Had you told me in advance that Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and Metallurg Magnitogorsk would play each other in the Gagarin Cup Finals and that one team would have the 2-0 advantage after two pretty low-event games, I do not think I would have anticipated which team it would be. Metallurg being an offensive powerhouse and winning the opening two matchups by scores of 1-0 and 2-1 is definitely intriguing and perhaps demonstrates some adaptability for their group. Here are some essential facts and stats about this matchup to this point:

In Game 1, Metallurg won the shots on goal battle 33-21 and had over four minutes more puck control time. They did not knock the doors down with their offense, however, ultimately winning 2-1. All of what little goal scoring did occur in this game happened in the third period. RW/LW Maxim Beryozkin (Edmonton Oilers) opened the scoring just a couple of minutes into the final stanza for Lokomotiv on an assist by LW/RW Artur Kayumov (Chicago Blackhawks); however, Metallurg would respond with two tallies, one by LW Nikita Mikhailis on an assist by C/W Alexander Petunin) and subsequently a tally by Petunin himself, with some help from D Robin Press. As pointed out by the KHL’s English language Twitter page, 21-year-old rookie G Ilya Nabokov (recently ranked #2 on the European goalie list in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings for this upcoming NHL Entry Draft and expected by many to be taken as an overager) wrapped up having won the first game in all four of Metallurg’s playoff series.

In Game 2, Metallurg was actually out-shot 32-25 by Lokomotiv, with the latter also having over a minute more in puck control time. However, the game was ultimately decided by a goal scored just 21 seconds into the third period by C Denis Zernov (who currently leads the entire postseason in goals). On the back of his 25 save clean sheet, as the KHL’s English language Twitter and Hockey News Hub noted, Nabokov broke current New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin’s record for the youngest goaltender to ever post a shutout in the Gagarin Cup Finals. This is quite a remarkable accomplishment and one that should only increase his draft stock. This game was also noteworthy for having what could have been an extremely late GTG by Lokomotiv G Georgi Ivanov nullified by a hand pass earlier in the play, according to a video review.

This series has been fascinating to this point, as Metallurg do look confident despite not being the usual destructive offensive force that they have been. Regular season leading point-scorer RW/C Danila Yurov (Minnesota Wild) is yet to get on the stat sheet, with neither a goal nor an assist to his name. However, it is pretty clear that they have a good grip on the series to this point. We shall see, however, if the dynamics shift on Loko’s home ice, and if Metallurg’s modest offensive output eventually does them in. With Game 3 taking place tomorrow, we will not have to wait long to see if the status quo is maintained or if matters begin to change.