Ufa Salavat must have been wondering if they would ever score a goal against Lokomotiv. However, seven minutes into the third period of Game 2 of the Russian League Finals, Konstantin Koltsov ended Ufa’s almost five and half period scoreless drought when he finally beat Yaroslavl goaltender Semen Varlamov, propelling Ufa to a 2-0 victory in Game 2 to square the Finals at one game a piece. Buoyed by Koltsov’s third tally of the tournament, Igor Volkov padded Ufa’s lead with his playoff leading ninth goal with only 2 minutes remaining in the final stanza.
Heading to Yaroslavl for Games 3 and 4 of the Finals (April 7 and 9), it is now the once-steaming Lokomotiv who have been blanked for over four periods, having not lit the lamp behind Ufa netminder Alexander Eremenko since approximately the eighteen minute mark of the second period of the Game 1. Nevertheless, Lokomotiv accomplished their goal of a split in Ufa, affording them the opportunity to capture the RSL title before their own crowd . . if they can score.