2013 Gagarin Cup (Western Conference)

Western Conference

#1 SKA Saint Petersburg vs. #8 Atlant Moscow Oblast

SKA is coming in as the KHL regular season champion. The Bobrov Division and Western Conference Champion will try to continuing their scoring ways in the playoffs. The team led the league by scoring 182 goals this season. SKA didn't just score though, they played defense. SKA only allowed 116 goals all season, which was forth best. Patrick Thoreson led the team in scoring with 51 points. Thoreson also led the team in goals with 21 and assists with 31. The Columbus Blue Jackets' Sergei Bobrovsky was this team's goalie for a lot of the season. SKA will now have to rely on new addition Ivan Kasutin. Kasutin had a 0.928 save percentage this season but a 2.56 goal-against average.

Atlant brings in one of the best goalies in the league. Stanislav Galimov had the best save percentage (0.943) and the forth best goal-against average (1.94). This will help the team that battled their way into the playoffs during the final days of the regular season. This team will have to figure out how to score goals if they want to beat SKA, as they were only 14th in goals scored and were shutout seven times over the course of the season. They will have to look to Maxim Mayorov for goal production. Mayorov scored 16 goals, leading the team and placing 25th in the league. Goals will be able to be generated from the blue line. Sandis Ozolins was 12th in the league in assists by defensemen.

#2 CSKA Moscow vs. #7 Lev Praha

CSKA has some fire power as they were seventh in goals scored this season. A large chunk of those goals came from Alexander Radulov, who scored 22 this season. Radulov's older brother Igor was second on the team with 17 goals. With the two of them and the third highest scoring defenseman in the league (Yakov Rylov) on the team, this team has a kick. Their goaltender is also astrong point. Rastislav Stana led the league in goal-against average with 1.76 average. The team allowed the fewest goals of any team all season, with 109 goals against. He was also third in the league in save percentage with a 0.934. CSKA used this to secure their Tarasov Divisional Championship.

Lev only scored 132 goals all season, putting them at 16th in a league that has 26 teams. On the flip side, they only allowed 133 goals against them, putting them at 12th. Lev's leading scorer, Jakub Klepis, finished 23rd in the league with 38 points. Klepis's 20 goals was also good enough for him to 11th in the league. For Lev to do well in this match-up, they will have to keep CSKA from shutting him down. Lev can look to former NHLer Erik Christensen for help in this aspect. He finished second on the team in both goals and points with 10 and 21 respectively. Tomas Popperle's numbers will need to improve as well. His 2.25 goals-against average and 0.917 save percentage was sub-par this season.

#3 Dynamo Moscow vs. #6 Slovan Bratislava

Dynamo Msk brings an excellent goaltender to this match-up. Alexander Yeryomenko had a save percentage of 0.931 and a goal-against average of 1.85. Yeryomenko was also able to have five shutouts this season. If he keeps that up, Dynamo Msk could go through to the next round, but they will need to be able to score goals as well. As a team that had 29 of their 150 goals come from Washington Capitals' Alexander Ovechkin (19 G; 21 A) and Niklas Backstrom (10 G; 15 A), they will have to look for other talent. Denis Kokarev (13 G; 9 A) is the scoring leader on this team by default. He's accompanied by defenseman Ilya Gorokhov (7 G; 15 A) atop the team's top scorers. Look for Alexei Tsvetkov (5 G; 16 A) and Konstantin Gorovikov (2 G; 17 A) to step it up in the playoffs.

Slovan intends to shut down Dynamo Msk with goaltender Jaroslav Janus. Janus posted a 0.928 save percentage, a 2.17 save percentage, and five shutouts of his own. This match-up has potential to be a goaltending battle. This is a team that only allowed 127 goals this season. Their issue will be scoring. The team only scored 124 goals this season, which was the leagues sixth worst. Slovan's best scoring threats are Michel Miklik (9 G; 15 A), Roman Kukumberg (10 G; 11 A), Libor Hudacek (11 G, 9 A), Michal Vondrka (9 G; 11 A), and Mario Bliznak (9 G, 11 A). These players are not the most threatening, but Slovan will need them to step up if they want to get past Dynamo Msk.

#4 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl vs. #5 Severstal Cherepovets

Lokomotiv last year experienced one of the most tragic incidents last season when their plane crashed on their way to their first game in Minsk. Everyone on board was killed or died a few days later. Last season, they withdrew from competition in the KHL, but have returned this season. The KHL allowed Lokomotiv to play with more than six non-Russian players this season as a result of the plane crash.

This season's leading scorer for Lokomotiv was Sergei Plotnikov (14 G; 16 A). Plotnikov will receive help from Niklas Hagman (12 G; 8 A) and Averin Yegor (11 G; 7A). These three players will be some of the biggest threats to Severstal. Defenseman Staffan Kronwall (10 G; 12 A) will also have some say in the offense, as he may be the biggest threat. As one of the teams top players, both offensively and defensively, he was able to record a plus/minus of +6, lead the team in powerplay goals with seven, and lead the team in game-winning goals with five. Goaltender Curtis Sanford will be in net for Lokomotiv. He had the 11th best save percentage at 0.927 and the 15th best goals-against average at 2.25. He also never recorded a shutout. He will have to improve in the playoffs.

Severstal has two major threats in Vadim Shipachyov (17 G; 23 A) and Evgeny Ketov (12 G; 22 A). These two players led the team in scoring, with Shipachyov also leading the team in goals. Severstal only scored six more goals this season than Lokomotiv and they allowed four less goals that Lokomotiv, placing fifth in goals against. This effort was led by goaltender Vasily Koshechkin. Koshechkin had the tenth best goal-against average (2.13) and the 16th best save percentage (92.3).

2013 Gagarin Cup (East Preview)

 

The Gagarin Cup Playoffs are in the same format as the Stanley Cup playoffs as most of us are familiar with. The KHL is comprised of two conferences, with two divisions in each conference. After the 52-game regular season is complete, the playoffs are set. Eight teams from each conference make the playoffs, with the division winners receiving the top seeds. The remaining six spots in the conference playoffs are treated like wild card positions. The winners of the conference playoffs meet in the Gagarin Cup Final.

The Gagarin Cup Playoffs started in 2008, with the creation of the KHL. The then newly formed league needed a trophy for the league champion. After much deliberation, the name Gagarin Cup was chosen to signify the accomplishment that is winning an ice hockey tournament. Pictured right is the Gagarin Cup, named for the Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. A likeness of the first man in space can been seen on the trophy. In 2009, the trophy was first awarded to Ak Bars Kazan on April 12, Cosmonautics Day. In its brief history, only Ak Bars Kazan has been able to win the Gagarin Cup multiple times. They were able to accomplish this in 2009 and 2010. The other two winners are Salavat Yulaev Ufa (2011) and Dynamo Moscow (2012).

Wednesday marks the beginning of the 2013 Gagarin Cup Playoffs, the championship tournament for Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). I will be bringing you a two part preview to Gagarin Cup Playoffs along with updates through the playoffs. Today we focus on the Eastern Conference. All Eastern Conference games start on Thursday. Tomorrow, the Western Conference preview will appear.

Eastern Conference

#1 Ak Bars Kazan vs. #8 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk

As regular season Eastern Conference and Kharlamov Division Champions, Ak Bars looks to win their third Gagarin Cup. Ak Bars is led by their captain (and former Pittsburgh Penguins) Alexei Morozov and Danis Zaripov. Morozov led the team in points with with 38, while Zaripov was able to record 19 goals. Finn Janne Pesonen was second on the team with 17 goals. The scoring doesn't just come from the forwards though, Ak Bars's defemean Ilya Nikulin  placed forth in the defenseman points with 34. The man in net for Ak Bars is Konstantin Barulin, who was selected in 2003 by the St. Louis Blues. Barulin's 0.940 save percentage was good enough for second in the league. He was also able to record 4 shutouts this season.

Nefteknimik seems to be over-matched, as is normally the case in a #1 vs. #8 match-up. Neftekhimik was able to do enough at the end of the season to get into the playoffs over Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk by three points in a league where a win is worth three points. Neftekhimik has been able to ride the success of 29-year-old defender Renat Mamashev. Mamashev was the only player to appear in the Top 30 in points for Neftekhimik and only one of two defenders. His his 10 goals and 32 assists (42 points) was good enough for 14th amongst all players in the league, and first amongst defenders. Another player to look out for on Neftekhimik is Yegor Milovzorov. Milovzorov was second on the team (23rd in league) in assists with 24. Canadian Matt Dalton is the Neftekhimik goaltender. Playing 38 of 52 games, he was able to record a 0.923 save percentage and a goal-against average of 2.36.

 #2 Avangard Omsk vs #7 Sibir Novosibirsk

 Avangard comes into the playoffs as Chernyshev Division Champions. Avangard has been a fairly balanced team all season, with production coming from all around. Tomas Zaborksy led this team in both points and goals this season, with 21 goals and 20 assists (41 points). Other players that Avangard has looked to this season are Alexander Perezhogin, Dmitry Syomin and team captain Alexander Frolov. Frolov leads the team in assists with 28, good enough for 9th in the league. Anton Belov leads Avangard defenders in points. Avangard goaltender, Karri Ramo, has an 0.929 save percentage and a goal-against average of 2.00.

Sibir could make this a goaltender dual as they bring one of the top goalies in the league into the series. Jeff Glass has the league's fifth best save percentage at 0.933 and the eighth best goal-against average at 2.02. Glass will need help from his defense though. Sibir brings a couple of the top forwards in the league to this battle as well. Jori Lehtera leads the team in points and is fifth in the league with 4. He is accompanied by Jonas Enlund, who brings the second best plus/minues (+27) in the league to the table. For Sibir to have a chance at moving on, the defense will have to be at its best.

 #3 Traktor Chelyabinsk vs. #6 Barys Astana

Traktor was the best non-division winner in the league. Traktor has a high powered offense, placing sixth in goals for. The player on the team with the most goals is Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov was able to record 19 goals, which was good enough for 16th in the league. Goaltender Michael Garnett could make this interesting though. With an 0.923 save percentage and a goal against average of 2.20, he placed 16th and 12th respectively. Garnett and the Traktor defense will need to step it up during the playoffs.

Barys brings a high powered offense as well, as they are the second highest scoring team with 175 goals this season. With two 20 goal-scorers and five 30 point-scorers, this team is all offense. names to look out for are Brandon Bochenski (20 G; 20 A), Nigel Dawes (20 G; 14 A), Dustin Boyd (15 G; 16 A;), Konstantin Rudenko (14 G; 17A), and Talgat Zhailauov (15 G; 15 A). Scoring could come from defender Roman Savchenko (10 G; 10 A) as well. With no goalie with a save percentage over 0.900, Barys will need to out score Traktor if they want to win. Expect a high scoring series.

#4 Metallurg Magnitogorsk vs. #5 Salavat Yulaev Ufa

Metallurg Mg saw the presence of NHL talent including Russian stars Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar. Even though the NHLers left in the middle of January, some impacted the team all the way into the playoffs. Malkin was able to score so much in his time with the team, he is still third in the league in points scored. That being said, he is no longer on the team; meaning Metallurg Mg will need to look elsewhere to score. Sergei Moziyakin is the obvious choice since he led the league in goals (35), points (76), and was third in assists (41). Goaltender Ari Ahonen will have to be at the top of his game though. This season, he posted a save percentage of 0.924 and a goal-against average of 2.04.

Fortunately for Meallurg Mg, Salavat doesn't have much in terms of goaltending. Salavat goalie Iiro Tarkki has allowed 2.37 goals a game while only posting a 0.913 save percentage. Igor Mirnov will have to take control of this series if Salavat wants to move on. Mirnov was eighth in the league in goals (21) this season.He is the only Salavat player to appear in the Top 30 in goals and points. No Salavat player appeared in the Top 30 in assists.