Lokomotiv in control of the finals as Ak Bars looks to level the series at home
Gagarin Cup Final shifts into Game Four in Kazan with Ak Bars now under real pressure after Lokomotiv’s composed Game Three performance moved the defending champions to within one win of the title. With the series at 2–1 for the visitors, the home side will be aiming to respond and level things up, while Lokomotiv look to take another step toward closing out the championship.
14:30: Ak Bars (3rd E) vs Lokomotiv (1st W)
Series stand:
1-2 (1:3, 5:1, 1:4).
About the game
The defending champion took the verdict as the Gagarin Cup final moved to Kazan for Game Three. First period goals from Maxim Beryozkin (his third goal in the last four matches) and Slovak Richard Panik paved the way for a 3:1 victory, putting Lokomotiv up 2-1 in the series. Usual suspect Mitchell Miller scored for Ak Bars, but the Railwaymen replied with Nikita Cherepanov short after the mid-game mark as Artur Kayumov sealed the deal with an empty-netter. As the series stays in Kazan, it’s now or never for Ak Bars, who will be trying to tie things up in the fourth game of the Gagarin Cup finals.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Mitchell Miller is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (5+1) points over that stretch.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov may record his 40th career shutout.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th KHL shutout.
Lokomotiv’s forward Pavel Kraskovsky and defenseman Alexei Bereglazov may reach 200 league points (currently both are sitting at 198).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev may record his 40th career shutout and celebrate his 50th win in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
