First Game Seven of the season! Lokomotiv hosts Avangard
A last-minute collapse in Game Six denied Avangard a Finals berth, as Lokomotiv forced extra time and completed a dramatic comeback to send the series back to Yaroslavl for an exciting and winner-takes-all Game Seven.
19:30: Lokomotiv (1st W) vs Avangard (3rd E)
Series stand:
3-3 (2:5, 1:3, 4:2, 0:2, 4:0, 3:2 2ОТ).
About the game
Two goals for Loko in the last minute of regulation robbed Avangard of a qualification in this year’s Gagarin Cup final, at least for now. The Hawks blew a two-goal lead in game six of the series and fell in extra time, ensuring the teams return to Yaroslavl for a game seven showdown – the first in this year’s elimination stage. Vasily Ponomaryov set the stage for Avangard’s early advantage. When Maxime Lajoie scored in the early third period, it looked like the series was done. But Maxim Shalunov didn’t agree, and found the back of the net twice in the last minute of regulation to save the series and send the game to extra time. After a scoreless first period of extra time, Rushan Rafikov found his third of the current playoff to send the series to an exciting seventh game today, with Shalunov scoring his third point of the night.
Injury list
Avangard: Ivan Igumnov.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Alexander Yelesin lines up for his 500th league appearance.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th KHL shutout.
Lokomotiv’s forward Pavel Kraskovsky may reach 200 league points (currently at 198).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev may record his 40th career shutout.
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Alexei Bereglazov may score his 50th point in the Gagarin Cup playoffs (currently at 49).
Avangard’s defenseman Semyon Chistyakov may reach 100 career assists (currently at 99).
Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov lines up for his 100th postseason appearance.
