St. Petersburg hosted the opening game of the Gagarin Cup quarter-finals where Ekaterinburg Avtomobilist handed St. St. Petersburg SKA a 3-2 defeat. The visitors took the win on the road, grabbing the early lead in the series with a narrow margin this time around.
In the St. Petersburg clash, Ekaterinburg’s scorers were Semyon Kizimov, Alexey Makeev and Denis Barantsev. SKA’s replies came from Marat Khairullin and Sergei Sapego, keeping the game tight until the final whistle. The result gave Avtomobilist a 1-0 edge in the best-of-four format as the series progressed.
With game two set to go on March 19 at SKA Arena, the momentum favored the visitors as they aimed to extend their series lead. The early success in this first matchup set the tone for the short, high-stakes quarter-final series and highlighted both teams’ defensive resilience and offensive flashes. Observers noted the strategic adjustments from Ekaterinburg after a season marked by intense playoff competition, including moments where small margins shaped the final score. This opening game also underscored the significance of special teams and goaltending in a tightly contested series, as both clubs looked to balance offensive chances with disciplined defensive assignments.
The 2023/24 season introduced crossover play-offs in the second round, a format where teams from different conferences faced one another. This change added another layer of unpredictability to the bracket, testing teams’ adaptability as they navigated unfamiliar matchups and travel schedules. The new round structure aimed to maintain playoff intensity even as teams crossed paths in unfamiliar configurations, refreshing the strategic landscape of the league for this period.
For the first time in Kontinental Hockey League history, both of the previous Gagarin Cup finalists did not advance beyond the first round in the following season. CSKA Moscow fell to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the 1/8 finals, with a decisive 6:3 fifth game tipping the scale in Yaroslavl’s favor. CSKA, known as the reigning Gagarin Cup champion, faced an unexpected early exit that reshaped expectations for the defending title holders. In another notable development, Ak Bars Kazan was eliminated by Ekaterinburg Avtomobilist in a series ending 1:4, with the fifth game a close 1:2 result that underscored the uphill battle faced by the Kazan club against a resurgent opponent.
Earlier in the playoffs, Spartak Moscow endured a devastating exit in the Gagarin Cup quarter-finals, adding another layer of drama to a postseason already packed with storyline-worthy moments. This string of early-round eliminations highlighted the cutthroat nature of the league during this period, where the performance on the ice in a handful of pivotal games could redefine a franchise’s trajectory for the next season. The emotional and tactical swings throughout these series demonstrated the depth of competition across the KHL’s playoff landscape.
Analysts and fans alike recognized how the combination of travel fatigue, tight series, and disciplined defensive play often determined the narrow results that decide best-of-four and best-of-seven configurations. As teams regrouped after these dramatic openings, the league prepared for the next rounds, where each game would demand high levels of precision, speed, and cohesion. The evolving playoff format added layers of strategic nuance, emphasizing quick adjustments, depth utilization, and the importance of leadership on the ice. Throughout this period, the Gagarin Cup chase remained a showcase of high-caliber hockey, with every matchup contributing to the broader narrative of the season and the pursuit of the championship trophy.