KHL Western Conference Quarterfinal: 1) CSKA Moscow VS. Jokerit Helsinki

The KHL playoffs are back, and we'll return to the old series-post format. Here's the first game of the Western Conference Quarterfinal between CSKA Moscow and Jokerit Helsinki.

Game 1: CSKA Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Ryan Zapolski of Jokerit and Ilya Sorokin of CSKA. Moscow began in the first period with a Bogdan Kiselevich power play goal, powered by Stephane Da Costa. CSKA added on with a Greg Scott goal, passed from Geoff Platt and Jan Mursak. Helsinki got on the board in the second period with an Antti Pihlstrom goal, fueled by Marko Anttila and Arturs Kulda. Moscow answered with a Kiselevich goal, his second of the game, via Scott. Jokerit replied in the third period with a Ville Lajunen goal, courtesy of Jesper Jensen. CSKA iced it at 4-2 with a Vladimir Zharkov empty net goal, set up by Grigory Panin and Ivan Telegin. The three stars were Kiselevich, Scott, and Zharkov. CSKA leads the series 1-0.

Game 2: CSKA Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Ryan Zapolski of Jokerit and Ilya Sorokin of CSKA. Moscow got going in the second period with a Maxim Mamin goal, assisted by Valery Nichushkin. Helsinki tied it in the third period on a Tommi Huhtala goal, via Charles Genoway. CSKA won 2-1 in overtime with a Sergei Andronov goal, passed from Vladimir Zharkov and Igor Ozhiganov. The three stars went to Andronov, Sorokin (18 for 19 in saves), and Mamin. CSKA head out of the country leading the series 2-0.

Game 3: Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland. In goal: Ryan Zapolski for Jokerit and Ilya Sorokin for CSKA. Moscow led off in the first period with a Stephane Da Costa goal, passed from Artyom Sergeyev and Maxim Mamin. CSKA added on with a Mamin goal in the second period, assisted by Bogdan Kiselevich and Da Costa. Helsinki got on the board with a Brian O'Neill power play goal, powered by Topi Jaakola and Peter Regin. Jokerit tied it in the third period with a Tommi Huhtala goal, guided in by Petteri Wirtanen and Jesper Jensen. Moscow took the lead back with a power play goal by Alexander Popov, with assists provided by Valery Nichushkin and Kiselevich. Helsinki retied it on a Ville Lajunen power play goal, made possible by O'Neill and Jaakola. CSKA won 4-3 in overtime with a Jan Mursak goal, fueled by Kirill Petrov and Grigory Panin. The three stars were Mamin, Da Costa, and O'Neill, while Kiselevich and Jaakola get the honorable mentions. CSKA is on the brink of advancing with a 3-0 series lead. 

Game 4: Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland. In goal: Ryan Zapolski for Jokerit and Ilya Sorokin for CSKA. Moscow won 1-0 in overtime with a Geoff Platt goal, assisted by Mikhail Naumenkov and Vladimir Zharkov. The three stars were Platt, Sorokin (25 save shutout), and Zapolski (39 for 40 in saves). CSKA sweeps the series 4-0, sending themselves into the Western Conference Semifinals.