KHL Championship

Yesterday at KHL Championship in the first big sensation. In 1 / 8 finals of the play-off for the Gagarin Cup left the first issue of sowing and last year's champion of Russia Salavat Yulaev. Ufimtsev lost the third match in succession "Avangard", yielding a series of 1:3. The second surprise was the defeat of one of the richest clubs KHL - SKA Petersburg - from "Spartacus." After two victories guest Moscovites took third match in the capital, with the score 3:2. In the next round yesterday, also came out "Ak Bars", Magnitogorsk Metallurg "and" Locomotive ", which joined in the 1 / 4 final in Moscow" Dynamo "and" Atlanta. "

Yesterday's game day, made a comparison with its prototype KHL NHL even more relevant. One of the benefits of the North American league, which has not been in the championship of Russia, considered to be its unpredictability. The Russian championship in its history there has never been a case where the winner of the regular tournament left in the first round play-off. For the NHL it is - in the order of things, and express that in the play-off, a new championship is very popular among hockey players.

He knows it, and an outstanding Czech Jaromir Yagr, before the beginning of the season moved from the New York Rangers in the "Vanguard" on wages, according to some sources, more than $ 5 million in the regular championship game Yagra not impressed - indeed, as the game throughout the Omsk team , the richest in the KHL. In the play-off "Avangard" slip a miracle, the 16 th place. And promises of Omsk players that play-off they will be others, there is little taken seriously. But the series against the last regular championship without a single failure, even the composition of "Salavat Yulaev" Omsk conducted entirely in an American - with a prohibitive commitment and concentration. "Avangard" nadlomilo not even defeat in the first overtime game. In the second game in Ufa, he tore out a victory for the shootout. And in the first home game does not crash, missed the victory over eight seconds before the end of normal time, and dozhal Ufimtsev extra.

At the decisive fourth game "Vanguard" went extremely mobilized. Already in the second minute after Victor Alexandrov throw Igor Volkov dobil of shields Alexander Eremenko washer at the gate Ufimtsev. After three minutes of "Salavat" response scored a goal, however, Omsk as if it is not noticed. They then crush the opponent to his gate. Furious assault brought the result to the 18 th minute, when Dmitry Vlasenko fled, one on one with Yeremenko and easily beat goalkeeper Ufimtsev and Team Russia. Demoralized guests almost immediately earned an optional removal, for which there was an instant payoff: Vlasenko, receiving an excellent pass from outside the gates, shot goalie "Salavat".

The second period seemed to be given hope for the salvation of last year's champion - Ufimtsev leveled the game and had several good opportunities to take the gate. However, at the beginning of the final dvadtsatiminutki every effort negated the visitors goal Yagra. Tsentrforvard primary Dmitry Pestunov won the throw-and retransmitted chehu washer, which was not only miss on the empty corner of the gate. The last two minutes the game "Omsk Arena" held at the legs, stifle revom ten thousand potation final siren. In the next round of play-off "Vanguard" to play with Ak Bars ", in three games to deal with Kazakhstan" Barys.

Meanwhile, a series of "Avangard" with "Salavat" - not only confirming the thesis about the unpredictability of the Cup Gagarin. For example, srednenky on the payroll "Spartacus" won the series with one of the "oligarchs" KHL - SKA Petersburg, the third of a complete ex-NHL stars. Muscovites through organized play to protect and secure goalkeeper Dmitry Kochneva managed twice to gain the upper hand over the SKA St. Petersburg.

However, the proximity of victory is not just played with the "Spartak" malevolent joke. In Moscow yesterday, the match went spartakovtsy constrained. Rivals, by contrast, from the first minute tune up aggressively in the attack. Already in the second minute, Spartak failed to protect, and Sergei Brylina gave a sumptuous pass to the far bar Igor Makarov. Increased their advantage of St. Petersburg at the end of the first period when David Nemirovsky irresistibly thrown in near the gate nine Kochneva.

But in the second period, "Spartacus" as if the submenu. Moscow has added to activity and were able not only to equal the score, but to go forward. At jerk "Spartacus" inspired by his captain Maksim Rybin, zabivshy two washers. Another added another leader of the red-and-white Branko Radivoevich.

The third period for both teams turned in suschuyu hassle. At the head coach, it was a pity to look SKA - Barry Smith with a blue face with anger to see how one after another attack on his team split coherent defense "Spartacus" and his brilliant goalkeeper Kochneva. The Chamber drew a sad face and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SCA and part-KHL President Alexander Medvedev. Muscovites also tightly blocking the all the approaches to their goal, dedication doderzhali arranging their winning through to the final siren.

Another surprise was the leadership of "Lada" in series with CSKA. Tolyattintsy that a few months do not receive a salary, after yesterday's victory led 2:1 in the confrontation with the powerful as on the composition, as well as financial opportunities Moscow army. The fate of this series can be solved today, when Togliatti will be the fourth match.

In the play-off as to the outcome of yesterday's game of the day still left Magnitogorsk Metallurg, who vsuhuyu - 3:0 - won a series of "Tractor", and "Locomotive", having broken down in four meetings of the resistance "Neftekhimik. A day earlier access to the 1 / 4 final in Moscow provided a "Dynamo", without any problems since odnoklubnikov from Riga, and "Atlant", will not leave any chance of Chelyabinsk "Tractor".

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