Avangard Omsk wins Gagarin Cup

Avangard goalie Šimon Hrubec made 25 saves for his 5th shutout in the playoffs. Sergei Tolchinsky scored the only goal at 19:28 of the first period. Oliwer Kaski rounded the net and set Tolchinsky up for a one-timer that deflected off a defender's stick to leave Lars Johansson in th CSKA net without a chance. Tolchinsky scored 6 goals and 14 assists in the playoffs, including three game-winning goals. This earned him the MVP title.

The game didn't see many penalties. Only one for CSKA and two for Avangard, but the Avangard penalties came at critical times. First Denis Zernov was sent off at 55:26 anfd only 12 seconds later Ville Pokka took a high-sticking penalty. CSKA got almost 4 minutes with a 2-man advantage towards the end of the game but failed to tie it.

In the regular season Avangard finished second in the East division behind Ak Bars Kazan. ln the first round of the playoffs they beat Avtomobilist 4-1 and then in the quarter finals Metallurg was beaten 4-2.

The semi final series against Ak Bars was a strange one. Avangard won 4-3 and all seven games were won by the away team.

In the finals Avangard won the first game 4-1 but then CSKA won the next two 3-0 and 2-1. In game 4 Avangard won the game with a short-handed goal in the overtime after CSKA had tied it with one second remaining. In game 5 Hrubec earned another shutout in the 2-0 win.

For Avangard, who won the Russian championship in 2004, this was the first KHL title.

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