EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
Game 1 - Monday, February 22
(3) Sibir Novosibirsk (6) Admiral Vladivostok Sibir leads the series 1-0
Admiral enjoyed the first big opportunity of the game when Viktor Alexandrov found space out in front on the power play and fired in his shot. However, Alexander Salak got his body behind that one. Sibir struggled to get into the game early on, but its first power play late in the opening stanza changed the pattern. Plenty of patient work went unrewarded during the numerical advantage, but Admiral was unable to relieve the pressure. A delayed penalty brought the breakthrough when Ivan Vereshchagin spotted a weak link in the visiting defense and fired a powerful shot from the blue line inside Igor Bobkov’s near post. The teams then traded goals at the start of the second period: Viktor Bobrov made it 2-0 to Sibir before Alexander Kuznetsov got one back almost immediately. Sibir made it 3-1 when Sergei Shumakov managed to wrestle the puck away from the boards and found Stepan Sannikov on the edge of the circle. Sannikov exploited the additional space on the power play, swivelling through 360 degrees before firing past Bobkov. Once again, though, the two-goal cushion was short-lived: Geoffrey Kinrade’s slap shot came through heavy traffic with Konstantin Makarov claiming the touch that took the puck past Salak. The game turned on a 5+20 penalty for Admiral’s Alexei Ugarov late in the second period. Sibir converted the power play through Konstantin Alexeyev early in the third and this time the advantage held until the end. The visitor tried everything to force its way back into contention, pulling goalie Ivan Nalimov with almost four minutes left in a bid to convert a late power play, but Sibir held off the assault.
Game 2 - Wednesday, February 24
(3) Sibir Novosibirsk 4 (6) Admiral Vladivostok 0 Sibir leads the series 2-0
A convincing win for Sibir gives Andrei Skabelka’s team a commanding advantage to take to the Far East. The game was largely decided in the second period, with Sibir dominating the play and scoring two unanswered goals to add to Viktor Bobrov’s second post-season marker, scored in the ninth minute. Calle Ridderwall made it 2-0, firing home from the slot after great work from David Ullstrom to exchange passes with Tomas Vincour, rush the net then recover the puck from against the post. Two minutes later Sergei Shumakov made it three, adding to his assist from game one as he found the net following Stepan Sannikov’s backhand pass from the near post. Admiral raised its game in the third period, desperately seeking a way back into contention, but Alexander Salak was in imposing form for Sibir, finishing the day with 36 saves. Maxim Shalunov completed the scoring late on with an empty net goal.
(6) Admiral Vladivostok 1 (3) Sibir Novosibirsk 3 Sibir leads the series 3-0
Sibir’s serene progress through the first round continues with a comfortable win in Vladivostok to move to within one victory of sweeping Admiral. After two defeats in Siberia, the home team knew that things had to improve fast if it was to maintain any serious hope of continuing its playoff campaign. But it took just 14 minutes for Sibir to take the lead, aided by a defensive blunder that presented Konstantin Okulov with the chance to go one-on-one with Ivan Nalimov and open the scoring. The blow was doubly harsh, since Admiral had created the better chances early in the game only to be punished for some sloppy play at the other end. A brief recovery followed: Admiral earned a power play and after winning the puck from the face-off the play came to Oscars Bartulis. His pass set up Konstantin Makarov to tie the scores and the game was level at the first intermission. Two goals for Sibir in the middle session effectively ended the game, though. Sergei Shumakov got the first just after the half hour. Sibir continued to press as a power play came to an end and Shumakov produced a fine finish from the left-hand face off circle. That marker prompted a tussle between Admiral’s David Booth and Maxim Ignatovich of Sibir; both of them took 2+2 minute penalties. The game was wrapped up in the 39th minute. Maxim Shalunov saw his shot saved and the rebound bounced far from goal to Vladislav Naumov who returned the puck with interest with an instinctive one-timer that gave Nalimov no chance. Sadly for his team, chances of progressing in this season’s competition also seem to be slim and that frustration took its toll in the third period. Dmitry Sayustov was expelled from the game for a high hit before Samvel Mnatsyan managed to drop the gloves with Andrej Meszaros in the last minute and earned himself a total of 29 minutes in penalties for his trouble.
(6) Admiral Vladivostok 2 (3) Sibir Novosibirsk 0 Sibir leads the series 3-1
Admiral prolonged its stay in the last-chance saloon thanks to a victory over Sibir that keeps the series alive. The Siberians had high hopes of completing a sweep in Sunday’s early game and returning to Novosibirsk for some rest and preparation time for the challenges ahead, but there is still unfinished business to attend to in round one. Having lost the first three games Admiral went back to basics: strong defense was the foundation of this win. It wasn’t always pretty, the first period registered no goals and just 10 shots on target as the teams fought out a war of attrition, but ultimately it proved effective. Konstantin Makarov broke the deadlock in the 26th minute as Admiral converted its second power play in quick succession. He got on the end of Jonathan Bloom’s drilled pass into the slot and turned the puck past Alexander Salak. The visiting players called for a replay to confirm that Makarov didn’t kick the puck into the net, but the goal stood. Chances were still hard to come by at either end, and Sibir’s biggest opportunity came when the home team hit penalty trouble. Maxim Mamin was expelled from the game in the 43rd minute and for the first 81 seconds of his five-minute penalty Admiral had to play with three man while Yegor Dugin served his time for an earlier minor. However, the visitor could not cash in, struggling to press Admiral into its own zone and then, in frustration, losing Tomas Vincour to the sin-bin to neutralize the advantage. Admiral sealed the deal in the last minute when Dugin found the empty net. Ivan Nalimov made 22 saves and the teams do it all again on Tuesday in Novosibirsk.
(3) Sibir Novosibirsk 4 (6) Admiral Vladivostok 0 Sibir wins the series 4-1
A second-period blitz saw Sibir complete a comfortable round one victory over Admiral to advance to the Eastern Conference semi-final. The first period was evenly matched but after the intermission Sibir came out and blasted three unanswered goals in barely five minutes to put the game, and the series, beyond the reach of its opponent. Damir Zhafyarov opened the scoring on 21:05, wriggling his way clear of Geoffrey Kinrade and, despite falling under the challenge, getting his shot off to beat Igor Bobkov. Then came two goals in 40 seconds. Sergei Shumakov’s third post-season goal made it 2-0 with a neat finish close in on Bobkov after Stepan Sannikov’s pass threaded the needle between two defensemen. Then Artyom Voroshilo tucked away the rebound after Andrej Meszaros saw his shot saved. After that collapse, Admiral responded by bringing out the heavy artillery, the shots kept flying in and Alexander Salak would ultimately make 52 saves for his second post-season shut-out. But the lead was too great. Sibir could content itself with holding Admiral at arm’s length for most of the third period. There were just three shots on Bobkov’s net, but one of them proved successful as Konstantin Okulov won the puck in center ice and headed off to the races for a sizzling breakaway goal.
Sibir joins Avangard in the next stage.
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