KHL playoffs: AK Bars double lead over Metallurg

Gagarin Cup holders AK Bars will enter two home matches in the KHL playoff quarter-finals with a comfortable 2-0 lead, after winning both away games in their best-of-seven series against Metallurg.

It was a back-and-fourth second match in Magnitogorsk, with Stanislav Chistov tying the game at two-all for the hosts with six minutes to go.

Yet AK Bars and Russia captain Aleksey Morozov was there to convert the powerplay and net the winner with less than two minutes from time. AK Bars walked away with a 3-2 win, meaning two wins to zero in the series.

The series now move to Kazan, where AK Bars will look to make good use of the home ice advantage and seal the series with another two wins.

Salavat Yulaev 1-2 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk

It is all square in the other Eastern Conference series after Neftekhimik pulled back level thanks to an overtime win against regular season champions Salavat Yulaev.

Tomasz Starosta hit a one-timer at a tight angle to open the scoring for Neftekhimik in their first attack midway through the first period, but Igor Grigorenko equalized for the home side five minutes into the second.

No more goals followed and so it went into overtime, where Maksim Yakutsenya resolved matters in favor of Neftekhimik after 21 minutes of extra play.

The sides are now level at one-all in their series.