Nikolai Zherdev (BridgetDS/Flickr)
Atlant Moscow Region has advanced to the second round of the KHL playoffs with Thursday’s road win over Severstal. Meanwhile, seventh-seeded Dynamo Riga forced a decisive Game Seven with second-seeded Torpedo. Here is a recap.
Western Conference
(4) Atlant vs. (5) Severstal
Atlant wins series 4-2
Nikolai Zherdev scored the game-winning goal late in the third period to move Atlant past Severstal, 2-1, and into the second round of the KHL playoffs. Severstal, playing home and looking to force a Game Seven jumped out to an early lead in the first period when Nikita Alexeyev scored his first goal of the series. It was not until the third period when Atlant finally got on the scoreboard. Branko Radivojevic tied the game for Atlant, with Zherdev putting home the game winner to send them onto Round Two. Konstantin Barulin stopped 30 shots in the win.
(2) Torpedo vs. (7) Dynamo Riga
Series tied 3-3
The final spot in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs will come down to a Game Seven between Torpedo and Dynamo Riga. Tied at one after two periods of Game Six, Riga tallied two goals for the win, 3-1. Jekabs Redlihs scored his first career playoff goal for the Latvian side. The series moves back to Nizhny Novgorod on Saturday where Torpedo will work to avoid an upset at the hands of Dynamo Riga.
Later today in the Eastern Conference, sixth-seeded Barys is at home and will try again to knock out Metallurg. Ak Bars will try to do the same on the road against Salavat Yulaev. Both Barys and Ak Bars own 3-2 leads in their respective series.