Karsums, Martins

Kval till Elitserien
Sodertalje 3 @ MODO 2(SO)
Riku Helenius, Sodertalje, DNP
Season totals: 18 GP, 4-11-0, 0 SO, 3.03 GAA, .884 sv%
Kval till Elitserien totals: 0 GP, 0-0-0, 0 SO, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 sv%

Julian Jacobsen scored a goal and had the shootout winner to lead Sodertalje to a 3-2 shootout win over MODO in the first game of the ten game promotion/relegation round. Sodertalje and 5 other clubs from the Elitserien and Allsvenskan will battle for two spots in the top league next year. Because its victory was not in regulation, Sodertalje only earned 2 points of a possible 3 for the win.

KHL Western Conference Semifinals
(7)Dynamo Riga 2 @ (1)Yaroslavl 6
Yaroslavl Leads the Series 3-1
Martins Karsums, Dynamo Riga, 0-0-0, +1, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Season totals: 52 GP, 17-15-32, -3, 46 PIM
Playoff totals: 10 GP, 1-2-3, E, 8 PIM

The end may be near for Martins Karsums and Riga. The forward was scoreless in 13:11 in Riga's Game Four blowout loss to Yaroslavl. Ex-NHLers Karel Rachunek and Pavol Demitra each had 1 goal and 1 assist for Lokomotiv to help stake the club to a 3-1 series lead.

KHL Western Conference Semifinals
(7)Dynamo Riga 4 @ (1)Yaroslavl 8
Yaroslavl Leads the Series 2-1
Martins Karsums, Dynamo Riga, 0-0-0, -3, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Season totals: 52 GP, 17-15-32, -3, 46 PIM
Playoff totals: 9 GP, 1-2-3, -1, 8 PIM

Ex-NHL defenseman Daniel Tjarnqvist had a hat trick to lead Yaroslavl to a critical Game Three 8-4 drubbing of Riga. Yaroslavl pulled into a 2-1 lead in the series. Ex-NHLers Karel Rachunek and Pavol Demitra also chipped in 1 goal and 1 assist each for Lokomotiv. Martins Karsums was -3 in 15:09 in the match.

KHL Western Conference Semifinals
(1)Yaroslavl 3 @ (7)Dynamo Riga 5
Series Tied at 1-1
Martins Karsums, Dynamo Riga, 1-0-1, E, 2 PIM, 3 SOG
Season totals: 52 GP, 17-15-32, -3, 46 PIM
Playoff totals: 8 GP, 1-2-3, +2, 8 PIM

Martins Karsums scored a late insurance goal and took a minus for interference in Riga's 5-3 Game Two victory over Yaroslavl. Karsums played 17:41 in the match. Ex-NHLer Alexander Korolyuk had a pair of assists in the defeat for Lokomotiv.

KHL Western Conference Semifinals
(1)Yaroslavl 4 @ (7)Dynamo Riga 2
Yaroslavl Leads the Series 1-0
Martins Karsums, Dynamo Riga, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Season totals: 52 GP, 17-15-32, -3, 46 PIM
Playoff totals: 7 GP, 0-2-2, +1, 6 PIM

Ex-NHLers Karel Rachunek and Josef Vasicek each had 1 goal and 1 assist to lead Yaroslavl to a 4-2 Game One victory over Dynamo Riga. Ex-Lightning forward Robert Petrovicky had a goal in the match for Riga.

Elitserien Regular Season
Sodertalje 5 @ Timra 3
Riku Helenius, Sodertalje, DNP
Season totals: 18 GP, 4-11-0, 0 SO, 3.03 GAA, .884 sv%

Ex-Avs pick Linus Videll had 1 goal and 3 assists to lead Sodertalje to a critical 5-3 win over Timra. With 1 game remaining in the regular season, Sodertalje now sits in 9th in the Elitserien, just 2 points back of AIK for the last playoff spot in the league. On the flip side, they hold a scant 1 point lead over MODO and Timra, who would be ticketed for the promotion/relegation round if the season ended now. 8th place AIK finishes their season against 11th place MODO, 10th place Frolunda draws 4th place Lulea, and 12th place Timra finishes against 6th place Djurgardens, so Sodertalje has the hardest draw of the final round of games on Saturday with 2nd place HV 71.

For Sodertalje to make the playoffs, AIK must lose in regulation to MODO, Sodertalje must defeat HV 71 in regulation, and Sodertalje's goal differential must be equal to or better than Frolunda's in the final game. Also, only a regulation win guarantees Sodertalje will not have to face the promotion/relegation round. They will lose any tiebreaker with MODO or Timra on goal differential.

KHL Western Conference Quarterfinals
(7)Dynamo Riga 2 @ (2)Dynamo Moscow 1 (OT)
Dynamo Riga Wins the Series 4-2
Martins Karsums, Dynamo Riga, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Season totals: 52 GP, 17-15-32, -3, 46 PIM
Playoff totals: 6 GP, 0-2-2, +1, 6 PIM

Janis Sprukts scored 15:01 into overtime to lead Dynamo Riga to a 2-1 Game Six victory over Dynamo Moscow and an upset 4-2 series win. Riga moves on and will play either Yaroslavl or Mytischi in the second round.

(5)Cherepovets 0 @ (4)Mytischi 1
Mytischi Wins the Series 4-2
Vasily Koshechkin, Cherepovets, Loss, 38/39, 1.00 GAA, .974 sv%
Season totals: 32 GP, 18-14-0, 2 SO, 2.92 GAA, .906 sv%
Playoff totals: 6 GP, 2-3-1, 0 SO, 2.20 GAA, .946 sv%

Vasya the Cat deserved better. The big netminder stopped 38 of 39 shots he faced, but a goal by ex-Jackets draft pick Sergei Mozyakin was all Mytischi needed to take down Cherepovets 1-0 in Game Six and secure a 4-2 series win. Koshechkin performed brilliantly despite facing an average of 37 shots per game in the series. His KHL contract expires this offseason and the rules of the CBA may be conducive to the Lightning signing the former 2002 8th rounder, but for now Koshechkin's next focus may be a potential World Championships spot with Team Russia.