AK Bars Kazan win second Gagarin Cup

KAZAN, RUSSIA – AK Bars Kazan successfully defended their Gagarin Cup crown in an epic seven game series against HC MVD, winning the decisive final game 2-0.
 
Bars had taken a 2-0 lead in the series, only for Moscow based MVD to fight back to take an unlikely 3-2 lead in the series! After Bars emphatic 7-1 victory in game 6, it came down to a winner take all clash in Kazan on Tuesday night.
 
After a scoreless opening period, Nikita Alexeyev grabbed a goal early in the 2^nd to give the home side a slender lead. Former NHLer Niko Kapanen added a second late in the period to give Bars a 2-0 cushion going in to the final frame.
 
Despite being out shot 30-17 by the visitors, Bars held firm and netminder Petri Vehanen put in a superb performance when it mattered most to help his side to their second Gagarin Cup title. Bars defenceman Ilya Nikulin was also voted the MVP for the Gagarin Cup play-offs following the game.
 
“Unlike previous games in Balashikha, we played more confidently and after scoring two goals, didn’t relax, and drove to victory,” Ak Bars coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov said.  “I think that the second championship was harder, because throughout the season opponents did not give us an easy time.  I liked the taste of champagne after the victory.  It was sweeter than last year.”
 
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com