After two games in Moscow the series moved not far away, to Balashikha, where Avangard temporarily resides. The biggest change in the CSKA lineup was Alexander Popov playing with leading forwards Konstantin Okulov and Maxim Shalunov. In this line he replaced Maxim Mamin who got injured in the previous game.
CSKA started actively as always but Avangard was able to hold, and then the home team started to create attacks in CSKA's zone. Avangard opened the score in the first period - Boucher get the rebound in front of the net and sent the puck home. CSKA fired back soon. The best line of this playoffs scored even in Mamin's abscence - Popov made a great no look pass to Okulov, who easily scored.
Tonight Avangard had more power play than its opponent but struggled to make advantage from it. CSKA was defending very well and didn't forget about attacking. In the third period Maxim Shalunov scored his seventh gamewinner in this playoffs. Avangard goalie Hrubec made a mistake in this episode and couldn't react to the shot. Avangard tried to play 6 on 5 in the end, but it didn't work. 2:1 - CSKA wins and moves ahead in the series.
