Game Five takes center stage as Lokomotiv, Ak Bars battle for series control!

After splitting the first four games, Lokomotiv and Ak Bars head into a pivotal Game Five in Yaroslavl with the Gagarin Cup Finals tied at 2-2. Ak Bars regained momentum thanks to Alexander Chmelevski’s decisive goal in Kazan, but Lokomotiv now returns home with a chance to move one win away from the trophy in front of its fans.

19:00: Lokomotiv (1^st W) vs Ak Bars (3^rd E)

Series stand:
2-2 (3:1, 1:5, 4:1, 1:2).

About the game
Alexander Chmelevski’s goal midway through the third period snapped a 1:1 tie in Game Four. The forward sent the Gagarin Cup Final series back to Yaroslavl locked at 2-2. Alexander Polunin scored for the Railwaymen, but Artyom Galimov replied for the hosts around the mid-game mark, well before Chmelevski’s memorable tally. Timur Bilyalov won the game for Ak Bars with only 15 saves, while Daniil Isayev had 20 stops for Yaroslavl. Today’s confrontation will be key for the series, with the winner earning the first chance to claim the trophy in Game Six.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Mitchell Miller is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (5+2) points over that stretch.
Ak Bars’ forward Nathan Todd is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.

Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10^th 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 40^th career shutout and celebrate his 50^th win in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov may record his 40^th career shutout.
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Barabanov lines up for his 100^th appearance in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
Ak Bars’ forward Artyom Galimov may net his 100^th career goal (currently at 98).