Prologue to the playoffs

The fourth contest between Spartak and Dynamo was like a try-out before meeting in the first round playoffs. Officially teams could create this pair in case of win of Red-White team. However, it was not in our plans cause the game was dedicated to celebration of 80-year birthday of legendary Vladimir Yurzinov.

Spartak started the game better, but our team was able to open the scoreboard with Vyacheslav Kylyomin goal early in the game. Then we got the possession, did not capitalize on several powerplays. Both goalies played a great game stopping most of the shots on their net.

Opposite team made the score even in the third period when our troops lost Anatoly Nikontsev on breakaway. Teemu Pulkkinen and our mighty first line could decide the game however they were not able to beat Pavel Khomchenko. In overtime Spartak scored but after video review the officials declared this goal illegal due to ‘too many men on the ice’. In shootout series Vladimir Bryukvin scored twice to give us a huge win.

Dynamo is still in the race of climbing to the third place of the West.

 Dynamo Moscow – Spartak – 2:1 SO (1:0, 0:0, 0:1, 0:0 1:0)

Goals: 1:0 Kulyomin (Muranov, 05:27), 1:1 Nikontsev (Fyodorov, 44:56), 2:1 Bryukvin (65:00)

Goalies: Bocharov – Khomchenko