Ak Bars - Chemist - 3-1 (3: 1, 5: 1, 2: 3 B, 2: 1 OT)
In the wake of the forecast
Ak Bars expected an easy walk. And in Kazan everything really turned out that way. The Chemist, worn out by a five-match series with Severstal, against the background of the completely fresh Ak Bars, looked extremely unconvincing. But moving to Mytishchi our forecast somewhat shook. There Kazan did not allow to walk. I had to chop thoroughly for the victory. To the credit of the Kazan club, he managed to reorganize himself into a serious struggle and gain the upper hand in it. There was such a phrase in the forecast: “Mytishchi team will be lucky if it hooks in the series at least a match.” “Chemist” hooked this match in a shootout, so we can say that really lucky. But the fact that both matches in the Moscow Region ended in draws in the main time indicates the deservedness of the only victory for Khimik.
Key moment
We’ll choose the second minute of the overtime of the fourth match, at the end of which Zaripov brought Ak Bars a victory. Do not happen this goal, because the “Chemist” could have scored - overtime, anything could happen. And with the score 2-2 in a series of Kazan, you look, and would have shaken. This happens with a clear favorite who suddenly falls into a protracted series.
Hero of the series
Danis Zaripov. Three abandoned goals for the series, two of which are victorious. In the absence of Morozov in Kazan matches, Zinoviev also played a very important role. But the main goal of the series in the already mentioned overtime was still scored by Zaripov.
“Vanguard” - “Locomotive” - 3-1 (5: 2, 3: 4, 2: 0, 4: 3 OT)
In the wake of the forecast
In this pair, it was extremely difficult to predict anything more definite than a bitter struggle. This, if you look at the series before it begins, and not after, when the picture for some reason immediately becomes clear. And it only remains to ask the question: “It was obvious, where did the doubts come from?” And so in this series - today the victory of “Vanguard” looks predictable and not questioned. Today it already seems that Lokomotiv could not have done more than provide worthy resistance. This is a distinctive feature of the back mind. In fact, Omsk trump cards simply worked better than the Yaroslavl trump cards. That's all. An additional proof of the initial unpredictability of this pair is that the vaunted factor of their field did not play any role in it.
Key moment
One could call a key episode in the third period of the fourth mach, when Avangard again equalized - Rosa was left alone in front of the empty corner of the Yaroslavl gate. But the whole third match turned out to be much more key, depriving Lokomotiv of a chance to win the series at home. It was after that game that the winner became easy to predict. Because the fifth match, get to it Yaroslavl - in Omsk. And there, in the fifth match, I would have played for sure. You can choose any of the many moments that the Yaroslavl then screwed up, either throwing inaccurately or passing in front of Fomichev’s courage.
Hero of the series
Valery Belousov. Since this was clearly a series of coaches, we decided to choose the hero as well. In favor of Belousov and timely goalkeeper castling. And overtime, the recipe for victory in which the Omsk coach should be patented. Gardner also made many interesting moves, but the Belousovskys turned out to be more effective.
“Salavat Yulaev” - CSKA - 2-3 (5: 2, 1: 3, 4: 3 OT, 0: 1, 1: 3)
In the wake of the forecast
We called the score 3-1 in favor of Salavat as the “more real” outcome of the series, nevertheless calling this confrontation the most unpredictable in the quarterfinals. Because, for example, the Yulaevites have three strong links, while CSKA has one and a half. And the first match confirmed the validity of such a forecast. Ufa residents won a landslide victory, and CSKA, on the contrary, looked very unintelligible. And then the swing went on. CSKA confidently won the second match. Then “Salavat” for two periods “drove” the opponent in Moscow, but barely pulled out a victory in overtime. Nerve hockey in the fourth game ... In the fifth - the Ufa team seemed to have crushed the advantage of their court. There should not have been at least two goals that they conceded. I didn’t help both times - this is the definition of Tarasov.
This is the first victory of the team, which took a lower place in the regular season - to talk about the number of participants in the playoffs. The eight put forward another piece of evidence in their favor.
Key moment
The third period of the third game. Do not be surprised, but somewhere among those nearly twenty minutes, the Ufa game was probably lost. And CSKA gained confidence. And the fact that “Salavat” scored in overtime already did not change anything. The Ufa team began to demonstrate something similar to their normal hockey only in the third period of the fifth match, when it was already too late.
Hero of the series
Konstantin Simchuk. Based on the definition of a key moment, Alexei Simakov, who scored two goals then, could be recognized as the hero of the series. But the Ukrainian goalkeeper had a really great last two games. Only one goal conceded, and even when everything was clear with the winner.
Metallurg Mg - Sibir - 3-0 (2: 0, 2: 1, 3: 2)
In the wake of the forecast
It was assumed that “Siberia” no one would undertake to criticize even for the defeat in three matches. And so it happened. The very fact of reaching the quarter-finals, for the first time in history, outweighed the defeat from Magnitogorsk. It was also assumed that Novosibirsk would still hook one game at home. They, in general, were close to this, but did not grow together. “Magnitogorsk” did not allow itself to underestimate the opponent, even despite the fact that he had no problems with him in the regular season, and it benefited her. Including helped to win the third match, which was especially difficult for Magnitogorsk residents.
Key moment
If we talk about the winner in the series, then the very fact of the output of these teams to each other was such a moment. And if it’s about maintaining at least some semblance of intrigue, then this is, of course, 42 seconds in the middle of the third period of the third match, when Metallurg turned the score from 1: 2 to 3: 2. Siberia had no strength for new feats.
Hero of the series
Igor Korolev. A veteran of “Magnitogorsk” in the regular season scored, frankly, a little - just two goals in 54 matches. In the playoffs on his account already three goals in six games. And two of them - at the gates of Siberia, both of which were victorious.
In 1/2 finals meet
AK BARS - CSKA
Vanguard - Metallurgy Mg
Matches will take place on March 29, 30, April 1 and, if necessary, on April 2 and 4. The first two and fifth matches will be held at the venues of the teams indicated by the first.