Avangard Omsk has the edge over Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL playoffs because the team was able to rest in between series, Avangard defenseman Martin Skoula told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.
Avangard completed a 4-0 series win over Amur Khabarovsk on March 5 to reach the Eastern Conference semifinals, while Metallurg’s series with Barys Astana went to a decider six days later.
“The series is two weeks and in the long run it’s a plus for us that we rested after the first series and they didn’t,” he said.
The advantage would begin to tell later in the series, which starts Wendesday, Skoula said.
“Not maybe the first two games, but later on, the third, fourth, fifth games, I think we should have more energy.”
Metallurg beat Avangard 4-3 at the same stage of the playoffs last season, and Skoula said this would add extra motivation to the tie. “For sure, and these two teams have history even before last year’s playoffs. It’s going to be a great series.”
The Czech, 32, played 11 seasons in the NHL, lifting the Stanley Cup in his second of five seasons with the Colorado Avalanche.
He left the New Jersey Devils in 2010 and joined Avangard, where he has played 120 KHL games, scoring five goals and racking up 35 assists.
