KHL Playoffs: Round 1

The KHL playoffs are already into the semi finals with several major upsets. The KHL playoffs are similiar to the NHL style in which 16 teams from the Eastern conference and the Western conference square off in the conference with the worst team playing the 1st place team and so on down the rankings. It's a best of 5 (3 games to win) with 3 rounds in each conference before the East faces the West for the Gagarin Cup.



Western Conference Quarterfinals
8. Dinamo Riga vs 1. SKA St. Petersberg
The underdogs of the playoffs Riga managed to upset the Eastern champions in 4 games by the score of 3 to 1. A major upset in the KHL world as SKA was predicted to be the Gagarin Cup champions by most Russian media sources. Martin Kariya was a major force returning from a serious injury late in the season.

7. CSKA Moscow vs 2. HC MVD
This one went as expected as the talented HC MVD squad swept CSKA 3 - 0 and gave them a quick enterance to the next round. Goaltender Michael Garnett was a major impact on the series and shut down Moscow with a 1.50 average while Martin Strbak carried the offense from the backend.

6. Spartak Moscow vs 3. Dynamo Moscow
Another somewhat of an upset with Spartak Moscow getting the win 3 - 1 over a better Dynamo Moscow club featuring former NHL and Detroit Red Wing Jiri Hudler who was held to 1 point the entire series. Another league leader in Mattias Weinhandl was also held to just a goal.

5. Yaroslav Lokomotiv vs 4. Atlant Mytischi
Yaroslav got the win in this one which was expected to be tighter than it ended up being. Atlant's goaltender Jan Lasak struggled to keep the games within reach and Lokomotiv beat Atlant 3-1.



Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
8. Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg vs 1. Salavat UFA
The best team in the league Salavat encountered little resistence in the 8th seed Avtomobilist especially when all their top guns were firing. Alexander Radulov ripped apart the underdogs single handedly and the favorites cruised into the next round 3-1.

7. Traktor Chelyabinsk vs 2. Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Metallurg was the clear cut favorites in this one and did not disapoint. They beat Traktor 3-1 to take the series. Pierre Dagenais was recruited for the playoff run for Traktor and came up with 2 timely goals but the rest of his team couldn't muster anything.

6. Barys Astana vs 3. Ak Bars Kazan
This is another easily predicted matchup as Barys Astana struggled down the stretch compared to Ak Bars who boasts one of the best lines in the KHL. Barys did everything they could to stay a float but was swept easily 3-0 by Kazan.

5. Avangard OMSK vs 4. Neftekhimik
Avangard and Jagr couldn't stop Neftekhimik from getting the sweep. Avangard was predicted to be the sleeper team this playoffs in the West but struggled from the get go. 3 - 0 Neftekhimik took this one and OMSK was limited to just 8 points for their entire roster. Tough break.

Thats it for now, tomorrow comes the semi finals along with results from all 4 games happening that very night. Stay tuned