CSKA entered the fourth game of the series against Avangard with a 0-3 deficit, leaving no room for error. Rhett Gardner and Vitaly Abramov returned to our lineup, while Tahir Mingachev and Alexei Churkin were left out. The Army Men started the first period, as they had in the previous game, very actively. They managed to create several dangerous moments, and eventually the pressure told. The scenario from Game 3 was repeated, with Pavel Karnaukhov opening the scoring. Once again, the captain made a brilliant play on a pass in front of the net, this time to Jeremy Roy, who attacked from the blue line. Gradually, the visitors began to penetrate our zone more often and, closer to the break, managed to tie the game. Defenseman Marsel Ibragimov fired a powerful shot from long range, and the puck bounced into Gamzin's net. In the second period, CSKA gradually improved its play and finally found its chance. After Prokhor Poltapov's shot, the puck ricocheted and soared into the air. The Avangard goalie and defenseman lost track of it, but Maxim Sorkin remained focused – 2-1. CSKA scored again in the third period. Nikita Nesterov started the attack with a long pass, Poltapov passed it to Abramov on the wing and then went to the net. Vitaly was able to return the puck to his teammate, who increased the lead. Avangard scrambled to save the game, the Omsk team was shooting a lot, and Gamzin and our entire defense had plenty of work to do. A few minutes before the end of the third period, the visitors sent on a sixth skater. It didn't help. The Army Men took the first game of the series and returned the showdown to Omsk. The teams will meet again on April 16.