Yurov's double and Nikolaev's mistakes
The confrontation between Metallurg and Spartak has so far turned out to be the most stubborn in the quarterfinals of the Gagarin Cup. Magnitogorsk managed to win the first two matches, but at home the Muscovites restored the balance. The fifth meeting in many ways turned into a key one, since one of the opponents could secure a decisive advantage for itself. If the red-whites won, they would have an excellent opportunity to complete the series on March 30 in their home country.
And one of the team leaders, Nikolai Goldobin, had additional motivation, because his wife gave birth to a daughter on the day of the game. Surely the forward was eager to give her a gift on the ice. But there were some losses in the offensive line. For unknown reasons, Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Burmistrov did not even make it into the lineup, and their places were taken by Shane Prince and Alexander Belyaev. Andrei Razin could take advantage of all the strongest. Dmitry Silantiev also recovered from injury.
Defender Dmitry Vishnevsky played the 400th anniversary match for Spartak and became the ninth hockey player in the history of the club who succeeded, and the first in the KHL era.
However, the partners failed to please the captain. The guests suffered a painful defeat, although they seriously beat their counterparts - 40:28. In many ways, the opening period turned out to be fateful, when Alexei Zhamnov’s team missed three unanswered goals and found themselves in a critical situation. Moreover, Dmitry Nikolaev, who scored a “cracker” in the previous meeting, did not act in the best way.
In the episode with Danila Yurov's first goal, he rolled too far from the spot and allowed the striker to throw into the far circle from the right circle. A few minutes later, Roman Kantserov and Denis Zernov played a spectacular combination, and the latter hit an empty corner. And 52 seconds before the siren, the same Yurov scored a curious goal. After Alexander Petunin's throw from behind the goal, the puck hit the young forward's skate. Then Nikolaev actually threw it into the net with his own stick. Zhamnov responded by replacing the goalkeeper and releasing Andrei Kareev, who, running ahead, took advantage of his chance.
To the credit of the red and whites, they did not give up and actively moved forward in the second period. But Metallurg defended extremely competently. Magnitogorsk calmly rolled back and did not leave any free zones for the opponent. And most importantly, the attackers were not allowed to get into the space. Although they tried to do this quite aggressively. The judge even had to issue several penalties for minor brawls.
Thus, Muscovites clearly did not have enough “traffic” in front of other people’s gates. If there were any shots, they were on “open” ice, and Ilya Nabokov coped with them. Special mention should be made about the Lynx goalkeeper. Before the start of the Gagarin Cup, many doubted whether the young playoff debutant could handle the workload. But so far he has made virtually no mistakes, and in two matches he did not concede at all. So in the reported confrontation, he acted reliably, confidently and most often firmly took the projectile, not allowing his opponents to finish off.
For the time being, even removals did not help Muscovites. Power play is clearly not their strong point. But the hosts distinguished themselves in unequal lineups. In the 35th minute, Daniil Vovchenko powerfully hit the target from the left circle with no chance for Kareev. The situation for the guests was complicated by the fact that German Rubtsov broke his stick and was forced to defend without it.
But shortly before the break, the red and whites unexpectedly scored in the minority. Roman Rukavishnikov won the face-off, and Mikhail Maltsev ran to a rendezvous with Nabokov and unsealed it. This goal certainly gave the capital team confidence.
And in the final period he almost made a miracle comeback. Although Metallurg regularly ran into the most dangerous counterattacks and could put an end to it. What are at least two one-on-one matches between Nikita Mikhailis and Kareev worth? The last one emerged victorious from both episodes.
However, at a difficult moment, Spartak was helped out by a weak majority. First, Rubtsov, taking advantage of Poryadin’s pass, sent the puck between the pads to Nabokov. At the same time, Pavel shot down Ilya. It seemed that Razin would take a throw to attack the goalkeeper, but he did not do this, and the judges decided that the collision occurred after the projectile had crossed the line.
“Metallurg” did not learn the lesson and soon found itself in the minority again. Alexander Petunin received two minutes for tripping. The leading line of the red and white instantly played out a simple combination, and Poryadin hit the empty target. Thus, the Muscovites were one step away from an incredible comeback.
However, Maxim Tsyplakov unwittingly prevented them. He had acted aggressively on someone else’s dime before, and this time he openly demolished Nabokov. The referee decided to teach the offender a lesson and sent him to the bench. Magnitogorsk, unlike their opponents, did not convert the majority, but they distinguished themselves literally at the end. The goal was created by Robin Press, who pulled several opponents onto himself and found the free Yegor Korobkin on the right. And he calmly struck the distant one.
Spartak had enough time to save itself, but it was not really possible to organize the final assault. Replacing the goalkeeper with a sixth fielder did not help either. Sirena recorded a natural victory for Magnitogorsk. Muscovites will once again have to win back in their own walls. Or their counterparts will secure a ticket to the semi-finals.
Goals by Gernat and Prokhorkin seconds before the siren and saves by Isaev
But Lokomotiv had a great chance to complete the series with Avangard in Yaroslav. Igor Nikitin's team allowed their opponents to make a comeback in Omsk, but still led the score - 3:2. At the same time, the “hawks” themselves had experience of victories at Arena-2000-Lokomotiv in the current playoffs and took the upper hand here in overtime of the third meeting.
The hosts, as expected, took the initiative from the opening throw-in and began to attack. At the same time, few truly dangerous moments were created. Still, the hockey players were well aware of the cost of a mistake and tried to act as carefully as possible.
However, the red-greens, as in previous matches in the series, methodically increased the pressure and, at every convenient opportunity, brought the matter to a throw. In the first segment alone there were 13 of them. For the time being, the partners were rescued by Pavel Khomchenko, who traditionally looked great. For example, he dealt with extremely unpleasant clicks from Alexander Polunin and Pavel Kraskovsky.
Omsk tried to respond with quick counterattacks. But more often it was possible to disturb Daniil Isaev due to the individual actions of the attackers. So, in one of the episodes, Nikolai Prokhorkin broke through from the right edge into the center and tested the goalkeeper for vigilance. Rather, the “hawks” were waiting for their killer majority.
But at the very end of the period they unexpectedly conceded. The opponents won the throw-in, and Alexey Bereglazov found Maxim Berezkin with a pass to the front. He, in turn, crossed to the free Martin Gernat. And the Slovak left no chance for Khomchenko with a powerful flick. This happened just two seconds before the siren. When Maxim Shalunov increased the advantage of the railway workers at the very beginning of the second segment, it seemed that the outcome of the meeting was a foregone conclusion. Berezkin made his way along the front line and found his partner with a perfect pass.
On the contrary, Avangard was provoked by what happened. The team began to act in a completely different mood. She boldly went on the attack, forgetting about defense, and in almost every episode she brought the matter to the point of shooting. The opponents clearly relaxed a little and pressed too hard against their own goal.
Igor Martynov very quickly punished them for this. The guests put together an excellent combination, and the young forward didn’t miss the ball after Prokhorkin’s pass. The red-greens immediately missed the opportunity. Polunin ran to rendezvous with Khomchenko and even went around him, but missed the target from a lethal position. And almost in the next attack the Omsk team regained balance. This time, Vladimir Tkachev found Semyon Chistyakov in the left circle, and he clicked just above Isaev’s shoulder.
The stunned Yaroslavl residents tried to come to their senses and move the game into someone else's zone, but they had little success. In addition, in the end they made a fatal mistake. Kayumov received two minutes for tripping him. Moreover, the hosts committed a violation of the numerical strength and were left with only three. The Hawks did not forgive their opponents. Moreover, as if as a warning, they also scored almost with the siren. Prokhorkin sent the puck into the goal from the right circle three seconds before it.
It seemed that Lokomotiv was obliged to improve in the final period, but this did not happen. And upon returning from the locker room, he almost missed it again. First, Isaev made a double save after Ivan Igumnov’s shots in the power play, and then parried Tkachev’s shot.
With equal strengths, the railwaymen took the initiative, but created almost no chances. Avangard defended extremely competently. He did not allow opponents to easily enter the opponent's zone and imposed high pressure. During the selection, the Omsk team, without further ado, took the puck to the blue line.
Of course, the Yaroslavl team threatened Khomchenko’s goal in the end, but Pavel was on the alert. And no unsolvable problems were set before him. The guests created even more interesting approaches. So, Tkachev and Yurcho ran into a two-on-one counterattack, but Isaev miraculously parried the Slovak’s point-blank throw with a trap in the splits. The goalie's departure from the ice didn't help either. Moreover, one of the “hawks” hockey players hit the empty goal post with a flick from his own half.
After the final siren, Nikitin literally had no face. The mentor’s emotions can be understood, because his team was one step away from reaching the semi-finals of the Gagarin Cup, but allowed the opponent to escape. Now everything will be decided in the seventh match of the series in Omsk on March 30.