Lokomotiv may clinch KHL title in next game

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Published: 08 April, 2009, 21:21

Photo from site khl.ru

Only one win now separates Lokomotiv Yaroslavl from a historic triumph in the first-ever KHL season, as they took a 3-2 lead in the best of seven final series against Ak Bars.

The teams were leveled 2-2 as the series returned to Kazan for matches five and six.

And the home side, who came into the final as underdogs, tried to surprise the guests from the very start and were awarded for their aggressive play after six minutes. Loko’s keeper, Georgy Gelashvili, coped with Aleksey Morozov’s effort but could do nothing with a rebound by Danis Zaripov, 1-0.

But the guests survived the blow and soon took control of the game. They had more shots on target at the end of the first period and equalized in the beginning of the second, with Alexey Kudashov putting his name on the scoreboard, 1-1.

And the goals were flying in the final period. The pressure appeared to be coming from strong AK Bars keeper Frederick Norrena. The Finn presented Lokomotiv’s Gennady Churilov with the puck behind the goals, who delivered it to Aleksey Mikhnov to score into an empty net, 2-1.

It took the hosts less than two minutes to level the score. Dmitry Obukhov was left completely alone in front of Gelashvili’s goals, 1-1.

But Lokomotiv went in front again as Joseph Vasichek put the puck under Norrena after a great individual effort, 3-2.

AK Bars had thirteen minutes to equalize but the guests stayed firm until the end and clinched the victory, which put them 3-2 in the series.

The match saw the cleanest hockey of the season. The cost of a single doubled as the final series reached its climax and the teams tried to play as accurate as possible, receiving no penalties during the sixty minutes.

The next game of the series, which may decide the fate of the Gagarin cup awarded to KHL champs, will take place on April 10.