The bottom line: Metallurg and Lokomotiv beat Spartak and Avangard and reached the semi-finals of the Gagarin Cup

Goals by Kayumov and Berezkin and rescues by Isaev

After the fourth match, few could have imagined that Avangard and Lokomotiv would have to play the seventh. The Yaroslavl team confidently led the score and overall looked stronger. Omsk residents, in addition, dismissed Mikhail Kravets and appointed Sergei Zvyagin in his place.

However, the castling right during the playoffs unexpectedly worked. The team rallied around the new coach, calmed down and won two victories. In particular, we managed to do this on the road, when the opponents could put an end to it. And they were very close to it, as they were leading 2:0. But the Hawks made an incredible comeback and restored the balance.

In the decisive confrontation, the advantage was already on their side. Firstly, they felt confident. Secondly, they received the opponent at the G-Drive Arena, which was filled to capacity.

But this time the forecasts were absolutely not justified. And Igor Nikitin’s players demonstrated the presence of character. There was a feeling that the hosts, with the support of the fans, would immediately go forward. In fact, the guests had the overwhelming initiative. Indicative statistics: in the starting period they made 11 shots on target, while their counterparts had only two.

For the time being, only Pavel Khomchenko, who acted extremely reliably, prevented them from opening an account. For example, he coped with Georgiy Ivanov's powerful flick under the crossbar and Maxim Berezkin's throw from an awkward hand. And sometimes the goalkeeper was simply lucky, as in the episode when the same Berezkin miraculously missed the puck on the back of the net after Artur Kayumov’s cross from behind the goal.

Therefore, the latter’s goal shortly before the break became absolutely logical. Moreover, the forward did everything on his own. He took the ball in someone else's zone, broke forward and sent it from the left circle into the far corner without a chance for the goalkeeper.

In the second segment, Avangard was forced to go forward. He had the puck more often and tried to shake up the opponents' reliable defense. But it was rare to create something. But the railway workers responded with much more interesting counterattacks. I especially remember the moment when the puck bounced off the front board straight to Stepan Nikulin. He was sure to throw from a lethal position, but Khomchenko somehow miraculously saved his partners in a football throw.

Only after this did Zvyagin’s squad make several approaches. But Daniil Isaev, who had hardly come to the aid of his teammates before, also played reliably. First, Nikolai Prokhorkin broke through the left flank and threw into the middle. And then Tomas Jurcho sent a shot into the far corner from the throw-in circle, but the goalkeeper parried it with a pancake.

And after the break, the position of the “hawks” became completely difficult. Moreover, Berezkin, who played his 200th match for Loko, distinguished himself. He made a dash from his zone, beautifully removed the defender sprawled on the ice with his backswing and carefully threw it into the far corner.

The hosts had enough time to save themselves, and they tried to make another comeback. But the Yaroslavl team defended themselves quite calmly. As a rule, they organized pressure in the middle zone and did not allow the Omsk team to break into striking range. When it came to shots, Isaev came to the rescue, making 20 saves and scoring a goal. And the Yaroslavl residents themselves broke into the free zones and disturbed Khomchenko. Zvyagin’s team failed to realize the majority for Ivanov’s removal. In the end they took off the goalkeeper, but still failed to score.

The final siren recorded a generally fair victory for Lokomotiv, which reached the semi-finals of the Gagarin Cup for the sixth time in history and for the first time since 2017. Then one of the main discoveries of the current playoffs, Traktor, will try to stop him.

Points by Zernov and Silantiev and saves by Nabokov

In the other quarterfinal, Spartak and Metallurg had to determine whether they would need a seventh meeting. In the previous match, Magnitogorsk turned out to be stronger and took the lead in the series - 3:2. However, Muscovites retained the opportunity to restore balance within their own walls.

At the same time, Alexey Zhamnov made serious changes to the composition, some of which were forced. Key defender Michal Czajkowski, who played in a protective mask in the previous match, was not included in the lineup. Shane Prince and Alexander Belyaev were also missing. But Alexander Burmistrov and Ilya Kovalchuk returned, to whom the mentor provided a respite in Magnitogorsk. And the place at the last line was expectedly taken by Andrey Kareev, who came on as a great substitute on Thursday. In turn, Andrei Razin left the roster without castling.

Despite the fact that it was vital for the red and white to win back, the starting period remained with the guests. They actively attacked and did not allow their opponents to easily leave the zone, including high pressure during losses. The link Denis Zernov - Maxim Karpov - Roman Kantserov was especially good. Three fast forwards created huge problems for the opponents who were left without a key defender.

For the time being, Kareev helped out his partners, who reflected an incredible 16 clicks in this segment alone. Here it is interesting to compare with Isaev, who made 20 saves during the entire match. The reservist who received the opportunity took advantage of it. Consider the episode when Nikita Mikhailis, with an excellent transfer from the left side, found an absolutely free Danila Yurov almost on the penny, but the goalkeeper promptly shortened the distance and caught the puck with a trap. A little later, Andrei dealt with Luke Johnson's point-blank shot. There is no point in talking about simple sketches. The goalkeeper acted reliably and tried to immediately catch the ball so as not to allow it to finish off.

Muscovites seemed to be overwhelmed by emotions. They regularly organized counterattacks, but there was a lot of unnecessary fuss in their actions. It is no coincidence that the experienced Kovalchuk tried to calm his comrades on the bench after each shift. Zhamnov’s team still had one 100% chance. Pavel Poryadin made a solo pass and brought Nikolai Goldobin one on one. Ilya Nabokov did not allow the forward to score, and Robin Press violated the rules. But the capital team, as most often happens in the current Gagarin Cup, lost the majority.

And in the 18th minute, Metallurg scored a natural goal. The team carried out a counterattack, and Dmitry Silantiev found Kantserov in the center with an excellent pass from the left side. He immediately left no chance for Kareev with his throw.

The second period started with Magnitka creating a number of chances. However, the goalkeeper again coped well with all the threats. But then the initiative passed firmly to the Muscovites. Moreover, a certain turning point in the game was brought by Kovalchuk’s line, which actively spent its shift and increased the speed.

The partners also picked up the fuse. The most alarming thing for Razin’s squad was when Vitaly Orekhov shot down Burmistrov, who was running away to rendezvous with Nabokov, and received two minutes. Unlike the previous one, the red and white disposed of this majority as it should. They locked their opponents in the zone and delivered blow after blow. But the guests miraculously survived, largely thanks to Nabokov.

Then Spartak continued to attack by inertia, but missed profitable chances. For example, Kovalchuk with a brilliant subtle pass brought German Rubtsov one on one with the goalkeeper, but he did not have time to throw a shot. And then Mikhail Maltsev hit the post from the right circle.

Well, at the end of the period Metallurg scored again. Before that, he periodically organized sharp counter attacks. During one of them, Nikita Grebenkin rushed off on a date with Kareev, but failed to outwit him. This time Denis Zernov, whose speed every hockey player can envy, rushed along the left side, moved to the center and calmly hit the shot.

The final segment, in fact, turned into an empty formality. The red and white, of course, moved forward, but without emotion, knowing full well that it was almost impossible to escape. And Magnitogorsk played an exemplary role in defense. They blocked all the free zones and did not allow the opponents to combine in their half, pushing them beyond the blue line. Even if the throws followed, they became easy prey for Nabokov.

The regular counter attacks from the guests looked much more interesting. Both Zernov and Yurov could have distinguished themselves if not for Kareev’s reaction. But one of these counterattacks still ended in a goal. Andrey did not allow his counterpart to hit the near corner. A throw-in followed, won by Metallurg. And then no one stopped Mikhailis from “shooting” the goalkeeper. Thus, the team’s highest paid hockey player scored his debut goal in the current playoffs.

After this, the intrigue died completely. Almost four minutes before the siren, Zhamnov went all-in and took off the goalkeeper, but that didn’t help either. Moreover, immediately Yurov involuntarily threw the projectile out of the area and went to the penalty box. The red-whites didn’t score even in the six-on-four format. They again failed to upset Nabokov, who for them had turned into an evil genius. Ilya scored the third goal of the series and conceded only eight goals. Moreover, before the fifth match he turned only 21 years old.

And Razin’s team prevailed and for the seventh time in history made it to the semi-finals of the Gagarin Cup, where they will face off against Avtomobilist.