Preview
Not many would have picked a different match-up for this year’s Western Conference final. The two Army clubs dominated the KHL throughout the regular season – no rival team, in either conference, lost fewer games than the two combined. And so it proved: both clubs progressed with little cause for alarm, although CSKA did endure a long, long night against Jokerit before losing out in the fifth period of overtime. The teams have met at this stage twice before and both series were remarkable. In 2015, SKA became the first and – thus far – only team to recover a 0-3 deficit in a KHL playoff series, stunning the Muscovites on the way to a first Gagarin Cup triumph. Twelve months later, CSKA got revenge, sweeping SKA to reach its first Grand Final, only to lose out in seven games against Metallurg. With the action starting Thursday, here’s a look at how the teams are looking in 2018.
Goalies – top of the class
With all due respect to Emil Garipov and Pavel Francouz as they prepare to go head to head in the East, it’s hard to argue that Mikko Koskinen and Ilya Sorokin have been anything other than the top goalies in this year’s playoffs. Sorokin, in particular, has been in storming form: at one stage he had allowed just one goal in six games and had an SVG of more than 99%. That’s how to give your team a chance to win.
Koskinen, meanwhile, has cemented the #1 spot at SKA despite competition from Igor Shestyorkin, and the Finn is looking solid once again. This duel could all come down to experience. On the one hand, Koskinen has already won two Gagarin Cups, while Sorokin has one unsuccessful final so far. On the other, it’s barely a month since Sorokin won an Olympic final – this is no rookie, despite his young age.
Defense – solid at the back, questions going forward
The striking thing about both defenses is that neither has contributed much scoring. It might sound like a strange criticism when neither SKA nor CSKA has allowed many goals, but it’s striking that the likes of Patrik Hersley have left little mark on the box scores so far in the 2018 playoffs. In a tight series, the team that can unearth vital goals from the blue line – be that from Hersley or CSKA’s Mat Robinson – could claim a vital edge. However, when it comes to defending, both teams are strong. CSKA has been doing this all season: miserly throughout the regular season and positively Scrooge-like since, allowing just nine goals in 10 playoff games. Robinson and Nikita Nesterov have done the hard graft, averaging around 25 minutes of ice time per game, but the CSKA ‘D’ has been a real team effort, with the forecheck doing plenty to protect Sorokin’s net.
For SKA, Slava Voynov has not hit the scoring heights he is capable of, but he’s fulfilled his defensive duties admirably. The former LA Kings man brings a wealth of experience to the team and plays a key role on the special teams. He’s doing almost everything that SKA fans love to see from their hero – and is likely to be a key figure when it comes to the Army showdown.
Offense – Olympic heroes go head to head Remember PyeongChang? That gold medal game? Four points from Nikita Gusev and a game-winning, Olympic-winning goal from Kirill Kaprizov? Now those two are on opposite sides of the ice in the latest big showdown of their careers. Kaprizov, still only 20, has yet to really set these playoffs alight: his goal against Jokerit snapped an 18-game spell without finding the net. However, the sheer quality of that play, lifting a backhander over the goalie’s shoulder despite being knocked to his knees, highlights what a dangerous role he can play.
That, plus the quality of Kaprizov, is why CSKA shouldn’t be unduly worried about the lack of a hot player in this post-season. No matter that its top scorers, Sergei Andronov and Mikhail Grigorenko, are on six points apiece – the opportunity to find a game-winner on any line is often more important in playoff hockey, rather than risking an over-reliance on a single star, who may be neutralized by an opponent who can plan for his strengths and weaknesses.
Game 1 - March 29 - SKA v CSKA 4-5 OT
The clash of the titans in the Western Conference got off to a flying start with a game that delivered all the excitement promised by this showdown. And, to wrap up an absorbing start to this much-anticipated series, we finished with an overtime winner from Andrei Kuzmenko. The CSKA forward completed his hat-trick in the extras, a performance reminiscent of Denis Mosalyov’s triple show for Dynamo at this stage in 2012; the Blue-and-Whites won that game 5-4 in overtime, and went on to lift their first Gagarin Cup. CSKA would be thrilled if history repeated itself and the big prize returned to Moscow draped in red and blue colors this year. Even before the puck was dropped, there was a surprise. SKA’s Vadim Shipachyov, who already has nine points in this year’s playoffs, was a healthy scratch. The forward might be feeling a sense of deja vu – he suffered the same fate in Korea during Russia’s Olympic run – but this was a tactical switch that some reporters had anticipated before the series began. But that tactical plan was confounded by Kuzmenko, whose triple strike handed CSKA the first victory of the series. His winner came six minutes into the extras, with CSKA dominating play in overtime. The forward took Bogdan Kiselevich’s pass behind the net and emerged on the wraparound. It seemed that he would look for a pass to the slot, where Andrei Svetlakov was jockeying for position, but instead he used the wrestling match between his team-mate and Nikolai Prokhorkin as a screen to shoot past Mikko Koskinen and win the game.
Game 3 - April 2 - CSKA v SKA 2-5
A flurry of SKA scoring either side of the first intermission gave the defending champion the edge in this game – and put the Petersburg team ahead in the series. The visitor scored four goals in seven minutes, jumping to a 4-1 lead and taking control of this encounter in Moscow. CSKA reduced the deficit with a counter-attack goal late in the second period, but could not get back in contention and must now look to win its next home game and tie the series before Friday’s return to the north.
Patrick Thoresen opened the scoring after 16 minutes after SKA bamboozled the home defense. Vadim Shipachyov and Vladislav Gavrikov swapped places, with the defenseman collecting his team-mate’s feed from the blue line and going behind the net before picking out Thoresen with an inviting pass. CSKA found an immediate response through Kirill Petrov, whose close-range finish was approved despite a challenge from the visiting bench. Znarok and his colleagues felt that goalie Mikko Koskinen was impeded in the build up to the goal, but the officials had no objections to the play. The long pause did little to help the home team, and Jarno Koskiranta quickly reinstated SKA’s lead when he whipped home a one-timer off Alexander Barabanov’s feed between the hash marks.
An all-action end to the first frame was followed by an equally lively start to the second. Patrik Hersley increased SKA’s lead – the Swedish D-man getting his first goal of this year’s playoffs. Hersley reacted fastest when Mikhail Pashnin’s wayward clearance gave up possession in centre ice; his rush and finish gave Ilya Sorokin no chance and an appeal for offside came to naught. And within a couple of minutes, another CSKA slip led to another goal after Artyom Sergeyev failed to control the puck and allowed Sergei Plotnikov’s pass to release Nikita Gusev for the 4-1 marker. CSKA brought Lars Johansson into the game in place of Sorokin, and there was a feeling that this could be a key game in the series. If SKA continued to punish home errors and rack up the goals, the momentum of this whole contest could be irrevocably determined.
SKA was not immune to errors of its own, though, and a misplaced pass from Ilya Kablukov handed CSKA a way back into the game. Mikhail Grigorenko made the interception, picked out Kirill Kaprizov as the youngster exited the penalty box, and collected the return pass to score a breakaway goal on Koskinen.
However, there was no way back for the Moscow team. The final frame saw SKA settle into a robust defensive pattern that allowed few opportunities for CSKA. The visitor’s task was eased by a trio of power plays: as CSKA got more frustrated, its discipline began to waver and SKA could run down the clock comfortably. Indeed, the biggest save of the session came from Johansson, denying Gusev from close range after Plotnikov danced around the back of the net. CSKA rarely threatened to test Koskinen so severely and the game reached its inevitable conclusion with two minutes left when Barabanov scored an empty-net goal to put the issue beyond doubt. To sum up CSKA’s evening, Johansson was off the ice for just seven seconds before SKA added its fifth.
Game 4 - April 4 - CSKA v SKA 2-1
CSKA produced a vital victory to ensure this series remains very much alive. After the home team’s disappointment on Monday, sunk by a SKA goal blitz, game four of the series had the feel of a must-win encounter. Tie the series, and everything is up for grabs; slip to 1-3 and it’s hard to see a way back. The stakes were high, but the first period was played at a high tempo. True, there were relatively few big moments in front of either net. However, neither team was playing it cagey; the lack of scoring chances was a reflection more of the quality of defensive play on display than anybody trying to stifle the game early on. However, when SKA went ahead in the 34th minute, things looked bleak for CSKA. The Muscovites had enjoyed much the better of the second period, with Mikko Koskinen frequently tested. Sergei Andronov and Valery Nichushkin produced perhaps the most dangerous moments in front of the visitor’s net but found the Finn in unflappable form despite an incident that saw him take an inadvertent stick to the face from Vladimir Zharkov. But SKA took the lead. A power play saw Vadim Shipachyov take play behind Ilya Sorokin’s net before feeding the puck back to Slava Voynov. His one-timer from the top of the circle flashed past the goalie and the visitor had its reward. In fairness, SKA enjoyed more of the attacking possession in the second period and eventually its patience around the net paid off. At that stage, with SKA ahead in the game and set fair to take a 3-1 lead in this Western Conference Final, CSKA needed inspiration. Early in the third period, it arrived.
The teams were playing four-on-four after Ilya Kovalchuk and Mikhail Pashnin got into a tussle, and CSKA took advantage of the extra space on the ice. Mikhail Grigorenko took the puck into the SKA zone, Alexander Popov went deep into enemy territory and his feed went all the way back to Mat Robinson, arriving from the blue line to shoot home the tying goal with a powerful wrister. Then came Nichushkin, battling out of the corner, getting away from Voynov and finding Andronov on the slot. Andronov’s attempt on the back hand was padded away, but Nichushkin had followed up his own play to swat home the rebound and give the home team a vital lead. The turnaround took just two minutes and 17 seconds; the series jumped from ‘almost finished’ to ‘alive and kicking’. Of course, there was still the small matter of holding onto that lead for the remaining 16 minutes of the game. CSKA had its share of anxious moments, with Shipachyov going close shortly after Nichushkin’s goal and Kovalchuk almost converting a rebound from a Vladislav Gavrikov slap shot. The pressure grew ever more intense, especially when Bogdan Kiselevich twice found himself in the box. The second of those penalties came in the last minute and offered SKA a spell of 6-on-4 play, but the visitor’s efforts to save the game were hampered when Sergei Plotnikov took a penalty of his own to disrupt his team’s flow. CSKA weathered the storm and tied up this series ahead of Friday’s return to St. Petersburg.
Game 5 - April 6 - SKA v CSKA 0-1
Lars Johansson has not played a big role in CSKA’s playoff campaign so far – prior to this game, the Swede had just 76 minutes of game time in this post season and had never started. Ilya Sorokin’s form had been so impressive that the young Russian was the obvious first choice. Until now. Johansson, 30, was handed his chance in Friday’s showdown in St. Petersburg, and produced a heroic performance to help his team snatch a narrow victory. SKA, eager to convert home advantage into a 3-2 lead in the series, spent much of the game on the attack. Johansson faced most of the action in the first two periods, but provided an unbreakable barrier against which SKA’s offense could do little. In the first period, with CSKA barely visible as an attacking force, the Swede made nine saves; in the middle frame he had another 15 as CSKA killed four penalties.
It wasn’t all about the goalie. CSKA’s players blocked an impressive 22 shots over the course of the game, producing the kind of gritty defensive performance that coaches love. The officials played their part, ruling out a possible SKA goal in the 36th minute. After going to the video to have a second look at a Jarno Koskiranta effort, they concluded that Johansson, sitting on his goal line, managed to keep the puck from entering his net and the goal was not given. Johansson also got some help from the piping late in the middle session – Vladislav Gavrikov dinged the post from a tight angle after the goalie had stopped a Pavel Datsyuk effort. Only in the third did the game change, with the visitor finally starting to create and getting its reward with the only goal six minutes from the end. SKA’s frustration with Johansson and his defense may well have played a part: the home time began taking penalties of its own, tilting the balance of play to the other end of the ice. Eventually, that pressure told – although there was some controversy surrounding the game’s only goal.
The issue was not connected with Kirill Kaprizov’s shot – a devastating one-timer off Nikita Nesterov’s feed that squeezed between Mikko Koskinen’s pad and blocker. SKA’s unhappiness came from a moment seconds earlier when Koskinen blocked another shot, only for Alexander Popov to rip the puck away from the Finnish goalie. Oleg Znarok immediately called the officials over to the SKA bench to voice his displeasure at what he felt was an unfair challenge; the referees considered the situation but chose not to refer it to the video and the goal stood. It was enough to win the game. Johansson held firm at the other end, finishing with 29 saves. SKA, meanwhile, struggled to generate that final big chance that might have tied the scores. Datsyuk’s solo effort with three minutes to go was as good as it got for the home team.
Game 6 - April 8 - CSKA v SKA 3-2 OT
Mikhail Grigorenko shot CSKA into the Gagarin Cup final for the second time in three seasons, bagging a late equalizer and an overtime winner as the Muscovites recovered a 0-2 deficit to beat SKA. However, if CSKA goes on to lift the Gagarin Cup for the first time, Lars Johansson’s save midway through the first period of overtime could well be remembered as one of the key moments of the campaign. The goal gaped at Pavel Datsyuk’s mercy after Alexander Barabanov forced a big save from Johansson, but the Swedish goalie somehow got his pad across the crease to stop the shot and keep his team in the game. Within a couple of minutes, Grigorenko put away his second of the night and CSKA had its place in the grand final. For Johansson, it was the highlight of another stellar performance. After his shut-out in Friday’s victory in St. Petersburg, the Swede might have anticipated a starting role again here in game six. Instead, CSKA’s head coach Igor Nikitin went with Ilya Sorokin, so reliable throughout the playoff campaign up to now.
The decision almost backfired horribly. SKA, well aware that only victory would prolong its defense of the Gagarin Cup, began at a blistering tempo and ripped into a two-goal lead inside five minutes. The first, from Nikita Gusev, was a clear goaltending error: the forward made an impressive rush from his own end and turned Bogdan Kiselevich inside out, but his shot came from a long way and Sorokin had a clear view before he inexplicably flapped his glove away from the puck as it flew into the net. A couple of minutes later, Ilya Kovalchuk added a second. No goalie error this time: SKA’s alternate captain sliced through the CSKA zone before firing through traffic to give Sorokin no chance. Unluckily for the youngster, he would get no further chances in this game as Johansson came to the crease after just four minutes of play. The change paid off, the Swede was once again in unbeatable form. In total, SKA had 35 shots in the game, but it was unable to add to the two goals it scored on Sorokin. But CSKA still had to recover that deficit and salvage something from the game.
It took some time to make that happen. SKA’s early momentum kept it on top until well into the second period. But gradually the home team began to fashion opportunities of its own and, in the 36th minute, a well-worked counter-attack halved the deficit. Maxim Shalunov's surge down the right wing got CSKA into position and Nikita Nesterov came surging up from defense to convert his team-mate’s enticing feed. That goal gave CSKA hope, but in the third period it seemed that SKA had enough to hold on to its lead. The host was stretched, with most of the defensive work happening at its end. SKA had 10 shots on goal, and a further seven were blocked as the clock ticked ever closer to the 60-minute mark. Then it happened. With three-and-a-half minutes left to play, Grigorenko turned the game – and perhaps the season – upside down with a tying goal. It wasn’t the prettiest goal of the playoffs: Alexander Popov followed up after CSKA dumped the puck into the corner and wrestled possession away from Anton Belov. His feed from behind the net went straight to Grigorenko’s tape, and his one-timer whistled past Mikko Koskinen to level the scores and take the game into overtime. In the absence of Kirill Kaprizov, rested after his game-winning exploits on Friday, CSKA found a new hero. The extras brought that fantastic Johansson save, and then a second Grigorenko goal. Again, Popov won his battle in the corner. This time Kirill Petrov took on the puck and unleashed a shot on the wraparound. Koskinen padded it away, but Grigorenko was on the spot to smash home the rebound and send CSKA into the grand final. CSKA’s victory sets up a Gagarin Cup Final showdown against Ak Bars, with game one scheduled for Saturday, April 14 in Kazan. It also means that once again, the KHL’s regular season champion will not lift the big prize: never in the 10 seasons of KHL action has the team on top of the table gone on to win the Gagarin Cup.
The clash of the titans in the Western Conference got off to a flying start with a game that delivered all the excitement promised by this showdown. And, to wrap up an absorbing start to this much-anticipated series, we finished with an overtime winner from Andrei Kuzmenko. The CSKA forward completed his hat-trick in the extras, a performance reminiscent of Denis Mosalyov’s triple show for Dynamo at this stage in 2012; the Blue-and-Whites won that game 5-4 in overtime, and went on to lift their first Gagarin Cup. CSKA would be thrilled if history repeated itself and the big prize returned to Moscow draped in red and blue colors this year. Even before the puck was dropped, there was a surprise. SKA’s Vadim Shipachyov, who already has nine points in this year’s playoffs, was a healthy scratch. The forward might be feeling a sense of deja vu – he suffered the same fate in Korea during Russia’s Olympic run – but this was a tactical switch that some reporters had anticipated before the series began. But that tactical plan was confounded by Kuzmenko, whose triple strike handed CSKA the first victory of the series. His winner came six minutes into the extras, with CSKA dominating play in overtime. The forward took Bogdan Kiselevich’s pass behind the net and emerged on the wraparound. It seemed that he would look for a pass to the slot, where Andrei Svetlakov was jockeying for position, but instead he used the wrestling match between his team-mate and Nikolai Prokhorkin as a screen to shoot past Mikko Koskinen and win the game.
Sergei Plotnikov, Artyom Sergeyev
CSKA deserved the victory, even though SKA did not seem to be missing Shipachyov early on. A bright start from the home team was rewarded with an opening goal for Pavel Datsyuk in the seventh minute. Nikita Gusev’s diagonal feed from the point picked out Artyom Zub and the defenseman looked to slide a pass across the slot to Sergei Plotnikov. The feed never got there; CSKA’s defense pushed it away, but only as far as Datsyuk, lurking between the hash marks to tuck away the first goal of the series. The home team was playing ‘in-yer-face’ hockey, unafraid of piling in with the hits against CSKA, and that kept the visitor away from a tying goal in the first period. But, seconds after the intermission, Mikhail Grigorenko made it 1-1. Kirill Kaprizov was the architect, with a sublime piece of skill to advance to the goal line before slipping a no-look pass back between his legs for Grigorenko to beat Koskinen. Now we had a game, and a series, to savor.
SKA isn’t a team used to struggling on home ice, and the silence was profound after 25 minutes when CSKA went in front. There was a nasty hole in the home defense as the Muscovites quickly sprang from their own zone, and Kuzmenko took advantage to speed down the left and get close to the net for the 2-1 goal. The lead was shortlived, however: Prokhorkin, once a star prospect at CSKA, needed just 12 seconds to tie the game with a close-range finish after Alexander Barabanov’s rush stretched the visitor’s defense to breaking point. CSKA, though, was a much stronger proposition in the middle frame – that hit counter was swinging into the visitor’s favor and the chances kept coming in front of Koskinen. Kaprizov got involved again, going behind the net to fashion an opening for Alexander Popov, and CSKA led for a second time as the game approached its halfway point. However, a power play chance for SKA saw Gusev tie the scores before the second intermission: Vyacheslav Voynov’s shot was saved, Gusev got on the rebound and slotted the puck home from a tight angle.
Into the third period, and SKA looked to raise its game on offense in a bid to finish things off as quickly as possible. CSKA, meanwhile, had other ideas: despite absorbing more pressure than earlier in the game, it still found a way to get back ahead. Svetlakov’s leap to catch a puck on its way out of the zone kept SKA on the back foot; his shot from the blue line was deflected past Koskinen as Kuzmenko claimed his second goal of the game with 10 minutes left.
That wasn’t enough to win it, though. Plotnikov hit back almost immediately for SKA. Once again, Artyom Zub picked up an assist, this time with a thunderous shot that was pushed away for Plotnikov to tie the game at 4-4 and set up overtime before Kuzmenko could celebrate victory.
Game 2 - March 31 - SKA v CSKA 2-0
SKA hit back in game two of the Western Conference Final, blanking CSKA to claim a 2-0 victory and square the series before the teams head to Moscow on Monday. Mikko Koskinen made 25 saves for his fourth shut-out of this year’s playoffs, while Nikita Gusev and Jarno Koskiranta got the goals in the second period. After missing out in a tight opening game, SKA was eager to assert itself from the start here. Oleg Znarok’s team was playing a characteristically ‘in-yer-face’ brand of hockey, and in the opening frame it had 12 hits against just two from CSKA. The all-action approach was not enough to generate many clear-cut chances, though, and the period ended goalless. That all changed 40 seconds into the second stanza as SKA hit the front. Vadim Shipachyov, recalled to the team after missing game one of this series, was the architect. First, he leapt to catch the puck on the blue line as CSKA attempted to clear its lines. Next, a swift pass found Gusev in the left-hand circle. Gusev’s instant shot gave Ilya Sorokin no chance as he tried to slide into position and SKA had the lead. CSKA came close to an instant reply through Roman Lyubimov after Pavel Karnaukhov battled his way forward, but then failed to capitalize on a power play and the momentum moved back towards the home team.
Koskiranta added a second as the game passed the midway point, slotting a neat finish past Sorokin after Ilya Kablukov’s rush down the left wing. There was a query about SKA’s line change as Kablukov streaked past the benches, but the video showed no infringement and the goal stood. That did not prevent a skirmish between Karnaukhov and Sergei Plotnikov, which resulted in both players going to the box and started a trend for niggly clashes all over the ice. Karnaukhov got into trouble again, picking up a double minor for a tussle with Koskiranta and an extra two minutes for boarding. SKA twice went close on the power play, with Shipachyov threatening twice in quick succession. Then two more men went into the box after Patrick Thoresen and Mikhail Pashnin had a heated exchange of their own. The third period began with CSKA eager to up the pace. The visitor fired in a flurry of shots at the Mikko Koskinen’s net, with Kirill Kaprizov’s pace causing problems for the home defense. But SKA held strong, and an impressive PK after Gusev went to the box highlighted the battling qualities of this performance. Kaprizov continued to threaten, Kirill Petrov managed to dislodge Koskinen’s helmet without disturbing the Finn’s net. Increasingly, though, SKA’s defense was closing the game out, making it harder and harder for CSKA to get good looks at Koskinen’s net and allowing the clock to tick down. Even a final 6-on-5 surge from the visitor failed to generate a meaningful effort on goal as the defending champion tied up the series in solid style.
CSKA deserved the victory, even though SKA did not seem to be missing Shipachyov early on. A bright start from the home team was rewarded with an opening goal for Pavel Datsyuk in the seventh minute. Nikita Gusev’s diagonal feed from the point picked out Artyom Zub and the defenseman looked to slide a pass across the slot to Sergei Plotnikov. The feed never got there; CSKA’s defense pushed it away, but only as far as Datsyuk, lurking between the hash marks to tuck away the first goal of the series. The home team was playing ‘in-yer-face’ hockey, unafraid of piling in with the hits against CSKA, and that kept the visitor away from a tying goal in the first period. But, seconds after the intermission, Mikhail Grigorenko made it 1-1. Kirill Kaprizov was the architect, with a sublime piece of skill to advance to the goal line before slipping a no-look pass back between his legs for Grigorenko to beat Koskinen. Now we had a game, and a series, to savor.
SKA isn’t a team used to struggling on home ice, and the silence was profound after 25 minutes when CSKA went in front. There was a nasty hole in the home defense as the Muscovites quickly sprang from their own zone, and Kuzmenko took advantage to speed down the left and get close to the net for the 2-1 goal. The lead was shortlived, however: Prokhorkin, once a star prospect at CSKA, needed just 12 seconds to tie the game with a close-range finish after Alexander Barabanov’s rush stretched the visitor’s defense to breaking point. CSKA, though, was a much stronger proposition in the middle frame – that hit counter was swinging into the visitor’s favor and the chances kept coming in front of Koskinen. Kaprizov got involved again, going behind the net to fashion an opening for Alexander Popov, and CSKA led for a second time as the game approached its halfway point. However, a power play chance for SKA saw Gusev tie the scores before the second intermission: Vyacheslav Voynov’s shot was saved, Gusev got on the rebound and slotted the puck home from a tight angle.
Into the third period, and SKA looked to raise its game on offense in a bid to finish things off as quickly as possible. CSKA, meanwhile, had other ideas: despite absorbing more pressure than earlier in the game, it still found a way to get back ahead. Svetlakov’s leap to catch a puck on its way out of the zone kept SKA on the back foot; his shot from the blue line was deflected past Koskinen as Kuzmenko claimed his second goal of the game with 10 minutes left.
That wasn’t enough to win it, though. Plotnikov hit back almost immediately for SKA. Once again, Artyom Zub picked up an assist, this time with a thunderous shot that was pushed away for Plotnikov to tie the game at 4-4 and set up overtime before Kuzmenko could celebrate victory.
Game 2 - March 31 - SKA v CSKA 2-0SKA hit back in game two of the Western Conference Final, blanking CSKA to claim a 2-0 victory and square the series before the teams head to Moscow on Monday. Mikko Koskinen made 25 saves for his fourth shut-out of this year’s playoffs, while Nikita Gusev and Jarno Koskiranta got the goals in the second period. After missing out in a tight opening game, SKA was eager to assert itself from the start here. Oleg Znarok’s team was playing a characteristically ‘in-yer-face’ brand of hockey, and in the opening frame it had 12 hits against just two from CSKA. The all-action approach was not enough to generate many clear-cut chances, though, and the period ended goalless. That all changed 40 seconds into the second stanza as SKA hit the front. Vadim Shipachyov, recalled to the team after missing game one of this series, was the architect. First, he leapt to catch the puck on the blue line as CSKA attempted to clear its lines. Next, a swift pass found Gusev in the left-hand circle. Gusev’s instant shot gave Ilya Sorokin no chance as he tried to slide into position and SKA had the lead. CSKA came close to an instant reply through Roman Lyubimov after Pavel Karnaukhov battled his way forward, but then failed to capitalize on a power play and the momentum moved back towards the home team.
Koskiranta added a second as the game passed the midway point, slotting a neat finish past Sorokin after Ilya Kablukov’s rush down the left wing. There was a query about SKA’s line change as Kablukov streaked past the benches, but the video showed no infringement and the goal stood. That did not prevent a skirmish between Karnaukhov and Sergei Plotnikov, which resulted in both players going to the box and started a trend for niggly clashes all over the ice. Karnaukhov got into trouble again, picking up a double minor for a tussle with Koskiranta and an extra two minutes for boarding. SKA twice went close on the power play, with Shipachyov threatening twice in quick succession. Then two more men went into the box after Patrick Thoresen and Mikhail Pashnin had a heated exchange of their own. The third period began with CSKA eager to up the pace. The visitor fired in a flurry of shots at the Mikko Koskinen’s net, with Kirill Kaprizov’s pace causing problems for the home defense. But SKA held strong, and an impressive PK after Gusev went to the box highlighted the battling qualities of this performance. Kaprizov continued to threaten, Kirill Petrov managed to dislodge Koskinen’s helmet without disturbing the Finn’s net. Increasingly, though, SKA’s defense was closing the game out, making it harder and harder for CSKA to get good looks at Koskinen’s net and allowing the clock to tick down. Even a final 6-on-5 surge from the visitor failed to generate a meaningful effort on goal as the defending champion tied up the series in solid style.
Game 3 - April 2 - CSKA v SKA 2-5A flurry of SKA scoring either side of the first intermission gave the defending champion the edge in this game – and put the Petersburg team ahead in the series. The visitor scored four goals in seven minutes, jumping to a 4-1 lead and taking control of this encounter in Moscow. CSKA reduced the deficit with a counter-attack goal late in the second period, but could not get back in contention and must now look to win its next home game and tie the series before Friday’s return to the north.
Patrick Thoresen opened the scoring after 16 minutes after SKA bamboozled the home defense. Vadim Shipachyov and Vladislav Gavrikov swapped places, with the defenseman collecting his team-mate’s feed from the blue line and going behind the net before picking out Thoresen with an inviting pass. CSKA found an immediate response through Kirill Petrov, whose close-range finish was approved despite a challenge from the visiting bench. Znarok and his colleagues felt that goalie Mikko Koskinen was impeded in the build up to the goal, but the officials had no objections to the play. The long pause did little to help the home team, and Jarno Koskiranta quickly reinstated SKA’s lead when he whipped home a one-timer off Alexander Barabanov’s feed between the hash marks.
An all-action end to the first frame was followed by an equally lively start to the second. Patrik Hersley increased SKA’s lead – the Swedish D-man getting his first goal of this year’s playoffs. Hersley reacted fastest when Mikhail Pashnin’s wayward clearance gave up possession in centre ice; his rush and finish gave Ilya Sorokin no chance and an appeal for offside came to naught. And within a couple of minutes, another CSKA slip led to another goal after Artyom Sergeyev failed to control the puck and allowed Sergei Plotnikov’s pass to release Nikita Gusev for the 4-1 marker. CSKA brought Lars Johansson into the game in place of Sorokin, and there was a feeling that this could be a key game in the series. If SKA continued to punish home errors and rack up the goals, the momentum of this whole contest could be irrevocably determined.
SKA was not immune to errors of its own, though, and a misplaced pass from Ilya Kablukov handed CSKA a way back into the game. Mikhail Grigorenko made the interception, picked out Kirill Kaprizov as the youngster exited the penalty box, and collected the return pass to score a breakaway goal on Koskinen.
However, there was no way back for the Moscow team. The final frame saw SKA settle into a robust defensive pattern that allowed few opportunities for CSKA. The visitor’s task was eased by a trio of power plays: as CSKA got more frustrated, its discipline began to waver and SKA could run down the clock comfortably. Indeed, the biggest save of the session came from Johansson, denying Gusev from close range after Plotnikov danced around the back of the net. CSKA rarely threatened to test Koskinen so severely and the game reached its inevitable conclusion with two minutes left when Barabanov scored an empty-net goal to put the issue beyond doubt. To sum up CSKA’s evening, Johansson was off the ice for just seven seconds before SKA added its fifth.
Game 4 - April 4 - CSKA v SKA 2-1CSKA produced a vital victory to ensure this series remains very much alive. After the home team’s disappointment on Monday, sunk by a SKA goal blitz, game four of the series had the feel of a must-win encounter. Tie the series, and everything is up for grabs; slip to 1-3 and it’s hard to see a way back. The stakes were high, but the first period was played at a high tempo. True, there were relatively few big moments in front of either net. However, neither team was playing it cagey; the lack of scoring chances was a reflection more of the quality of defensive play on display than anybody trying to stifle the game early on. However, when SKA went ahead in the 34th minute, things looked bleak for CSKA. The Muscovites had enjoyed much the better of the second period, with Mikko Koskinen frequently tested. Sergei Andronov and Valery Nichushkin produced perhaps the most dangerous moments in front of the visitor’s net but found the Finn in unflappable form despite an incident that saw him take an inadvertent stick to the face from Vladimir Zharkov. But SKA took the lead. A power play saw Vadim Shipachyov take play behind Ilya Sorokin’s net before feeding the puck back to Slava Voynov. His one-timer from the top of the circle flashed past the goalie and the visitor had its reward. In fairness, SKA enjoyed more of the attacking possession in the second period and eventually its patience around the net paid off. At that stage, with SKA ahead in the game and set fair to take a 3-1 lead in this Western Conference Final, CSKA needed inspiration. Early in the third period, it arrived.
The teams were playing four-on-four after Ilya Kovalchuk and Mikhail Pashnin got into a tussle, and CSKA took advantage of the extra space on the ice. Mikhail Grigorenko took the puck into the SKA zone, Alexander Popov went deep into enemy territory and his feed went all the way back to Mat Robinson, arriving from the blue line to shoot home the tying goal with a powerful wrister. Then came Nichushkin, battling out of the corner, getting away from Voynov and finding Andronov on the slot. Andronov’s attempt on the back hand was padded away, but Nichushkin had followed up his own play to swat home the rebound and give the home team a vital lead. The turnaround took just two minutes and 17 seconds; the series jumped from ‘almost finished’ to ‘alive and kicking’. Of course, there was still the small matter of holding onto that lead for the remaining 16 minutes of the game. CSKA had its share of anxious moments, with Shipachyov going close shortly after Nichushkin’s goal and Kovalchuk almost converting a rebound from a Vladislav Gavrikov slap shot. The pressure grew ever more intense, especially when Bogdan Kiselevich twice found himself in the box. The second of those penalties came in the last minute and offered SKA a spell of 6-on-4 play, but the visitor’s efforts to save the game were hampered when Sergei Plotnikov took a penalty of his own to disrupt his team’s flow. CSKA weathered the storm and tied up this series ahead of Friday’s return to St. Petersburg.
Game 5 - April 6 - SKA v CSKA 0-1Lars Johansson has not played a big role in CSKA’s playoff campaign so far – prior to this game, the Swede had just 76 minutes of game time in this post season and had never started. Ilya Sorokin’s form had been so impressive that the young Russian was the obvious first choice. Until now. Johansson, 30, was handed his chance in Friday’s showdown in St. Petersburg, and produced a heroic performance to help his team snatch a narrow victory. SKA, eager to convert home advantage into a 3-2 lead in the series, spent much of the game on the attack. Johansson faced most of the action in the first two periods, but provided an unbreakable barrier against which SKA’s offense could do little. In the first period, with CSKA barely visible as an attacking force, the Swede made nine saves; in the middle frame he had another 15 as CSKA killed four penalties.
It wasn’t all about the goalie. CSKA’s players blocked an impressive 22 shots over the course of the game, producing the kind of gritty defensive performance that coaches love. The officials played their part, ruling out a possible SKA goal in the 36th minute. After going to the video to have a second look at a Jarno Koskiranta effort, they concluded that Johansson, sitting on his goal line, managed to keep the puck from entering his net and the goal was not given. Johansson also got some help from the piping late in the middle session – Vladislav Gavrikov dinged the post from a tight angle after the goalie had stopped a Pavel Datsyuk effort. Only in the third did the game change, with the visitor finally starting to create and getting its reward with the only goal six minutes from the end. SKA’s frustration with Johansson and his defense may well have played a part: the home time began taking penalties of its own, tilting the balance of play to the other end of the ice. Eventually, that pressure told – although there was some controversy surrounding the game’s only goal.
The issue was not connected with Kirill Kaprizov’s shot – a devastating one-timer off Nikita Nesterov’s feed that squeezed between Mikko Koskinen’s pad and blocker. SKA’s unhappiness came from a moment seconds earlier when Koskinen blocked another shot, only for Alexander Popov to rip the puck away from the Finnish goalie. Oleg Znarok immediately called the officials over to the SKA bench to voice his displeasure at what he felt was an unfair challenge; the referees considered the situation but chose not to refer it to the video and the goal stood. It was enough to win the game. Johansson held firm at the other end, finishing with 29 saves. SKA, meanwhile, struggled to generate that final big chance that might have tied the scores. Datsyuk’s solo effort with three minutes to go was as good as it got for the home team.
Game 6 - April 8 - CSKA v SKA 3-2 OT
Mikhail Grigorenko shot CSKA into the Gagarin Cup final for the second time in three seasons, bagging a late equalizer and an overtime winner as the Muscovites recovered a 0-2 deficit to beat SKA. However, if CSKA goes on to lift the Gagarin Cup for the first time, Lars Johansson’s save midway through the first period of overtime could well be remembered as one of the key moments of the campaign. The goal gaped at Pavel Datsyuk’s mercy after Alexander Barabanov forced a big save from Johansson, but the Swedish goalie somehow got his pad across the crease to stop the shot and keep his team in the game. Within a couple of minutes, Grigorenko put away his second of the night and CSKA had its place in the grand final. For Johansson, it was the highlight of another stellar performance. After his shut-out in Friday’s victory in St. Petersburg, the Swede might have anticipated a starting role again here in game six. Instead, CSKA’s head coach Igor Nikitin went with Ilya Sorokin, so reliable throughout the playoff campaign up to now.
The decision almost backfired horribly. SKA, well aware that only victory would prolong its defense of the Gagarin Cup, began at a blistering tempo and ripped into a two-goal lead inside five minutes. The first, from Nikita Gusev, was a clear goaltending error: the forward made an impressive rush from his own end and turned Bogdan Kiselevich inside out, but his shot came from a long way and Sorokin had a clear view before he inexplicably flapped his glove away from the puck as it flew into the net. A couple of minutes later, Ilya Kovalchuk added a second. No goalie error this time: SKA’s alternate captain sliced through the CSKA zone before firing through traffic to give Sorokin no chance. Unluckily for the youngster, he would get no further chances in this game as Johansson came to the crease after just four minutes of play. The change paid off, the Swede was once again in unbeatable form. In total, SKA had 35 shots in the game, but it was unable to add to the two goals it scored on Sorokin. But CSKA still had to recover that deficit and salvage something from the game.
It took some time to make that happen. SKA’s early momentum kept it on top until well into the second period. But gradually the home team began to fashion opportunities of its own and, in the 36th minute, a well-worked counter-attack halved the deficit. Maxim Shalunov's surge down the right wing got CSKA into position and Nikita Nesterov came surging up from defense to convert his team-mate’s enticing feed. That goal gave CSKA hope, but in the third period it seemed that SKA had enough to hold on to its lead. The host was stretched, with most of the defensive work happening at its end. SKA had 10 shots on goal, and a further seven were blocked as the clock ticked ever closer to the 60-minute mark. Then it happened. With three-and-a-half minutes left to play, Grigorenko turned the game – and perhaps the season – upside down with a tying goal. It wasn’t the prettiest goal of the playoffs: Alexander Popov followed up after CSKA dumped the puck into the corner and wrestled possession away from Anton Belov. His feed from behind the net went straight to Grigorenko’s tape, and his one-timer whistled past Mikko Koskinen to level the scores and take the game into overtime. In the absence of Kirill Kaprizov, rested after his game-winning exploits on Friday, CSKA found a new hero. The extras brought that fantastic Johansson save, and then a second Grigorenko goal. Again, Popov won his battle in the corner. This time Kirill Petrov took on the puck and unleashed a shot on the wraparound. Koskinen padded it away, but Grigorenko was on the spot to smash home the rebound and send CSKA into the grand final. CSKA’s victory sets up a Gagarin Cup Final showdown against Ak Bars, with game one scheduled for Saturday, April 14 in Kazan. It also means that once again, the KHL’s regular season champion will not lift the big prize: never in the 10 seasons of KHL action has the team on top of the table gone on to win the Gagarin Cup.
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