Avangard Omsk wins Game 1 of Gagarin Cup final 2-1 over Dynamo

Avangard Omsk claimed victory over in the first game of the Kontinental League Gagarin Cup final. Alexander Perezhogin netted the winning goal at 43:59, while the top point-scorer in the playoffs, Roman Cervenka, added another goal and an assist in his team’s 2-1 win.

Avangard launched the final stage of its Gagarin Cup campaign at a high tempo. Aided by a power play after just 26 seconds of action, the hosts had Dynamo on their heels early and it was little surprise when Cervenka opened the scoring in the fifth minute. The Czech forward got his 11th goal of the playoffs, beating Alexander Yeryomenko at the near post. Dynamo struggled to get into the game and even when Avangard found itself shorthanded the best opportunities continued to go to the home team.

After Leonid Komarov’s goal evened the score, Avangard regained the lead early in the third, with Perezhogin’s tally. That goal proved decisive: Dynamo’s offense sputtered, but never fired into life.

Game 2 of the final is in Omsk on Sunday.