Danny Markov scored the overtime winner for Metallurg Magnitogorsk to edge out Barys Astana 2-1 in a playoff decider Sunday and become the final team to reach the KHL conference semifinals.
The win completed Metallurg’s comeback from 3-1 down in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series to win 4-3, which the Siberian team managed with a hat-trick of overtime wins.
Metallurg will now play Avangard Omsk, who swept Amur Khabarovsk aside 4-0 in their quarterfinal series.
Forward Sergey Mozyakin gave Metallurg the lead after six minutes of the first period from a long pass by Maxim Sushinsky.
Barys fought back, leveling the scores on 28 minutes when left wing Lukas Kaspar scored on a power play.
During the three periods, Metallurg recorded 37 shots and Barys 38, but the scores remained level at 1-1.
It was ex-Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Danny Markov who broke the deadlock one minute and 42 seconds into overtime, scoring from Alexey Mikhnov’s assist.
Metallurg starts its series with Avangard on Wednesday, while Tuesday sees Western Conference semifinal openers between SKA St. Petersburg and Atlant Moscow Region, and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod against Dynamo Minsk.
