing more on killing time than padding the lead. When Avangard returned to full strength, Bob Hartley’s men adopted a high press and stifled any offensive intent in center ice.
That forced Guy Boucher’s hand and with more than five to play, Serebryakov went to the bench. But the empty-net experiment did not bring the anticipated reward. After Isayev stopped a good shot from Nikolai Prokhorkin, Lokomotiv got possession and Shalunov scored into an empty net to wrap up the win. Suddenly, a series that appeared straightforward for Avangard is looking a whole lot more challenging for the Hawks.