Lev back in the driving seat

It's said you're not out of the championhip race until you lose at home. Lev has now recorded two wins - one at home and the other on the road in Game 1. Do we have the new KHL champion on the horizon?

Justin Azevedo scores his fourth goal of the series leading Lev to a narrow win as they recaptured the lead on the dramatic night in Prague.

Thoughout the season Azevedo's third-period tallies were crucial. After having snatched the winner he even had time to block Metallurg's final shot of the game securing the win. With less than a minute to go the score was tied 2:2, a minute earlier Francis Pare racked up the levelling goal, but at 59:36 Justin Azevedo was found dashing on the right side of the slot by Mikko Maenpaa, who had intercepted a pass by Yaroslav Khabarov in the neutral zone, and the Czechs found a way to punish the sloppy play. Without much though, on a one-timer, Azevedo sends the winner high into the net sending the crowd in O2 Arena into trance.

Mikko Maenpaa, together with Justin Azevedo had collected two points on the night - Azevedo scored twice, Maenpaa was on both assists.

Only 1:25 into the game Jiri Sekac opens the scoring  after a wrap around and a shot from the right post hits Vladimir Malenkikh and ricochetes into the net.

Two minutes later a 4-on-4 situation and Metallurg eager to get back at their counterpart. Jan Kovar takes the puck to the net, fires a low, chip shot though Petri Vehanen somehow finds a way to bounce it into the post and the defence manage to clear.

Second period, few minutes after the halfway mark, Mikhail Yunkov steals the puck at the boards in the Lev zone, produces a quick feed for Francis Pare in the middle, but his backdoor effort misses the net wide.

It wasn't until late in the second that Sergei Mozyakin was able to level things up. A powerplay tally from the high slot, an accurate blast wrister sends the puck high into the left of Vehanen's net, who could only stand there and watch helplessly.

Sergei Mozyakin added an assist on Metallurg's second score when Francis Pare tied the game two minutes shy of the end of regulation.

Midway through the third frame Justin Azevedo scores his first of the night, and eighth in the playoffs on the powerplay, lifting the Czechs to a new lead.

In spite, Lev never got to a larger margin, similar to what the score looked like in the first two games of the series.

Metallurg were extremely dangerous on all of their four powerplay occasions, especially when Martin Sevc was serving his time for hooking. 7 minutes prior to the end Sergei Mozyakin and Danis Zaripov both had chances on the left, but Petri Vehanen kept his head cool. Everyone knew this special teams' play could be crucial - and it proved to be in the end.

Metallurg won't have many chances if they lose two in a row and fall behind 3-1. Anything can happen, especially with the series moving back to Magnitogorsk, but it would become extremely tough. Especially as Lev found a formula to defend tight and close the gaps with solid defense. A huge lead would only boost their confidence.

Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday, April 24 in Prague at 19:00 CET, 21:00 MSK.

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