Saturday playoff hockey

The two series starters plus the other two series played this morning our time. Salavat Yulaev continued hot with a 6-2 win over Neftekhimik. A 1-0 deficit was erased by two Salavat goals in 13 seconds, and the goalie for Neftekhimik was chased after allowing 3 goals in just 7 shot in the first period. Salavat has won the last two games 14-3.

Ak Bars blanks Metallurg 4-0 in their openner, with Alexi Morozov picking up a natural hat trick and Niko Kapanen setting up two.

MVD takes a 2-0 series lead with a 2-0 with over Riga. Goalie Michael Garnett had to make only 19 saves against an anemic Latvian attack.

Lokomotiv for the second time in the playoffs got a late goal to send a match into OT only to lose, as Stefan Ruzicka scored after 17:34 of OT to give Spartak the 3-2 win and a 1-1 series tie. Dmitrij Kotschnew, who was named top goalie of the first playoff round earlier in the week, turned aside 40 shots in the nearly 4 periods of work for Spartak.

Salavat/Neftekhimik and Ak Bars/Metallurg play game two tomorrow, with the other two series play game three on Monday.