Dynamo Minsk and Dynamo Moscow clash in historic Gagarin Cup showdown
Minsk's Dynamo will take on Moscow's Dynamo in the first round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs. The best-of-seven series kicks off with two home games in Minsk on March 24 and 26. This marks the first time the two teams have faced each other in the KHL postseason.
Minsk's Dynamo enters the playoffs as the second-placed team in the Western Conference. They closed the regular season strongly, defeating Avtomobilist 8–2 in their final match. During the regular campaign, they won three of four meetings against Moscow's Dynamo.
The series will then shift to Moscow for games on March 28 and 30. If needed, the teams will return to Minsk for further matches. Historically, the two sides have met twice in the Round of 16, with Minsk losing both series. Last season, Minsk's Dynamo advanced past the first round by beating CSKA 4–2. However, their playoff run ended in the second round with a 1–4 loss to Traktor.
The upcoming series will be the first Gagarin Cup playoff meeting between Dynamo Minsk and Dynamo Moscow. Minsk holds a recent regular-season advantage but faces a tough challenge in the postseason. The winner will advance to the next round of the KHL playoffs.
