On Thursday evening Salavat Yulaev put the squeeze on Metallurg Magnitogosrk, 4-3, and took the lead in KHL’s Eastern Conference final series.
Metallurg were playing just three days after knocking out regular season champions Avangard in a record-long series, while the Ufa side had had almost a week to prepare for the final series opener.The game turned out a real thriller.
In the first period, the teams exchanged two goals with both Metallurg shots coming in powerplays.
It was a tense and equal affair in the second period before the game’s referee stepped in. He allowed a Salavat Yulaev goal after Russian international Aleksandr Radulov had apparently assisted Patrick Thoresen with his hand.
Magnitogorsk rushed to settle accounts but were immediately punished for that by Miroslav Blatyak – 4-2.
In the final period, the guests quickly fought back with another powerplay goal, but Salavat didn’t let them equalize.
Metallurg will have a chance for revenge on Saturday, when the series’ next game will be held, again in Ufa.