Irkutsk Baikal Energy confidently started the playoff quarterfinal in Nizhny Novgorod, crushing Start 7 1. The match featured a quick goal, a brace by Alexander Egorychev, and complete control by the visitors, who did not let the hosts build on their success even after the reply goal. The return match of the first round will be held on March 10 in Irkutsk.

Irkutsk’s Baikal-Energiya played its quarterfinal in Nizhny Novgorod against Start and left the opponent not a single chance, winning 7:1.
Baikal-Energiya began its match with a quick goal. Barely had the minute hand made one turn from the start of the match when Alexander Egorychev, breaking through at the spearhead of the attack, literally crushed Start’s defense, shifted into the center, lightly brushing aside Start’s defenders with ease, and fired a powerful shot past the home goalkeeper.
Despite the early conceded goal, Start showed not the slightest trace of timidity before the favorite, immediately demonstrating enviable activity in attack, and by all appearances made it clear that it intended to seriously upset the Irkutsk side. And Start’s persistence was rewarded in the 7th minute, when the hosts equalized after a corner kick.
Start had possession for quite a lot of time, the Irkutsk team confidently played its game, fully controlled the situation on the ice, and by the middle of the half was leading again when Alexander Egorychev completed his brace. And at the end of the half, Baikal-Energiya lifted the mood even more for itself and its fans when it scored a third goal against the hosts and cemented its advantage. In that moment, Start’s defender, trying to block Timofey Beznosov’s path to goal, seemed to be doing everything right: he was literally glued to the Irkutsk forward, not even allowing him to wind up for a shot. And when more defensive players rushed over to help the Nizhny Novgorod side, and the moment seemed completely over, Timofey, effectively with his back to goal, managed to deliver a decisive strike with a sharp wrist shot.
After the break, Start tried to attack in greater numbers and, probably, the Nizhny Novgorod fans should have been satisfied with their team’s performance. Indeed, Start’s players worked very hard, with desire, moved a lot and well, and were frequent visitors near the edge of the Irkutsk penalty area.
The Irkutsk defense acted with utmost composure and gave the opponent no chances. Meanwhile, Baikal-Energiya continued to score after the break as well, demonstrating its superiority both in class and in this particular match. In the middle of the second half, Dmitry Loginov displayed excellent individual skill, leaving an entire group of Nizhny Novgorod defenders out of the game and confidently converting a one-on-one chance.
The timeout taken by Start’s coaching staff after the fourth conceded goal did not help the hosts. Just a couple of minutes later, a swift Irkutsk attack literally scattered the home defenders across their own penalty area, and the price of that defensive confusion was a penalty awarded against Start. Ilya Grachev converted from the spot with no chance for the opposing goalkeeper.
Baikal-Energiya’s play continued to flow smoothly, every visiting attack caused a real firestorm around Start’s area, and by the end of the match, fully in line with its content, B-E had made the score more than convincing. After the Irkutsk team’s well-worked attacks were finished off with accurate strikes by Dmitry Loginov and Mikhail Seledkov, the final whistle recorded Baikal-Energiya’s 7:1 victory.
The return match of the first playoff round will be played by the opponents on March 10 in Irkutsk.