Published: 20 March, 2009, 21:34
Edited: 20 March, 2009, 21:34
Mettalurg Magnitogorsk took a 1-0 lead in a best of seven series against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL semi-final, winning 3-0 on away ice.
The beginning of the game in Yaroslavl was cautious as both teams paid maximum attention to defense. The hosts were unable to create something dangerous in front of goals even when Metallurg’s Igor Mirnov got a four-minute suspension for hooking, so the first period ended in a predicable 0-0 draw.
Magnitogorsk struck after the break as Jan Marek, who scored 35 goals in the KHL regulator season, added another to his tally.
Keeper Georgy Gelashvili couldn’t help Lokomotiv as he saw the puck when it was already in the net.
And then Mirnov rehabilitated for being sent off in the first twenty minutes, making it 2-0 for Magnitka after two periods.
Lokomotiv tried to come back into the game in the final period but instead conceded the third goal. Marek scored his second of the match into an empty net after the hosts replaced the keeper with a field player, 3-0.
Metallurg Magnitogorsk took a 1-0 lead in the series, with the second game to take place in Yaroslavl tomorrow, on March 21.