Indeed, after standing at the gates of a series sweep, Jokerit has had its share of problems in closing the door. Lokomotiv now has its mojo going, but can that mojo last another two games? If not, they’re out!

A few kilometers to the west, Salavat has taken a 3-2 lead over Avangard after its second 6-3 victory of the series. Now the Ufa boys head home hoping that the home ice advantage will lead to them finishing off Avangard once and for all.

17:00: Avangard vs Salavat

Series stand

Salavat leads the series 3-2

Game 1: 5-2 win for Avangard

Game 2: 3-2 OT win for Salavat

Game 3: 6-3 win for Salavat

Game 4: 5-1 win for Avangard

Game 5: 6-3 win for Salavat

About the game

Semenov has points in 4 straight games, going 4-3-7 over that span.

Omark has points in 7 straight games, going 1-11-12 over that span.

Larsen has points in 3 straight games, going 1-3-4 over that span.

Shumakov has points in 3 straight games, going 2-2-4 over that span.

Emelin has points in 3 straight games, going 1-2-3 over that span.

Injury list

Salavat: Vyacheslav Solodukhin, Nikita Soshnikov

Avangard: Artyom Manukyan, Alexander Sudnitsin, Maxim Chudinov

Milestone alert

Forward Alexei Tereschenko is hoping to suit up for his 100th career KHL playoff game (currently at 99).

Defenseman Alexei Emelin is hoping to suit up for his 300th career KHL game (currently at 299).

19:00: Lokomotiv vs Jokerit

Series stand

Jokerit currently leads 3-2

Game 1: 6-0 win for Jokerit

Game 2: 5-1 win for Jokerit

Game 3: 3-0 win for Jokerit

Game 4: 4-3 win for Lokomotiv

Game 5: 4-2 win for Lokomotiv

About the game

A. Niemi pitched a shutout in his last outing.

Injury list

Lokomotiv: Daniil Misyul

Jokerit: Henri Ikonen

Milestone alert

Goaltender Ilya Konovalov is hoping to gain his 50th career KHL victory (currently at 49).

Forward Mika Niemi is hoping to suit up for his 200th career KHL game (currently at 199).

KHL.ru's weekly 'Man of the Week' series goes on with the Finnish goaltender, who just immensely helped Sibir Novosibirsk get through the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16, which was also the team's last postseason appearance.

"Our goalie is a hero!"– Sibir's defenseman Alexander Loginov told KHL.ru after game four was over in Ekaterinburg, with the Finn goalie stopping another 36 shots as the Siberian side won 2-1 to qualify for the second round. Sateri was nothing short than phenomenal for Sibir, posting a saves percentage of 96.1% with a goals-against average of 1.45 in five games – including two shutouts. As a result, Sibir won the series with a 4-1 score, despite being the fifth seed and playing three road games. In his fourth season in the KHL, Sateri posted a career-low of 2.14 goals allowed, contributing with two shutouts to Sibirs' appearance in the postseason.

Early years

Harri Sateri was born on Toijala, Finland, a town some 40 kilometers or 25 miles south of Tampere. The goalie started playing in Tampere, for the local Tappara – one of the top clubs in the country, and 14-times Finnish champion. Other players from Tappara in the KHL include Admiral's Juho Olkinuora, D-man Tuukka Mantyla, goalie Mika Noronen, and forward Perttu Lindgren. Sateri's teammate in Sibir Jukka Peltola hails from city rivals Ilves. Many other KHL players played for Tappara in the past: Salavat Yulaev's Juha Metsola, SKA's Jori Lehtera and Jarno Koskiranta, Neftekhimik's Jonas Enlund (who played five seasons in Novosibirsk), and forward Ville Nieminen. Sateri also played in the HPK system before moving back to Tampere, where he played in the junior leagues until the 2007-08 season. In the 2008-09 campaign, Sateri finally had his debut in the big league, but it wasn't a good season for Tappara, who had to play the relegation round. He will spend the next two seasons in Tampere before signing with the San Jose Sharks, who drafted him in 2008. However, he will play a third season in Tampere in 2010-11, assigned there by the Sharks.

First move to America

After playing a handful of games in the AHL in 2011, Sateri had his first full season in North America in 2011-12, playing for the Worcester Sharks in the AHL. He will not have his debut in the NHL, spending three full seasons with San Jose's farm team. Sateri played 139 games wearing the Worcester jersey, posting four shutouts. However, after playing out his entry-level deal with the Sharks, Sateri didn't renew his ties with the NHL franchise and decided to return to Europe.

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#RedSox #WorldSeries #Trophy

Публикация от Harri Sateri (@haba__s) 21 Мар 2014 в 8:55 PDT

First stint in the KHL

In the 2014 offseason, Harri Sateri inked a one-year deal with Vityaz, after the Moscow Region franchise traded with SKA to obtain his rights after St. Petersburg picked him in the 2009 KHL draft. After an excellent first season, Vityaz and Sateri agreed on a new, two-year deal. In the 2016-17 season, the Finn goalie was one of the key reasons why Vityaz reached the playoffs for the first time in their history in the KHL. However, they lost to SKA with a 0-4 score, and Sateri's strong play wasn't enough to stop the march of the St. Petersburg's Army men, who will eventually conquer their first Gagarin Cup later on. After the KHL season, Sateri was the starting goalie for Team Finland at the 2017 IIHF World Championship in France and Germany, but the Finns returned home with no medals after a 3-5 loss to Russia in the bronze medal game. After his deal with Vityaz run out, Sateri opted for the second attempt in North America.

Second stint in North America

Following a strong 2017 IIHF WC, Harri Sateri signed with the Florida Panthers of the NHL. Interestingly enough, on the same day, the Panthers also announced having signed today Barys' forward Curtis Valk. His season in Florida brought mixed results. He posted good numbers in the AHL and made a good impression when he was brought up to the NHL as an emergency goalie for the Panthers, but in the end, the club decided to part ways with him after only one year. He represented again Finland at the 2018 IIHF WC in Denmark when the Finns had a disappointing quarterfinals exit against Switzerland. For the 2018-19 season, Sateri signed with the Detroit Red Wings. However, he didn't play in the NHL for Detroit, spending the whole season with their affiliates in the AHL, the Grand Rapids Griffins. Once again, Sateri decided to sign in the KHL.

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Публикация от Harri Sateri (@haba__s) 25 Май 2017 в 1:06 PDT

Second stint in Russia

Following his return to Europe, Sateri inked a one-year deal with Sibir Novosibirsk for his fourth season in the KHL. He started the right way, and was awarded Goalie of the Month honors in October when he posted a saves percentage of 95.29% (facing 191 shots) and a goals-against average of 1.18, including a shutout streak of 140 minutes and 02 seconds. In that span, Sibir and Sateri had a five-game winning streak. Sateri had an exceptional regular season, with 20 wins, two shutouts, a saves percentage of 92.1% and a GAA of 2.14. In the playoffs' first round, he was instrumental for Sibir to kick out Avtomobilist in the first sensation of the Gagarin Cup run. After all, the playoffs are perfect for heroic play, and it will be interesting to see how Sateri will fare in the second round. Further heroics will be welcome by the team's head coach, Nikolai Zavarukhin.

Salavat Yulaev won 4-1 at home to Avangard to settle its series in six games. The result reverses last year’s Eastern Conference Final, giving Ufa revenge for that loss and setting up an enticing match-up with Avangard in the next round.

A tale of two reviews

Salavat Yulaev Ufa 4 Avangard Omsk 1 (2-0, 1-1, 1-0)

Salavat Yulaev wins the series 4-2

Salavat Yulaev wrapped up this series in six games and avenged its Conference Final loss to this opponent last season. Nikolai Tsulygin’s team shrugged off its uneven regular season form to build on its 6-3 win in Balashikha on Monday and finish the job in front of its own fans. Now fans in Ufa and Kazan can look forward to another edition of the ‘Green Derby’ as Salavat prepares to meet Ak Bars in the Eastern Conference semi-final. The other semi-final in the East will pit Barys against Sibir.

Photo: 11.03.20. KHL Championship 2019-2020. Playoffs. Salavat Yulaev (Ufa) - Avangard (Omsk)

Two quick goals towards the end of the first period made the difference in this one. The first, admittedly, prompted some debate. Linus Omark fired the puck to the net, a deflection set it looping into the air and Sakari Manninen demonstrated a forehand that a tennis pro wouldn’t sniff at to bat the disk into the net. The Avangard bench claimed Manninen’s stick was high, but the review ruled otherwise and Salavat Yulaev had the lead.

Two minutes later, another Finn found the net. Omark’s no-look pass went to Zakhar Arzamastsev at the point. The defenseman cannoned a shot into the boards and the rebound found Teemu Hartikainen waiting on the doorstep to lift the puck over Igor Bobkov.

That 0-2 deficit was frustrating for Avangard, not least because it had enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges. The visitor, determined to save the series, sought to dictate the pace from the first face-off. Juha Metsola was the busier goalie early in the game and the visitor’s cause was helped by a couple of penalties on the home team in the first 10 minutes.

The second period saw the visitor hit back, with Alexander Yaremchuk getting his first goal of the playoffs. The 20-year-old has just one previous KHL goal, scored in last year’s post-season, but today he showed his more experienced partners the route to the net, tucking away the rebound after Metsola stopped a Sven Andrighetto effort.

If that goal threatened to put Avangard back in the game, Maxim Mayorov improvised an answer midway through the second period. As his team looked to build a counter, the Ufa forward was caught off balance, one hand on his stick, in center ice. Nothing daunted, he managed to flick the puck back between his legs into the path of the onrushing Dmitry Kugryshev, who took it down the ice and finished off the play to make it 3-1. Apart from giving us a contender for assist of the season, the goal also saw the end of Igor Bobkov in the Avangard net; Emil Garipov took his place for the rest of the game, and indeed the season.

Earlier in the game, Avangard suffered from an unsuccessful bench challenge. Now it would suffer from a successful one. The puck got past Metsola – just – after the goalie put his pad behind a Evgeny Grachyov shot. However, Salavat Yulaev was concerned that Grachyov and Brandon McMillan had, between them, impeded the goalie in their enthusiasm to stuff it over the line. The officials were reluctant to review the call themselves, prompting Tsulygin to make his bench challenge. And, after a long look, the goal was whistled off and Ufa went to the intermission with a two-goal lead.

In the third period, Salavat Yulaev had to absorb the pressure. However, while Avangard outshot the host 15-5, the Hawks struggled to create the kind of big chances that could trouble Metsola and offer a way back into the game. Even at the death, with Manninen sitting out a double minor, Avangard could not find a way through; Sergei Shumakov flashed a great chance over the bar after Cody Franson’s shot was blocked. Then, after Garipov was called back to the bench, a short-handed empty net goal from Eduard Gimatov put the game beyond reach

For Avangard, then, no repeat of last year’s trip to the Grand Final. But in Ufa, dreams of emulating last year’s surprise run to the Conference final are very much alive.

Jokerit closed down the Lokomotiv offense to gain a 5-1 victory in Yaroslavl and wrap up its series in game six. The Finns now face a Conference semi-final series against SKA next week.

Cutting counterattacks send Helsinki through

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 1 Jokerit Helsinki 5 (1-2, 0-0, 0-3)

Jokerit wins the series 4-2

Jokerit showed great character in shrugging off back-to-back defeats as it brought this series to a conclusion with a game to spare. After seeing a commanding 3-0 advantage cut to an anxious 3-2 lead, the Finns went back to basics and delivered a devastating display of counterattacking hockey that blunted the home attack and repeatedly sliced through its rearguard. And the team’s leading post-season scorer, Niklas Jensen, moved on to 7 (3+4) points for a share of second place in the overall playoff scoring.

Photo: 11.03.20. KHL Championship 2019-2020. Playoffs. Lokomotiv (Yaroslavl) - Jokerit (Helsinki)

Coming into this game, the momentum was very much with the home team. After losing the first three games in the series, Lokomotiv had rallied to win on home ice then take the next encounter in Helsinki. Three goals without reply in the Finnish capital turned around game five to prolong the series and get Mike Pelino’s men thinking about becoming only the second team in KHL history to overcome a 0-3 deficit in a playoff series.

Jokerit, therefore, needed a fast start to put some doubt into Yaroslavl minds – and Henrik Haapala obliged after just 87 seconds. It was a counterattack play of classic simplicity. Viktor Loov intercepted the puck in his own zone and advanced down the ice. Two passes – Loov to Lepisto, Lepisto to Haapala – and the puck was in the home team’s net.

True, Lokomotiv managed an almost instant response. Stephane Da Costa, the team’s game winner in Finland, tied the scores on a power play within a couple of minutes of Haapala’s effort. But Lokomotiv was already coming off the rails. Although the host had more time on the attack – helped by a couple of other power plays in the opening stanza – it struggled to get shots on Janis Kalnins. Jokerit was more included to test Ilya Konovalov, and also did better at carving out dangerous opportunities on the counter.

And that’s exactly how the second goal arrived late in the first period. Another odd-man rush saw Veli-Matti Savinainen left with the freedom of Yaroslavl as he converted Brian O’Neill’s feed to make it 2-1.

The middle stanza produced no goals and, in all honesty, little evidence of Lokomotiv getting back into the game. The stats strongly favored Jokerit and even when Loko got another power play, the clearest chance fell to the visitor when Antti Pihlstrom had a solo rush that was snuffed out by Konovalov.

The third began with Lokomotiv trying to force the pace but finished up with Jokerit again finding the knock-out punches on the counter. The home team dealt with a penalty early in the session and was steadily laying the foundations for a big push on the Finnish net when, not for the first time, Jokerit leapt out of its zone and went for the jugular midway through the frame. The Lokomotiv defense survived the first wave of offense but Marko Anttila gathered the puck and returned it to the slot where Pihlstrom made it 3-1.

From that point on, Jokerit clearly had one skate safely in the next round. Lokomotiv looked increasingly weary and, when Maxim Osipov turned into trouble on the edge of his own zone, Jensen was on hand to take away the loose puck and beat a visibly frustrated Konovalov. The Danish forward celebrated his third goal and seventh point of the playoffs. That return puts him joint second in post season scoring, tied with Vadim Shipachyov and Sergei Shumakov but still some way behind Salavat Yulaev’s Linus Omark.

The final word went to another Dane, Oliver Lauridsen, who put the fifth goal into the empty net to secure Jokerit’s progress in emphatic style.

Now the Finns can prepare for a second-round playoff series for the third time in six seasons since joining the KHL. And Jokerit can do so with at least one cause for optimism: its two previous journeys to this stage saw it lose out against CSKA; this time, Lauri Marjamaki’s team can look forward to a first ever post season meeting with Baltic neighbor SKA. The other Western Conference semi-final will be a Moscow derby, with CSKA awaiting the winner of the on-going Dynamo vs Spartak series.

Despite a tight 3-2 win in Game 4, Spartak wasn’t able to hold off Dynamo’s offensive machine in Game 5. Losing 4-1. Now they’re at home for Game 6 and do-or-die time has set in! Can Dynamo wrap things up with its first road victory of the postseason?

19:30: Spartak Moscow vs Dynamo Moscow

Series stand

Dynamo Moscow currently leads 3-2

Game 1: 5-1 win for Dynamo Moscow

Game 2: 4-3 win for Dynamo Moscow

Game 3: 5-4 OT win for Spartak Moscow

Game 4: 3-2 win for Spartak Moscow

Game 5: 4-1 win for Dynamo Moscow

About the game

Shipachyov has points in 5 straight games, going 4-3-7 over that span.

Injury list

Dynamo Moscow: Sergei Boikov, Artyom Volkov

Milestone alert

Forward Daniil Tarasov is hoping to collect his 100th career KHL point (currently at 99).

Forward Maxim Afinogenov is hoping to collect his 250th career KHL point (currently at 248).

Dear hockey fans,

according to the recent Moscow Mayor's decree from Mar. 10 no. 10-UM on the imposition of a prevention regime, and to the Spartak's technical impossibility to limit the game's attendance to 5,000 fans, the Kontinental Hockey League decided to have the Mar. 12 game between Spartak and Dynamo Moscow behind closed doors.

The refunds for the already-bought tickets will start on Mar. 13, and the concerned fans will find any information on the matter on Spartak's official site.

Today, the Spartak vs. Dynamo game will be streamed LIVE on YouTube for free.

After losing in in the first round last year to Dynamo Moscow, Jokerit climbs up to the Western Conference semifinals after defeating Lokomotiv 4-2 in the Gagarin Cup playoffs' first round.

It wasn't unexpected, but it doesn't make it less enjoyable for Lauri Marjamaki's team to halt Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and move up to the second round after a one-year hiatus. In the 2018 Gagarin Cup playoffs, the Finn side got rid of HC Sochi 4-1, then lost 4-2 to CSKA in the Western Conference semifinals. Lokomotiv gave Jokerit a good run for their money, but Mariamaki's moves proved themselves correct, and the Finn side can now celebrate a well-deserved win.

The series' history

Jokerit entered into playoffs as the third seed of the Western Conference, having amassed 84 points in the regular season – 11 more than Lokomotiv. The Finnish side had a powerful start of the series, outscoring the opposition 11-1 in the first two games at home. Antti Niemi had a shutout in the first game, while Brian O'Neill and Antti Pihlstrom posted two points each in the second showdown. The series moved to Yaroslavl on Mar. 5, but the home crowd wasn't delighted by a win as the Railwaymen allowed a fast goalie to Jokerit who was then free to play its game for the remainder of the match. Henrik Haapala and Nicklas Jensen scored two points for the Jokers, who also enjoyed a 35-save shutout from Janis Kalnins for a hard-fought, 3-0 victory. However, finally, in Game-4, Lokomotiv reacted. Jokerit got the early lead with Marko Anttila's second tally of the series, but the Railwaymen scored three unanswered goals, and Jokerit couldn't get back on track. The series moved back to Helsinki, and Lokomotiv, with their back against the wall, had another strong-will win despite being down 2-1 after the first horn. Grigory Denisenko's first career goal in the postseason led Lokomotiv to a final 4-2 score at the Hartwall Arena. Two days later, however, Jokerit pushed and closed the accounts, settling things down with a solid 5-1 away win in Yaroslavl.

Key moments

In the first game, emotions run high for Antti Niemi, who had a 17-save shutout at his debut in the KHL's playoffs. Lokomotiv wasn't ready for the Finnish storm as Mikko Lehtonen and Nicklas Jensen had three points each in Jokerit's triumph.

In the second encounter, goaltending was solid again for Jokerit, as Janis Kalnins replaced Niemi. Still, the real game-breaker was the first period, when the Finns scored three unanswered goals that KOed Lokomotiv.

In game-three, Lokomotiv pushed the gas and produced more shots on goals than in the first two matches combined. However, Kalnins locked down the gate, stopping 35 shots. Four Jokerit players had a multi-point game, including D-man Viktor Loov, who scored the game-winning goal only 57 seconds into the first period.

Game-four saw Lokomotiv's renaissance. The Railwaymen once again couldn't cope with Jokerit's fast start, but then Yaroslavl came out strong in the second and third periods, finding the game-winner with Stephane Da Costa with less than five minutes to the last buzzer. Ilya Konovalov stopped 37 shots for Lokomotiv.

In game-five, Lokomotiv played another solid game, with Grigory Denisenko tieing things up in the third period, opening the doors for the second straight game-winning goal by Stephane Da Costa. The Frenchman was the best for Lokomotiv in the ill-fated series against Jokerit.

In the sixth game, Jokerit closed the accounts with a solid 5-1 win in Yaroslavl. Da Costa's third goal wasn't enough for Lokomotiv, who had disappointing -3 performances by Jakub Nakladal and Vladimir Tkachyov. On the other front, Tommi Kivisto and Oliver Lauridsen enjoyed a +4 night, while Veli-Matti Savinainen scored the game-winning and series-clinching goal in the first period. Kalnins provided once again incredible goaltending for the Finn side, stopping 23 shots out of 24.

Heroes

Stephane Da Costa (Lokomotiv)

The last Railwayman to surrender, Da Costa played an excellent series, and he scored both the game-winners for Lokomotiv. The Frenchman posted 5 (3+2) points in six games, including two straight game-winning goals and a three-game scoring streak. Da Costa was excellent this time around, after scoring only once last year with Avtomobilist. His contract runs out this summer – Lokomotiv should make its best effort to renew his ties with their playoffs top scorer.

Nicklas Jensen (Jokerit)

The Dane is currently tied for second place in scoring with Dynamo's Vadim Shipachyov and Avangard's Sergei Shumakov. Against Lokomotiv, Jensen scored 7 (3+4) points, leading Jokerit not only in points, but also in passes percentage, shots on goal, and even-strength goals. Jensen will be a crucial player for the Jokers for the remainders of their playoff run.

Antti Pihlstrom (Jokerit)

The veteran forward had a second youth in the series against Lokomotiv. The 35-years-old Finnish player needed only six playoffs games to score as many goals he did in the regular season – three. In particular, Pihlstrom, who also lined up for CSKA and Salavat Yulaev in the KHL, had a two-point performance in game-two, and two consecutive tallies in the closing games of the series.

They said...

"We wanted to start strong and had a good advantage after the first period. We need to play this way in Yaroslavl as well. We're very happy with Alex Grant and Janis Kalnins' play; they are the best reinforcement for our team. We have two goalies who already achieved victories in this year's playoffs." (Lauri Mariamaki after game 2)

"This was a great game, where the fans saw it all: a lot of battles, exciting goals, and fantastic saves. The game was worth the price of the ticket. Now we need to do our best to give our fans a chance to see it again in Yaroslavl." (Mike Pelino after game 4)

"We played better, we did more with the puck and tried to retain the possession. All this gave us more chances, we blocked a lot of shots and played very well. We had nothing to lose and played without any pressure – we felt our freedom and played an excellent game. We need to play even better in game five." (Stephane Da Costa after game 4).

"We played very well on defense; it was a key aspect in the first three games, but then we somewhat stopped playing that way. Today we focused on our game, and the result arrived. Marko Anttila and I don't play together since a long time ago, but we already gathered some chemistry at the end of the regular season. I hope that our fans will be pleased with the series against SKA and that they will come to see us in both Helsinki and St. Petersburg." (Antti Pihlstrom, Jokerit forward).

Jokerit will face SKA in the Western Conference semifinals. Game one plays on Mar. 17 in St. Petersburg.

An overtime win at Spartak was enough to see Dynamo over the line in the one remaining first-round series. The Blue-and-Whites advance in six game and now face another Moscow derby against CSKA in round two.

Jaskin pots the winner in front of an empty arena

Spartak Moscow 2 Dynamo Moscow 3 OT (0-1, 2-0, 0-1, 0-1)

Dynamo wins the series 4-2

Dmitrij Jaskin, Dynamo’s leading scorer in the regular season, got the all-important goal to hand the Blue-and-Whites an overtime winner at Spartak. Thursday’s victory wraps up this first-round series in six games and completes the line-up for the KHL Conference semi-finals.

Photo: 12.03.20. KHL Championship 2019-2020. Playoffs. Spartak (Moscow) - Dynamo (Moscow)

However, when the puck hit the net in the 64^th minute, it was greeted by virtual silence in an empty arena. This decisive game had to be played behind closed doors amid increasing public health concerns due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.

A potentially decisive playoff game between two big local rivals should have been a raucous affair. Instead, at a time when there’s more than just hockey at stake, this match-up between Spartak and Dynamo took place in an otherworldly atmosphere. Fans had to content themselves with TV coverage or internet streams, the Park of Legends arena was deserted save for the two teams, the officials, assorted arena staff and a few journalists. The seats were empty, the shouts of the players echoed around the venue.

Meanwhile, with the venue set for game day, the big screen flashed up messages urging the absent fans to get behind their team: ‘Gromche, Spartak!’ (Louder, Spartak) flashed around the digital hoardings, despite the fact that there was nobody there to pump up the volume. Unfortunately, it’s likely to be something to get used to. In Finland, Jokerit has already confirmed that its home games against SKA in the second round of the playoffs will go ahead without spectators due to regulations introduced by the Finnish authorities.

Before the game, Dynamo head coach Vladimir Krikunov dismissed rumors that forward Maxim Afinogenov had been hit by the virus. He confirmed that although the veteran was running a temperature and would miss Thursday’s game, there was no evidence of any coronavirus infection. Vyacheslav Kulyomin took Afinogenov’s place in the line-up. Spartak also made changes, with Maxim Goncharov and Denis Kokarev replacing Tobias Viklund and Ansel Galimov.

The lack of atmosphere did not distract Dynamo’s Vladimir Bryukvin. He opened the scoring here in the seventh minute, collecting the rebound from Dmitry Ogurtsov’s point shot. With his back to the net, and despite Patrik Hersley breathing down his neck, the 25-year-old spun away from his marker to fire a shot past Julius Hudacek.

Spartak also had its chances, the best of which coming when Kaspars Daugavins broke down the left and picked out the unmarked Artyom Fyodorov at the back door. However, his shot was too close to Alexander Yeryomenko, who kept Dynamo’s lead intact until the first intermission.

In the second period, the home team picked up the pace and deservedly tied the scores in the 34^th minute. Alexander Khokhlachyov went around the back and popped up a feed for Robin Hanzl out in front to despatch a one-timer beyond Yeryomenko and make it 1-1. And in the last minute of the session, the Red-and-Whites moved ahead through Khokhlachyov. The forward stepped off the bench to collect a pass from Dmitry Vishnevsky and unleash a wrister from the left-hand circle that zinged through traffic and into the net.

Perhaps surprisingly for a local derby, neither side took a penalty in the first two periods. It wasn’t until the 46^th minute that Fyodor Malykhin incurred the wrath of the officials and sat for two minutes. And the first power play of the evening brought a tying goal for Dynamo. Andre Petersson saw his first attempt blocked but he was in the right place to collect a great diagonal pass from Andrei Mironov and slot the puck home from a tight angle.

Spartak had a power play chance of its own late in the third period and carrying over to the start of overtime. However, Dynamo managed to kill Yegor Zaitsev’s penalty and then got the puck in the net early in the extras. Dmitrij Jaskin was the scorer, lifting a wrister over Hudacek’s shoulder at the second attempt. However, when he brought the puck into the Spartak zone he was skating backwards, prompting a video review to confirm there was no offside – thanks to a trailing stick on the blue line as the puck crossed into Red-and-White territory.

Dynamo moves on for another Moscow derby against CSKA in the second round; Spartak drops out in the first round for the third season in a row.

It’s the playoff series that Helsinki has been waiting for since 2014. Jokerit is finally going to face SKA in post season. Two proud cities on the shores of the Baltic, both blessed with long hockey traditions, have given us some big moments in regular season play. And now, for the first time, they will go head-to-head in the playoffs.

Head coach Lauri Marjamaki was in no doubt about what it means. Right after his team finished off Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, he told reporters: “Our fans have waited six years for a series against SKA, and finally it’s here.”

An established rivalry

Jokerit’s fascination with SKA derives from several things. Some of it is geography, with SKA being Jokerit’s closest neighbor. Some of it is familiarity, as these Bobrov Division rivals have played 24 times in six regular seasons so far. And some of it stems from frequent battles at the top of that division, where both teams regard themselves as the apex predator in that particular environment.

It certainly wasn’t coincidence that when Jokerit was looking to host its first Winter Classic – and the first open-air game in the KHL’s history – back in December 2017, it chose a game against SKA. The event was part of the festivities to mark the centenary of Finland’s independence from Tsarist Russia – a historical clash between Helsinki and Petersburg – and the game was played at Kaisaniemi Park, close to the birthplace of Finnish hockey. On that occasion, SKA won 4-3 in front of a then record KHL crowd of 17,645.

Aiming high

Jokerit is also going for its best ever playoff result in the KHL. The Finns have reached post-season in each of their six campaigns to date, but have never made it past the second round. Twice, CSKA has halted Jokerit at this stage. However, there are hopes that this year could be different.

First, there’s a new opponent. That CSKA hoodoo cannot continue, at least not yet, while the draw keeps the teams apart. Then there’s plenty of evidence that Lauri Marjamaki’s team can give SKA a real fight. Look back to Jan. 3, when the teams played their first game of 2020 and Jokerit handed a 6-0 hammering to the Army Men. True, SKA got revenge with a 6-1 scoreline when it returned to Finland in February, but the evidence suggests we could see a lively series.

The great Danes

Peter Regin was the architect of that 6-0 win, with two goals and an assist to lead the scoring. But the club captain has taken a back seat to his fellow Dane Nicklas Jensen in post season. The 27-year-old picked up 7 (3+4) points in the first round, tying with Sergei Shumakov for third place in the overall playoff scoring.

That’s already the best playoff return for Jensen, now in his third season in Helsinki after leaving the New York Rangers organization in 2017. It follows a difficult but productive regular season. Jensen had 25 (15+10) points from 27 games, but missed more than three months due to an injury sustained in a September game against SKA. He returned on December 30, collecting an assist in a 4-1 win over Vityaz, and managed the rare feat of an 11-game productive streak that ran September through January. His pace, stick-handling and a powerful shot make him a formidable threat to the SKA defense in the up-coming series.

Regin, meanwhile, is something of an elder statesman on this team. The 33-year-old has been a part of Jokerit for five of its six KHL campaigns and the captain is a well-respected leader. He had 4 (2+2) points in the series against Jokerit.

Kalnins emerging?

While forwards win games, defenses win championships – and that all starts with a reliable goalie. Jokerit will look to Latvian Janis Kalnins to frustrate SKA’s powerful offense. The 28-year-old is in his second season in Finland after taking his KHL bow with Dinamo Riga and he’s established himself as #1 for Marjamaki ahead of Stanley Cup winner Antti Niemi.

His stats in this year’s playoffs have improved sharply on last time: a GAA of 2.04 against 2.54 12 months ago, and a save ratio that jumped from 89.5% to 92.8%. And while those numbers aren’t as impressive as the figures posted by SKA’s Magnus Hellberg or Alexander Samonov, it’s worth remembering that SKA enjoyed a relatively straightforward series against Vityaz, while Jokerit faced a far more dangerous Lokomotiv in the first round.

Against SKA, Kalnins can expect a testing time once again as Alexei Kudashov’s team unleashes a mixture of trophy-winning experience and youthful exuberance on this year’s Gagarin Cup battle. But if he can reproduce the kind of form that saw him make 35 saves to blank Loko in Yaroslavl in game three, he could backstop Jokerit to a breakthrough series victory against the Army Men.

Spartak gewinnt die Moskauer „Subway Series“ gegen Dynamo mit 4:2. Für den Deutschen Brooks Macek und dem Schweizer Sven Andrighetto verliefen die Playoffs weniger gut.

Mit dem Treffer von Dmitrij Jaskin zum 3:2 Sieg in der Verlängerung steht mit Dynamo Moskau der achte und letzte Teilnehmer der Conference ½ Finale fest. Dieses Derby zwischen den Blau Weißen und Spartak Moskau sorgte auch für das meiste Interesse. Bereits das erste Spiel in der VTB Arena sorgte mit 125 Strafminuten, wobei es Spartak gleich auf 90 Minuten brachte für viel Gesprächsstoff. Mit dem 5:1 blieb Dynamo auch in der Saison weiter ungeschlagen. In Spiel 2 kam Spartak in der Serie an und musste sich knapp 3:4 geschlagen geben. Game 3 war wieder ein spezielles Spiel, führte Dynamo Moskau nach nicht einmal fünf Spielminuten mit 3:0. Doch Spartak gelang die Wende und Mikhail Kotlyarevsky sorgte in der 76.Minute für den ersten Spartak Sieg.

Spartak schlug auch im zweiten Heimspiel und glich damit in der Serie aus. Dynamo Moskau konnte im sechsten Spiel wieder vorlegen und der Dynamo Moskau Topscorer aus der regulären Saison konnte mit seinem dritten Playoff Treffer in der Overtime Dynamo in die nächste Runde bringen. Für den Tschechen war dies wohl sein bisher wichtigster Treffer in der KHL. Spartak hingegen schied zum dritten Mal in Folge nach der ersten Runde aus den Playoffs aus.

Dieses Spiel wurde wegen des Corona Virus als erstes Spiel in der KHL ohne Zuschauer ausgetragen.

In der zweiten Playoff Runde treffen die Blau Weißen nun auf CSKA Moskau und damit geht es für Dynamo mit dem nächsten Moskauer Derby weiter.

Die Armeemannschaft hatte mit Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in den ersten beiden Heimspielen keine wirklichen Probleme. Mit den beiden 3:0 Heimerfolgen stellte CSKA Torhüter Ilya Sorokin mit seinem 15. und 16 Shutout einen neuen KHL Rekord auf. In Nizhny Novgorod war die Sache für den Titelverteidiger nicht mehr so einfach und so sorgten Anton Slepyshev beim 2:1 in Spiel 3 und Kirill Kaprizov mit dem entscheidenden Tor zum 3:2 jeweils in der Overtime für einen Sweep. Für Torpedo war dies zum siebenden mal in Folge das Aus in der ersten Playoff Runde.

Ebenfalls mit einem Sweep steht SKA St.Petersburg in der zweiten Runde. Beim 6:1 Auftaktsieg gelang Andrei Kuzmenko einen Hattrick und Kirill Marchenko einen Doppelpack. In Spiel zwei kam Vityaz Podolsk zumindest auf ein 3:4 in in Game 3 feierte Magnus Hellberg beim 6:0 Auswärtssieg sein insgesamt zweites Playoff Shutout. Das Spiel 4 wurde dann zum längsten Spiel der ersten Playoff Runde. Nachdem es nach 60 Minuten 2:2 hieß dauerte es in diesem Spiel bis in die 3.Verlängerung. Dort war es dann der 25-jährige Schwede mit seinem ersten Playoff Tor der in der 114.Minute das Spiel und die Serie zu Gunsten von SKA St.Petersburg entschied.

Für SKA St.Petersburg geht es im Conference Semifinale nun gegen Jokerit Helsinki weiter. Das finnische KHL Team setzte sich in der Serie gegen Lokomotiv Yaroslavl klar mit 4:2 Siegen durch.

Dabei gelangen in den ersten drei Spielen Loko nur ein einziger Treffer. Auf der anderen Seite schlug Jokerit gleich 14 Mal zu. Mit einem 4:3 Heimsieg und einem 4:2 Auswärtssieg konnte das Aus in der ersten Playoff Runde seit 2016 noch aufgeschoben werden. Mit dem 5:1 Sieg von Jokerit in Game 6 zeigte Helsinki aber die Überlegenheit in dieser Serie wieder auf und erzielte in diesen Spielen insgesamt 24 Tore wobei es der Däne Niklas Jensen auf sieben Punkte (3G-4 Ass) brachte.

Die West Conference ½ Finalserien Paarungen:
CSKA Moskau (1) - Dynamo Moskau (4)
SKA St.Petersburg (2) - Jokerit Helsinki (3)

Ak Bars Kazan steht nach einem Jahr Pause mit dem Sweep über Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk nach einem Jahr Pause wieder in der zweiten Playoff Runde. Der dreifache Gagarin Cup Champion ist damit auch die einzige Mannschaft in der East Conference die ihre Serie in der kurz möglichsten Zeit beenden konnte. Dabei ließ Ak Bars Torhüter Timur Bilyalov in vier Spielen nur drei Gegentore zu. Für Neftekhimik war dies in der siebenden Playoff Teilnahme das bereits sechste Aus nach der ersten Runde. Für Ak Bars Kazan stehen nun mit den Spielen gegen Salavat Yulaev neue „Green Derbys“ an.

Ufa erreichte dieses Duell gegen Kazan in sechs Begegnungen gegen Avangard Omsk wobei es Linus Omark in diesen Spielen gleich 12 Scorerpunkte (1G – 11 Ass) erzielen konnte. Auf Seiten von Avangard konnte Torhüter Igor Bobkov seine Form aus der regulären Spielzeit wo er einen Gegentorschnitt von 1,73 hatte nicht halten und so kassierte der 29-Jährige in den sechs Spielen gegen Salavat Yulaev gleich 20 Tore. Doch auch sein Gegenüber musste in dieser Tor reichen Serie 18 Gegentore hinnehmen. Der 4:2 Sieg von Salavat Yulaev bedeute für den Schweizer Sven Andrighetto zugleich auch das frühzeitige Ende seiner ersten KHL Saison. Mit den beiden in den Playoff erzielten Assist brachte es der 26-Jährige Schweizer in seinen insgesamt 62 Einsätze 13 Tore und 16 Assist.

Barys Nur-Sultan steht in der 10. KHL Saison der Klubgeschichte zum dritten Mal in der zweiten Runde der Gagarin Cup Playoffs. Mit Andrei Skabelka hat Barys einen Trainer den es in den letzten sieben Jahren mit vier verschiedenen Mannschaften die Playoffs wobei er es mit Sibir Novosibirsk einmal in das Conference Finale und zwei mal in das Conference Semifinale erreichen konnte.

Barys setzte sich gegen Metallurg Magnitogorsk mit 4:1 durch womit für die Stahlstädter zum zweiten Mal in Folge die Playoffs bereits nach der ersten Runde zu ende ging. Der Gagagrin Cup Sieger von 2014 und 2016 hat mit der Vertragsverlängerung von Head Coach Ilya Vorobyov die erste wichtige Weiche für die kommende Spielzeit gestellt.

Sibir Novosibirsk gilt wohl aus die Überraschung dieser ersten Playoff Runde. Gelang es Sibir doch gleich alle drei Auswärtsspiele dieser Serie gegen Avtomobilist Ekaterinburg zu gewinnen und so nach drei Jahren ohne einem Playoff Spiel mit einem Gesamtscore von 4:1 erstmals seit 2016 wieder in einem Conference Semifinale zu stehen. Bei Avtomobilist heißt es hingegen Wunden lecken. Hatte man doch im Sommer weiter investiert um möglicherweise bis in das Finale vordringen zu können. So wurde mit Pavel Datsyuk der große Sohn der Stadt zurück geholt. Dieser war in den Playoffs mit 2 Toren und 2 Assist der Topscorer seiner Mannschaft. Für die beiden Ekaterinburg Topscorer aus dem Grunddurchgang Nigel Dawes und Brooks Macek lief es hingegen weniger gut. Dawes brachte es in fünf Spielen nur auf einen einzigen Assist. Ebenso der 27-Jährige Deutsche Macek der ebenfalls in den Playoff Spielen keinen Treffer erzielen konnte und so seine erste KHL Spielzeit mit nur einen Scorerpunkt in den Playoffs mit insgesamt 24 Toren und 23 Assist beendete.

Eine bessere Statistik der Avtomobilist Topscorer verhinderte aber auch Sibir Schlussmann Harri Sateri. Der 29-Jährige hielt gleich in den ersten beiden Auswärtsspielen sein Tor sauber und legte so den Grundstein für den Aufstieg. Damit wurde der Finne auch in der vergangenen Woche der „Man of the Week“.

Die East Conference ½ Finalserien Paarungen:
Ak Bars Kazan (1) – Salavat Yulaev (6)
Barys Nur-Sultan (2) – Sibir Novosibirsk (5)

KHL.ru picks the best from each country as the season gets to the heart of the plot.

Finland

Harri Sateri

G, Sibir Novosibirsk, 5 G, 4 W, 2 SO, 96.1%, 1.45

The Finnish netminder was monumental between the piping as Sibir Novosibirsk skated past Avtomobilist with a 4-1 score despite lacking the home-arena advantage. Moreover, thanks to his huge effort, he was named the best goalie of the entire first round. The Finnish netminder closed the gates in the first two games of the series as Sibir snatched two road wins in Yekaterinburg. The series went on with Sibir playing better – if excluding game-four – and getting a deserved 4-1 win. Moreover, Sateri set a new club record for the longest shutout streak in the postseason. With more than 143 minutes under his belt, he surpassed Alexander Salak's achievement. Sateri and Sibir are now preparing for the Western Conference semifinals against Barys. It's safe to state that Novosibirsk can boast the goaltending advantage thank to Harri Sateri's heroic play of late.

Czech Republic

Dmitrij Jaskin

F, Dynamo Moscow, 6 G, 6 (3+3) points, +6

In his first year in the KHL, Jaskin took the league by storm, and the playoffs were hardly any different from the regular season for the Russian-born Czech forward. He scored points in all the series' games except for game-four, and in general, Spartak had a hard time in dealing with the Shipachyov and Jaskin dynamic duo. Naturally, the highest reach of the forward was the OT, game-winning goal in the deciding game, when he received the puck from Shipachyov and started maneuvering in the offensive zone. His first shot attempt ricocheted against Patrick Hersley's skate, but then he sent Spartak home with an accurate, yet hard shot that went in next to the closest post. And now, the question is only one: can CSKA stop Dynamo's top guns? In the regular season, CSKA won three games of four, but on Dec. 25, the Blue-and-Whites won 3-0, and Jaskin scored two – this means that Dynamo has all it takes to give the KHL Gagarin Cup reigning champion.

France

Stephane Da Costa

F, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, 6 G, 5 (3+2) points, -3

Lokomotiv lost to Jokerit in the first round, but Stephane Da Costa was excellent for his team. The Frenchman was the last to surrender and posed a real threat to the Finn side when it was up by three games – the 30-years-old from Paris, France, scored two consecutive game-winning goals as Lokomotiv closed the gap to a minimum in game five. However, it wasn't enough. Da Costa added yet another one in game-six, but Jokerit was better and won with a 5-1 score. However, the Frenchman was fantastic in game-four. With Lokomotiv on the edge of an abyss, he took his team by the hand and first assisted Yegor Averin's tally in the third period. He then took the initiative himself and scored the game-winner in a five-on-three powerplay stretch when he sent the home fans through the roof with a laser from the left circle with less than five minutes to go. Unfortunately for Da Costa, once again, his team suffered from an early exit – will next year be the right one for the Frenchman?

Canada

Matthew Frattin

F, Ak Bars, 4 G, 5 (3+2) points, +4

The series between Ak Bars and Neftekhimik was one of the most onesided in the first round, as Kazan defeated their Tatar cousins in only four games. Frattin started strong – he scored four points in the first two contests, including a double in game-one. After being silent in the 2-1, OT win in game-three, Frattin assisted the lone goal scored in the decisive game four, when he elusively delivered the puck to a waiting Stanislav Galiyev in the right circle. With five points, Frattin led all Ak Bars players and is tied only by Emil Galimov at the three-goal mark. The second-round Green Derby will see Ak Bars facing Salavat Yulaev – this will be an exciting series, and Kazan's bench boss Dmitry Kvartalnov needs Frattin to play at the same high level.

Denmark

Niklas Jensen

F, Jokerit, 6 G, 7 (4+3) points, +5

One of the league's top scorers, Jensen further cemented his status in the first-round series against Lokomotiv. The Jokers skated past Lokomotiv with a 4-2 score, and the Danish international was instrumental for the Finnish side, scoring three even-strength goals and topping all Jokerit players with seven points. The 27-years-old from Herning started the series strong with a three-point performance in game one's triumph by Jokerit. Jensen also scored goals in game three and six, and looked in perfect shape. Jokerit is going to face SKA in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and St. Petersburg will have to work hard to limit the forward's effort in the offensive zone.

Sweden

Linus Omark

F, Salavat Yulaev, 6 G, 12 (1+11) points, +7

Against Avangard, the Swedish wizard was nothing short than phenomenal, posting two points per night on average and looking unstoppable. Omark had five multi-point games out of six matches, and leads the assists rankings by a mile – Brian O'Neill, the second-placed player in the standings – has only six helpers. On Mar. 5, when Salavat Yulaev defeated Avangard with a 6-3 score, Omark had a hat-trick of assists. Oddly enough, he scored his lone goal when Salavat Yulaev lost, in game one. In the Eastern Conference semifinals against Ak Bars, a lot will depend on the Nordic Connection's play for Ufa.

In relation to the developing global situation concerning the coronavirus pandemic, KHL announces the following:

The coronavirus epidemic has significantly affected the world of sports, forcing many countries, federations and sports leagues around the world to cancel or postpone major competitions.

KHL, as a major international sports league is acutely aware of its responsibility to fans, teams and staff, and is closely monitoring the situation as it develops and will strictly comply with instructions from state authorities in all participating countries of the championship, when it comes to protecting public health.

The Covid 19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation, and in this regard KHL is in consultation with clubs and all relevant authorities to diligently manage the impact of this matter.

Any formal decisions that affect the league will be published on KHL’s official website, as and when concluded.

The League urges its fans and interested parties to be guided only by official information posted on League & club platforms.

The KHL has decided to suspend the Gagarin Cup playoffs for one week. The delay is intended to organize a new format for the second phase of the season and coordinate with the authorities to stage a revised competition involving six Russian clubs.

Further details of the new tournament format, including start date and schedule, will be decided in the near future and published on the KHL’s official information resources.

Information about the staging of the Junior Hockey League playoffs will be provided later.

The Kontinental Hockey League’s commission has determined the best player of the playoffs’ first round in four categories.

- best goalie was Harri Sateri (Sibir), who won four of five games against Avtomobilist, including two shutouts (both during road games). The Finn netminder had a saves percentage of 96.11% (facing 180 shots, an average of 36.0 per game) with a goals-against average of 1.45. Sateri had a shutout streak of 142 minutes and 25 seconds (the best result of the first round).

- best defenseman was Philip Larsen (Salavat Yulaev), who won four of six games with his team against Avangard, scoring 4 (1+3) points. The Danish blueliner posted no negative ratings, ending the series plus-five. He also recorded five hits.

- best forward was Linus Omark (Salavat Yulaev), who won four of six games with his team against Avangard, scoring 1 (1+11) points. The Swedish forward scored less than two points only in one match and had a hat-trick of assists in game-three. Omark posted no negative ratings, ending the series plus-seven.

- best rookie was defenseman Artyom Minulin (Metallurg), who scored 3 (1+2) points in the series against Barys. His two assists in game-two, and his goal in game-five were his first in the KHL. Minulin posted no negative ratings, ending the series plus-3, had an average time on ice of 15 minutes and 21 seconds, had eight shots on goal, and recorded seven hits.

A reporter’s notebook from a season unlike any other for the KRS Shenzhen Vanke Rays.

When the KRS Shenzhen Vanke Rays lifted the WHL Cup after a three-game sweep in Ufa last week, their victory represented an achievement far more universal than what was inscribed on the trophy itself. Russia’s adoption of the club after the folding of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) in 2019 increased the competitiveness of the WHL, while simultaneously providing a home for a roster of Olympians and Olympic hopefuls. The success of the Vanke Rays—while perhaps not immediately obvious—represents a step toward a new paradigm: a club that trends closer to giving female athletes what they deserve, versus a settlement for the lowest iteration of their hopes.

As a locker room reporter for the Kunlun Red Star organization across two seasons, I have watched the Vanke Rays’ ascent from the inside. Here is some of what I’ve observed about the most unique hockey project in the world.

The Shenzhen Universiade Arena complex was modeled after a crystal. Its jagged edges pierce a hazy, indigo sky in the Longgang district of China’s tropical tech hub. Faceted glass panels glow in prismatic splendor at night, reflected in artificial lakes that surround the futuristic complex. Built in 2011 for the Summer Universiade, the arena now plays host to a three-year-old hockey club that shoulders two enormous missions: to shape the future of women’s ice hockey in China, and to set a new standard of professionalism for women’s hockey around the world.

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Публикация от KRS Vanke Rays (@kunlunredstar)6 Мар 2020 в 3:44 PST

High-octane forward and WHL all-star Rachel Llanes has been a key role model for how Chinese players train their bodies off the ice. Initially hired as a player-coach, Llanes can be seen in episodes of the KRS digital series The Week That Was instructing proper form in the team’s home gym. When the outbreak of the coronavirus restricted the Vanke Rays from returning to China for the rest of the season, Llanes’ Instagram stories were filled with snippets of her remote instruction of Chinese national players. Faced with space and equipment limits, Llanes helped the women to continue training during the frightening weeks of quarantine, in addition to posting a game-changing performance in the WHL playoffs.

Noora Räty has served as a mentor this season to goaltender Kimberly Newell, a Princeton University graduate with sights set on a Beijing 2022 appearance for China. As late as the team’s last practice of the post-season, Räty could be seen crouched beside Newell during drills, offering a wealth of experience from four Olympic Games—a stage she is all-too-qualified to prepare her mentee for as selections move closer. Newell won her debut playoff start for the Vanke Rays during the semifinal series versus Tornado Dmitrov; Räty was the first to trumpet the achievement across her well-followed social media accounts.

The pillars of Chinese women’s hockey are not merely alluded to in the museum—a major torchbearer stands behind the Vanke Rays’ bench. Sun Rui is the team’s assistant coach and a former Chinese Olympic hockey player. She is tied for most appearances for Team China at 46, and scored a memorable goal on Slovakia at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. Her self-described role within the coaching staff is to establish trust between the North American and Chinese players on the team, an integration that is no small task with regard to language barriers and experience levels. “Sunny,” as she is affectionately called by her players, is a living example of the heights to which her young recruits aspire—and she herself is hoping for an Olympic nod in two years, this time as a coach for the team she has helped to build. The Vanke Rays kept track of their playoff victories with a poster, crossing off a puck for each of the five games they needed to win. In the final iteration—with champagne spraying across the locker room, pop music blaring—Sunny was given the honor of scribbling out the final puck.

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Публикация от KRS Vanke Rays (@kunlunredstar)11 Мар 2020 в 6:23 PDT

Whether we broaden to corporate spheres or limit to the sporting world, so much is made of the causal relationship between organizational culture and performance. While certainly still in their nascency, facets of the Vanke Rays’ culture and ritualistic agenda are worlds above what is found elsewhere in women’s hockey. The locker room is staged to magazine-spread perfection; I remember stopping in to the Universiade in November to find head equipment manager Steph Klein vacuuming the central carpet with an obsessive gusto that has even Kunlun’s KHL squad begging to poach her. Klein was trained at the highest levels of men’s hockey and brings an NHL-level of competence to her role; the slogan “Details of Discipline—Discipline of Details” was fastened to the wall of the Vanke Rays’ adopted home in Ufa, an electrical current that is obvious down to the way her team’s electrolyte drinks are individually labeled, or mountains of skate blades are sharpened. Patches bearing the words“Wuhan Strong” were sported by the Vanke Rays throughout the playoffs as a nod to the victims of COVID-19; Klein and video coach Marcus Toye re-ironed every edge of every patch on the sleek, black jerseys that the team sported in Game Three—threads, of course, that Klein herself designed.

Back. In. Black. #KRSChina#KunlunRedStarpic.twitter.com/bYmHs8GHmT

— Steph Klein (@skleiner1) September 23, 2019

This attention to detail and universalist approach to development culminated in a masterful finals performance, with the Vanke Rays trouncing reigning league champions Agidel Ufa in a three-game sweep. The final matchup was a showcase for the Vanke Rays’ spectacular goaltender and top lines; Hannah Miller and Leah Lum logged the afternoon’s first goals, with Team USA stars Alex Carpenter and Megan Bozek ultimately securing the 4-2 victory that sent the confetti pouring in Ufa.

“Over the past three years, we have been delighted to see women's ice hockey taking roots in the tropical city of Shenzhen. Players of our women’s team have become community heroes in Shenzhen and idols for hockey teenagers,” said Kunlun Red Star President Ao Meng, one of many women leaders in the Chinese organization. “What we are proud of is that we have provided a better professional environment for women hockey players to truly become a career choice.”

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Публикация от Gillian Kemmerer (@caviardiplomat)11 Мар 2020 в 2:46 PDT

Carpenter and Bozek, both of whom have played for the U.S. Olympic Team, were among the most vocal cheerleaders for the outlier professional standards of the club. Red Star committed itself to providing living wages and generous bonus structures, in addition to housing the women and ensuring comfortable arrangements on their continent-crossing road trips. Healthy meals that subscribe to North American standards and palettes as well as local ones are always provided; while the women share accommodations on the road, they have their own apartments in Shenzhen. For an exercise in envy, follow the players on Instagram; their feeds are filled with group photos exploring the Great Wall of China, or hopping the beaches of Vietnam during breaks. There is no doubt that the existence is an extraordinary one—an experience neither the Chinese nor North Americans could have ever dreamt of when they were little girls. As recently as five years ago, it simply did not exist.

“My father was a hockey player and his coach [scouted] me to be a hockey player, but my father knew it was really tough for the girls. From the beginning, my parents did not want me playing hockey,” said Qi Xueting (known as Snow), a Chinese-born defenseman for the Vanke Rays. While her parents changed their minds after a bit of convincing, she recognizes that the opportunity set today looks vastly different from the one she faced as a kid. “We didn’t have any professional, international level hockey clubs. We only had system teams—the national team. Now [kids] know that before you play for your country, you can play for a hockey club.”

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Публикация от KRS Vanke Rays (@kunlunredstar)11 Мар 2020 в 7:45 PDT

The upscale Sky Bar of Ufa’s Crowne Plaza played host to the afterparty for the Vanke Rays’ victory lap. The team took turns drinking from their trophy and cheers erupted as KHL TV recapped their historic win on the live broadcast. Even in this moment—a celebration in which self-congratulation might be permitted, even encouraged—many of the women expressed their joy for one another. “When I first signed, it was all about them and so much less about my own career and performance,” Jessica Wong, a local fan favorite and Team Canada U-18 alum, said to me. She gestured to the Chinese-born players, many of whom were in tears lifting their national flag and receiving their medals. Wong scored nearly the first time her blades hit the ice in every playoff round, a major driver in the Vanke Rays’ neutralization of Ufa’s heavy forecheck. Melanie Jue, a North American-born defenseman and former NCAA coach, made similar comments—celebrating the performance of Chinese national Liu Zhixin, a fellow member of the defensive core who logged an assist in Game 2, and one who she has mentored for several seasons. It has become clear that the Kunlun “ambassadors” are no figureheads—they are mentors fully invested in their teammates' success, and the consequences of that buy-in are self-evident.

The further I delved into the architectural design of the Universiade Arena, the more apt a home it appeared to be for the Vanke Rays—their name originally derived from the idea of bringing light to Chinese women’s hockey, although it has since evolved into an animalistic interpretation (the team’s top player is awarded a stingray costume after a win). The Universiade was meant to simultaneously blend with the local topography and to illuminate the skies, an apt metaphor for a team tasked with bettering its home while dazzling on international ice. Perhaps at first, the audacious mission was limited to China—but as the Vanke Rays set professional standards across the landscape of women’s hockey, they shine a light for athletes worldwide.

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Публикация от KRS Vanke Rays (@kunlunredstar)11 Мар 2020 в 6:18 PDT

The KHL, along with the Russian Premier Football League and the VTB United Basketball League, will suspend competition until April 10 in the hope of slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Taking into account the current pubic health situation, the KHL has decided to suspend the Gagarin Cup playoffs in accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Sport and the decisions of regional authorities.

If, by April 10, the present restrictions are lifted or eased, the KHL will be ready to continue with the playoffs. In that event, the format and timetable for the revised season will be announced on the league’s official online resources.

If Russia remains in its current state of heightened alert due to the outbreak, and restrictions on attending games remain in place, the KHL will make a further announcement at that time.

Alexei Morozov, KHL President:

Dear fans! We are faced with an unprecedented situation. The coronavirus pandemic has brought many sports tournaments to a halt all over the world.

The KHL always puts its supporters and players first. Today we, along with the Russian Premier League and the VTB United League, took an important decision for everyone – we will suspend our competitions until April 10.

I’m speaking to you now not just as the KHL president, but also as a former hockey player. I know very well what a fantastic atmosphere you fans generate in our arenas. But today we must face up to new conditions. I urge you to understand the decision we have taken. In difficult times, people come together; right now, your support is more important than ever for the league and its clubs.

The KHL President talks about the situation facing the league during the coronavirus pandemic, the steps the league has already taken and the prospects for the future.

Yesterday, due to the on-going coronavirus crisis, the KHL decided to suspend the playoffs in line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Sport and various regional authorities across Russia.

Alexei Alexeyevich, why was the league not suspended as soon as the first official restrictions were announced?

Before answering that question, I’d like to say a few words of thanks to everyone for their understanding towards the difficult situation in which the league finds itself. The world is facing a new threat and we are still trying to find the best way to respond to it. One thing is very clear: the only way to deal with this is to work together and find the best solution, guided by the need to ensure the safety of our fans, players and club staff.

When the Mayor of Moscow first announced restrictions [on the number of people who could gather at one event], we still had one or two game left to play in the series between Dynamo and Spartak. We weighed up all the pros and cons, consulted with all concerned and decided to complete the first round of the playoffs. At that stage, the restrictions were not as strict as they are today. The league considered several possibilities. Could we comply with the restrictinos and allow exactly 5,000 people into the arena, including players, coaches, staff and fans? How many tickets could we put on sale? How could we prioritize between fans? These were very complex issues, and there was little time before the game, so we decided to go ahead behind closed doors. Yes, it was a tough decision, but I think it was the right one.

The players were nervous about taking to the ice in these circumstances. I can say that as someone with a long career in hockey, who knows very well how important the atmosphere in the arena can be. But I don’t think anyone would disagree that the teams put on a great game. Hundreds of thousands of fans got to watch on TV or online, myself included.

The league has frequently said that the health of the fans and players are its top priority. Yet the championship was not suspended despite the increasing bleak situation due to the spread of the coronavirus. Why not?

This pandemic has forced many federations and leagues all over the world to halt their tournaments. The KHL faced a very difficult choice – to continue to play, or follow the example of many others and stop. If you look at the news over the past few days, you’ll see how quickly the situation is changing, how fast new information emerges. First we had restrictions in Moscow, then Finland and Kazakhstan closed their borders, next came a special regime in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan. These bans did not all happen at once. We have total confidence in the state authorities and the special services that assess how critical the situation is at any given moment. They are the only ones with all the facts. So, if there is no direct ban, I think we ought to keep playing.

At first, the league dismissed reports that Jokerit had dropped out of the playoffs. Then, within a few hours, the club made that announcement on its own official site. Why was there such a disconnect?

At the time when we published the refutation, the club had yet to withdraw from the playoffs. Discussions were ongoing and we still had hopes that Jokerit could keep playing. But later, the club’s insurers said that if Jokerit went to St. Petersburg on March 16, against the advice of the Finnish government and the Finnish Health Ministry, the team’s insurance policies would be void. After that, the club had no choice but to withdraw from the playoffs and sent the KHL official, written confirmation of the situation. So I don’t really see a disconnect here.

Is there anything in the KHL rules about this kind of situation?

No, this is force majeure. So we worked around the clock to come up with different possible ways to progress, because we needed to be sure that the clubs all agreed with the scenario we chose to follow.

What alternatives did the KHL discuss when it became clear that not all clubs would compete in the rest of the playoffs?

We had the idea of suspending the championship for a week, which we announced a few hours before meeting with the Ministry of Sports. In line with that, we devised a new schedule involving the six remaining teams competing in two groups. This could enable us to complete the season in 33 days with a group phase followed by semi-final and final series. We still have that idea in mind but now, of course, we have much less time to play the games.

The KHL attracted widespread criticism among journalists and supporters for lacking the autonomy to make decisions for itself. Is that a fair criticism?

The KHL is not separate from the rest of the world. We’re facing a unique challenge. These questions need to be resolved together, with input from many different organizations, because they touch on many different areas of our lives. We need a single decision that everyone can get behind.

In yesterday’s statement, the league said the decision was made ‘in consultation with the state authorities.’ Why was this coordination needed, and with whom was the league in discussions?

I think the answer to that is obvious. This problem goes beyond sport and it needs to be tackled on all levels. The public authorities are imposing restrictions on large-scale events, so it would be short-sighted to draw up our plans without consulting with them. On March 17 we attended a meeting along with the Russian Football Union and basketball’s VTB United League. Everyone explained their view of the situation and outlined their wishes and together we reached the decision that was announced yesterday.

Yesterday’s statement also confirmed that the league is planning to continue without two clubs, Jokerit and Barys. How does that affect the legitimacy of this season’s competition?

Let’s start by saying that if the situation changes and the clubs want to return to the competition, we won’t stand in anyone’s way. But at the moment I don’t see any reason to annul the entire championship because of two teams dropping out. The players on the other six teams went through a full regular season and completed the first round of the playoffs. They are absolutely not responsible for this situation. Why should we prevent them from continuing to compete for the Gagarin Cup? If the championship resumes, the results will be legitimate.

There are reports that some of the imports have left Russia, or are planning to leave, and won’t return to play if the season resumes. Can you comment on that?

I think that’s one for the management at their clubs. I can only remind you that the players’ contracts run until April 30. Both the league and the clubs will act in line with our regulations.

What are the league’s plans for the immediate future?

That entirely depends on how the situation develops around the spread of the pandemic and the decisions taken by the government. Like I say, we have an idea of how to continue the tournament with six teams. But now we have to fit that into 20 days, up to April 30. We can’t rule out the possibility that Jokerit and Barys might return, and then we would need a new plan. It’s possible that we might play beyond April 30. I’m sure that we can respond effectively to any change in our circumstances. If it is decided that the risk to life and health is past, we will do everything we can to complete the season. And complete it with fans in the arenas.

If the season is played to a finish, there are concerns that it will not be done before April 30, when many players and coaches reach the end of their contracts. How will the league solve this problem?

We can’t simply freeze these contracts due to force majeure. That contravenes labor laws. So each contract would need to be extended until the scheduled end date for the season. If the need arises, the league can, in consultation with the clubs, make changes to the regulations. But that has to be done with the approval of the KHL Board of Directors.

Is the league taking into account the position of the IIHF, which has yet to announce the official cancelation or postponement of the 2020 World Championship?

Of course, and this is something else we will factor in when we are developing possible formats for our tournament. We’re waiting on an official announcement from the IIHF.

Is it possible that the season will not be finished?

Yes, because we have to put everyone’s health first. If things get worse, we won’t be able to finish the championship. But I don’t want to think about that right now. The KHL will do everything possible to complete the season as soon as the risks to our players and supporters are gone.

Staffan Kronwall, one of the KHL’s longest-serving imports, is hanging up his skates after nine seasons in Russia. The Swedish defenseman announced his decision last week following Lokomotiv’s exit from the playoffs.

It wasn’t quite the end that the 37-year-old had hoped for, with Loko losing the first three games of its series against Jokerit and never quite recovering. But the hugely popular club captain spoke of his affection for Yaroslavl as he headed home.

“I will remember the time I spent here for the rest of my life,” he wrote on his Instragram page. “Yaroslavl became a second home for us, and my family and I are truly grateful.”

The respect was entirely mutual, with Lokomotiv tweeting: “Thanks for everything, legend!”

Спасибо за всё, Легенда!

—————https://t.co/GggyrYWpKjpic.twitter.com/NwsBBGRqqn

— HC Lokomotiv (@hclokomotiv) March 16, 2020

The journey to Russia

Staffan Kronwall took up the game in his native Jarfalla and made his senior debut for Stockholm-based Djurgardens in 2002. He was drafted by Toronto and followed his older brother Niklas across the Atlantic. He had 66 NHL appearances for the Maple Leafs, the Caps and the Flames, but his greatest success came in the AHL where he helped Hershey Bears to the 2009 Calder Cup.

However, life on the bubble in North America began to lose its appeal and in 2011, following a season on loan at Djurgardens, he arrived in Russia to play for Severstal. In Cherepovets he was a valued member of the team, clocking 23 minutes each night as he helped the Steelmen make the playoffs. He formed part of an impressive defense with Maxim Chudinov and a young Bogdan Kiselevich providing a solid wall in front of goalie Vasily Koshechkin. That Severstal team also featured Vadim Shipachyov up front, with Evgeny Ketov as another emerging talent on the roster.

A successful first season in the KHL attracted Lokomotiv’s attention, and Kronwall arrived in Yaroslavl to form part of a new-look team. The Railwaymen missed the 2011/12 campaign due to the air tragedy at the start of the season; Kronwall would play a huge role in helping to rebuild the club as a force in the Western Conference. The big Swede led the defense in scoring with 22 (10+12) points that season, earning an All-Star call-up and helping his team reach the playoffs on its emotional return to the big league. Of his colleagues on that fresh roster, only forward Yegor Averin remains at Lokomotiv to this day, with fellow long-serving forward Daniil Apalkov leaving for Dynamo Moscow back in December.

International glory

However, 2013 was more memorable for Kronwall on the international stage. He was named Sweden’s captain as the Tre Kronor co-hosted the World Championship, and his team helped to ‘break the curse’ and deliver gold on home ice in Stockholm. No host nation had won the championship since the USSR triumphed in Moscow in 1986 and, for much of the tournament, it wasn’t clear that Sweden would be able to change that. The group phase was unimpressive, Kronwall & Co advanced but scored just 17 goals in seven games. However, a shoot-out win against Canada in the quarter-final gave the team belief, a 3-0 victory over bitter rival Finland set up a shot for the gold and a 5-1 thrashing of Switzerland in the final banished the curse in emphatic style.

As captain, Kronwall was focused on his defensive duties, producing just one assist in 10 games. But his leadership role far outstripped his stats, whether that was keeping the team together on the ice and in the locker room, or taking center stage as his team-mates cavorting through a raucous repertoire of songs and victory dances at the official celebration in Kungsträdgården the day after the final.

Kronwall would go on to win more caps than any other Swede playing in the KHL, culminating in four appearances at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. Meanwhile, back in Yaroslavl, he was starting to earn cult status.

A Lokomotiv legend

The 2013/14 season was something of a breakthrough. Lokomotiv got to the Western Conference finals, defeating defending double champion Dynamo Moscow in the first round before surprising SKA in the second. Lev Prague’s memorable run to the Gagarin Cup final ended that dream, but Kronwall’s hard-hitting, hard-shooting game established him as a firm favorite in Yaroslavl.

By 2015, he was team captain. The following season, he led Loko back to the Conference final, playing a big role in the shock win over CSKA along the way. By now, Kronwall was an elder statesman on the team, providing vital guidance to the crop of youngsters emerging on Alexei Kudashov’s roster. Fellow defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, just 21 at the time, was perhaps the most prominent of them. The future SKA and Columbus Blue Jackets blue liner would go on to help the Russians to Olympic gold in Korea a year later.

There was more to come. In 2017/18, the defenseman led Loko’s scoring – forwards and defense alike – with 35 (10+25) points in regular season. That brought another All-Star call and cemented Kronwall’s status as one of Loko’s legends.

In total, the Swede totted up 201 (54+147) points for the Railwaymen, making him the most productive import in club history. His full KHL career, including that season with Severstal, encompassed 553 appearances with 59 goals and 161 assists. Truly, the KHL was Kronwalled.

Kunlun Red Star sign a one-year extension with Czech goalie Simon Hrubec, 28. In 2019-20 campaign Hrubec appeared in 32 contests: 12 wins, 93,2%, GAA 2.19 and two shutouts.

Episode 18 of the official KHL podcast. What the league is going to do in the circumstances we have throughout the world: Alexei Morozov talks on the KHL plans. Also we reached out to Dynamo winger Andre Petersson and discussed with him coronavirus, series against Spartak and Shipachyov’s line dominance.

0:33-02:06 Alexei Morozov on KHL plans
2:07-02:43 Who’s in play in the KHL
2:44-08:59 Andre Petersson on a COVID-19 threat
9:00-13:59 Petersson on a series with Spartak
14:00-16:39 Why Shipachyov’s line is so successful
16:40-24:49 What makes Shipachyov the best center in the KHL