European Leagues

KHL Eastern Conference Finals
(3)Kazan 3 @ (1)Yulaev 2 (OT)
Kazan Leads the Series 3-0
Dmitri Kazionov, Kazan, 0-0-0, +1, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Season totals: 52 GP, 18-9-27, +8, 18 PIM
Playoff totals: 12 GP, 3-1-4, +6, 8 PIM

Former Lightning first round pick Nikita Alexeev scored a game winning goal 8:51 into overtime to put Kazan within one win of the KHL Finals, helping Ak Bars defeat Yulaev 3-2 in Game Three of their Eastern Conference Finals series. Kazan scored a pair of third period goals to force overtime after Yulaev led 2-0 throuigh 40 minutes on a pair of markers by former NHLer Viktor Kozlov. Lightning prospect Dmitri Kazionov played 22:06 in the match.

In the Western Conference, Yaroslavl tied up their series with KHK MVD 2-2 after winning 6-1 today in Game Four. Kazan will attempt to complete the sweep at Yulaev tomorrow.

Kval till Elitserien
Sodertalje 4 @ Almtuna 3 (OT)
Riku Helenius, Sodertalje, Win, 23/26, 2.83 GAA, .885 sv%
Season totals: 9 GP, 4-2-2, 0 SO, 2.42 GAA, .923 sv%
Playoff totals: 7 GP, 6-1-0, 1 SO, 2.82 GAA, .898 sv%

Former Oilers draft pick Jonas Almtorp scored an overtime game winning goal to help lead Sodeertalje over Allsvenskan side Almtuna in their seventh game of the promotion/relegation series. Despite only losing a single game in the entire Kval till Elitserien, Lightning prospect Riku Helenius has seen his save percentage dip below .900 after a pair of subpar starts.

Sodertalje improved its overall record to 6-1-0, and holds a 7 point lead over 3rd place Leksands with 3 games remaining. The top two teams in the series will earn spots in the Elitserien, Sweden's top division, and wins is Sweden count for 3 points each. So, Sodertalje can clinch its spot in the top division with 1 more victory. Sodertalje faces Leksands on Tuesday.

Eastern Conference Finals
(1)Yulaev 1 @ (3)Kazan 2 (OT)
Kazan Leads the Series 2-0
Dmitri Kazionov, Kazan, 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM, 2 SOG
Season totals: 52 GP, 18-9-27, +8, 18 PIM
Playoff totals: 11 GP, 3-1-4, +5, 8 PIM

Hannes Hyvonen scored 4:23 into overtime to lift Kazan to a 2-1 Game Two victory over top seed Yulaev and a 2-0 series lead in the KHL Eastern Conference Finals. Yulaev needed a goal with 15 seconds left in regulation by Valdimir Antipov just to force overtime, but their celebration was short lived. Kazan's other goal came from ex-Thrashers draft pick Ilya Nikulin. Lightning prospect Dmitri Kazionov played 20:36 in the match and took a first period minor penalty for high sticking.

Game Three between Yulaev and Kazan is Monday. Tomorrow is Game Three in the Western Conference between KHK MVD and Yaroslavl with that series deadlocked at 1-1.

Kval till Elitserien
Sodertalje 7 @ Vaxjo 4
Riku Helenius, Sodertalje, Win, 29/33, 4.00 GAA, .879 sv%
Season totals: 9 GP, 4-2-2, 0 SO, 2.42 GAA, .923 sv%
Playoff totals: 5 GP, 5-0-0, 1 SO, 2.00 GAA, .926 sv%

At the halfway point of Sweden's promotion/relegation series, Riku Helenius remains an undefeated 5-0-0 despite allowing 4 goals today to Vaxjo Lakers. Helenius has a 7 game personal winning streak extending all the way back into the Elitserien regular season. His last loss was on March 4th against Frolunda and former Lightning netminder and Bolt Prospects alumni Johan Holmqvist. Ex-Avs draft pick Linus Videll led the scoring for Sodertalje with 2 goals and 3 assists in the match.

Sodertalje's next game is on Friday in a rematch against Vaxjo. The club is in first place on the Kval till Elitserien table with an 8 point lead on 3rd place AIK. The top two teams earn their spot in the Elitserien for next season, and wins in Sweden count for 3 points in the standings.

KHL Eastern Conference Semifinals
(3)Kazan 3 @ (2)Magnitogorsk 1
Kazan Wins the Series 4-2
Dmitri Kazionov, Kazan, 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM, 0 SOG
Season totals: 52 GP, 18-9-27, +7, 18 PIM
Playoff totals: 9 GP, 1-1-2, +4, 6 PIM

Vasily Koshechkin, Magnitogorsk, Loss, 23/26, 3.00 GAA, .885 sv%
Season totals: 49 GP, 25-16-8, 8 SO, 1.96 GAA, .927 sv%
Playoff totals: 9 GP, 5-4, 1 SO, 2.02 GAA, .930 sv%

Happy trails to Vasily Koshechkin and Magnitogorsk. Alexei Badyukov had a pair of goals in Kazan's 3-1 Game Six victory to eliminate Metallurg from the Eastern Conference Semifinal series. Lightning prospect Dmitri Kazionov played 17:06 in the match and took a second period minor for slashing. The Lightning are reportedly interested in signing Koshechkin, whose season is now complete.

Kazionov and Kazan advances to face top seeded Yulaev in the Eastern Conference Finals after Yulaev defeated Nizhnekamsk 2-1 today to seal a six game semifinal series victory. In the Western Conference, KHK MVD will face Yaroslavl.