In the fifth game of the Gagarin Cup quarter-final series, CSKA faced Lokomotiv in a tightly contested clash that ended with a 1-0 victory for the Yaroslavl squad. The deciding moment came late in the game when Maxim Berezkin converted on the power play, converting a critical opportunity to tilt the series in his team’s favor. The brisk pace and disciplined defense characterized the entire match, with Lokomotiv pushing back hard in the closing minutes but unable to find the equalizer.
With this result, the series tally stands at 3:2 in favor of CSKA. The path ahead remains highly competitive, as Lokomotiv will look to rebound in the next encounter and reset the momentum in what promises to be a dramatic finish to the quarter-final series. Both teams have shown resilience throughout the series, trading chances and executing under pressure, a hallmark of playoff hockey at this level.
Meanwhile, another key matchup defined the progression toward the semi-finals. Ak-Bars faced Amiral in a duel that will determine one of the remaining semi-finalists. The teams were set to meet again the following day, with every shift carrying weight and every moment on the ice scrutinized by fans and analysts alike. The stakes in this head-to-head confrontation are high, as a spot in the next round awaits the winner, along with the opportunity to shape the bracket for the final stages of the tournament.
As the playoff field begins to crystallize, St. John’s has already secured a place in the semi-finals by sweeping Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo in a convincing 4:0 series result. The dominant performance set a clear tone for the path to the final rounds, signaling the level of play that the contenders will need to reach to challenge the league’s top teams. Petersburg SKA also solidified progress, leveraging a strong team game to advance and set up intriguing semi-final possibilities for the coming rounds.
On March 23, Avangard strengthened its position by defeating Magnitogorsk Metallurg 4:1, earning the second semi-final berth. The win underscored Avangard’s offensive depth and defensive discipline, traits that are crucial in the short playoff series where every game carries pronounced significance. With several series still to be decided, the landscape of the semi-finals continues to evolve, and fans can anticipate a lineup that will feature intense matchups, strategic coaching chess, and moments of high-caliber hockey.
It is worth noting that the semi-final matchups will not pit SKA against Avangard immediately. Both teams remain in wait-and-see mode, awaiting the outcomes of the remaining series to complete the bracket. This dynamic underscores how tightly contested the playoff field is this year, with multiple teams capable of delivering standout performances and altering expectations at any point in the process.
CSKA, the current holder of the Gagarin Cup, enters the narrative with a recent triumph in the final of the last tournament. Under the guidance of head coach Sergei Fedorov, the team outlasted Metallurg in a seven-game series, demonstrating resilience and clutch play when it mattered most. That past success adds a distinctive layer of pressure and expectation as CSKA tries to defend its crown while other teams push to dethrone the reigning champions. The journey through these quarter-final matchups has highlighted the volatility and excitement that define this championship, where a single goal can flip the momentum and redefine a team’s prospects for the rest of the playoffs.