KHL Western Conference Quarterfinal: 3) Dynamo Moscow VS. 6) Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod

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 Dynamo Moscow and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

Game 1: VTB Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Mikhail Biryukov for Torpedo and Alexander Yeryomenko for Dynamo. The game went into double overtime before Maxim Karpov scored for Dynamo, with the help of Lukas Kaspar to seal the 1-0 win. The three stars were Yeryomenko (33 save shutout), Karpov, and Biryukov (48 for 49 in saves). Dynamo leads 1-0 in the series.

Game 2: VTB Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Mikhail Biryukov for Torpedo and Alexander Yeryomenko for Dynamo. Moscow opened in the first period with an Artyom Fyodorov power play goal, powered by Alexei Tsvetkov and Dmitry Vishnevsky. Dynamo added on with a Juuso Hietanen power play goal, with assists provided by Martins Karsums and Lukas Kaspar. Nizhny Novgorod got on the board in the second period with an Evgeny Mozer goal, helped along by Maxim Osipov and Artyom Alyayev. Torpedo tied it on an Alexander Frolov power play goal, courtesy of Sam Lofquist and Kaspars Daugavins. Moscow won 3-2 in overtime with an unassisted goal by Andrei Kuteikin. The three stars were Kuteikin, Hietanen, and Fyodorov. Dynamo travels with a 2-0 series lead after the pair of overtime wins.

Game 3: Trade Union Sport Palace, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. In goal: Alexander Yeryomenko for Dynamo and Ilya Proskuryakov for Torpedo. Nizhny Novgorod got going in the second period with a Kaspars Daugavins goal, passed from John Norman and Dmitry Semin. Torpedo added on with a Norman goal, assisted by Semin and Evgeny Grachyov. Moscow got on the board with an Artyom Podshendyalov goal, via Ilya Nikulin and Andrei Mironov. Dynamo tied it on an Alexei Tereshchenko goal, coming off of Dmitry Vishnevsky. Moscow took the lead with a Nikulin goal, guided in by Juuso Hietanen and Tereshchenko. Nizhny Novgorod retied it with another Norman goal, courtesy of Daugavins and Semin, the latter earning a sock trick. Torpedo won 4-3 in overtime with an unassisted Brandon McMillan goal. The three stars went to Norman, Semin, and Daugavins, while Nikulin and Tereshchenko get the honorable mentions. Torpedo cut Dynamo's series lead to 2-1 in the closest series in the west.

Game 4: Trade Union Sport Palace, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. In goal: Alexander Yeryomenko for Dynamo and Ilya Proskuryakov for Torpedo. Nizhny Novgorod started in the first period with a Vladimir Galuzin goal, going in unassisted. Torpedo added on in the second period with an Evgeny Mozer power play goal, powered by Galuzin and Dmitry Semin. Moscow got on the board with an Ivan Igumnov goal, made possible by Daniil Tarasov and Yakov Rylov. Dynamo tied it in the third period with an unassisted Tarasov goal. Moscow won 3-2 in overtime with a Maxim Karpov goal, also unassisted. The three stars went to Tarasov, Karpov, and Galuzin. Dynamo leads the series 3-1 as they return home in two days. 

Game 5: VTB Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia. In goal: Mikhail Biryukov for Torpedo and Alexander Yeryomenko for Dynamo. Moscow struck first in the first period with a Yakov Rylov goal, assisted by Alexei Tsvetkov and Artyom Fyodorov. Dynamo added on with a Fyodorov power play goal in the second period, powered by Tsvetkov. Nizhny Novgorod got on the board with a Kirill Urakov goal, coming off of Vyacheslav Kulyomin and Kirill Rasskazov. Moscow won 3-1 with an Alexei Tereshchenko empty net goal, set up by Andrei Kuteikin. The three stars went to Fyodorov, Tsvetkov, and Yeryomenko (18 for 19 in saves). Dynamo win the series 4-1, confirming the Western Conference Semifinals to be CSKA v. Lokomotiv and SKA v. Dynamo.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.