CSKA faces Traktor trying to rebound back, Game #500 for Andrei Razin!
The Muscovites will try to rehabilitate themselves after a sensational 0:7 home loss to Metallurg on Thursday, while the matchday sees plenty of action in both conferences. Six games are on tap on an exciting KHL Saturday!
Avangard continues its tournament journey with significant rough patches. Even a two-goal lead during the previous game against Lokomotiv couldn’t save the Hawks from yet another defeat (3:5). This marked their eighth loss in twelve games, causing them to drop out of the Eastern Conference playoff zone. Barys, meanwhile, sits at the bottom of the Conference with only two wins in ten games. The visitors are currently on a three-game losing streak, the latest being a 2:4 defeat against Spartak in Moscow. The team continues to restructure its roster, with their latest signing being defenseman Alex Grant, who already lined up for Barys last season.
Then, Lada will kick off a three-game home series after a road loss to Neftekhimik (2:3 SO). Oleg Bratash’s team has only three wins in eleven games this season and sits outside the Eastern Conference playoff zone. Admiral is currently three points ahead of Lada, holding the coveted eighth spot, but they risk losing that position due to a three-game losing streak. In their most recent game, the Sailors failed to score against HC Sochi (0:5). Recently, Admiral signed forward Nikita Soshnikov to a season-long contract; he previously played for Traktor. They also made a trade with Neftekhimik, sending forward Sergei Shmelyov to Nizhnekamsk in exchange for Dmitry Sokolov.
The stakes will be higher for the game in Yekaterinburg, where Avtomobilist hosts Sibir. This season, the teams have already faced each other twice, with both games going to the Motormen (4:0, 4:2). Since the latest matchup, Sibir played against Avangard (2:3), while the Urals team lost to Ak Bars (2:6) and Lokomotiv (0:1 OT). Despite these setbacks, Nikolai Zavarukhin’s team, who previously coached the Novosibirsk club, remains in the top three of the Eastern Conference, with Sibir trailing by four points.
The action then moves to the Western Conference. SKA will aim to replicate its success over Severstal, which they achieved a week earlier in St. Petersburg (8:5). After that game, SKA suffered a home loss to Kunlun Red Star (4:5) but bounced back with a commanding victory over Dinamo Minsk on the road (3:0). Severstal, meanwhile, has also played two matches since their game in the Russian Northern Capital. The Cherepovets side won against Dinamo Minsk on the road (3:2) but then failed to score against HC Sochi (0:1). In the Western Conference standings, SKA has temporarily entered the top three, leading Severstal by three points.
Two games are scheduled in Moscow, with Spartak hosting Metallurg and CSKA welcoming Traktor. The first meeting between Spartak and Magnitka took place on Sept. 25 in Magnitogorsk, ending with a Spartak victory (4:3). Since then, the Red-and-Whites have played three more games, earning points in each one. Metallurg has had a rather lackluster start to the season and is currently eighth in the East, but the reigning Gagarin Cup champion showcased its full strength in the last game, demolishing CSKA in Moscow (7:0). Can they repeat something similar against another Moscow club? The game in Moscow will be the 500th KHL match as a coach for the visiting team’s head coach, Andrei Razin.
In its last game, CSKA endured one of its most painful defeats in recent seasons, losing comprehensively on home ice to Metallurg (0:7). The team will seek revenge in a game against another team from the Ural region. Traktor will conclude its three-game road trip, and Benoit Groulx’s team is riding a three-game winning streak. In Moscow, the visitors have already defeated both Spartak (3:2 SO) and Dynamo (4:1). Will Traktor manage to conquer the third Moscow team in the KHL as well?
14:00: Avangard (4-7-1, 9th E) vs Barys (2-9-1, 12th E)
About the game
Avangard ends a three-game home series following a loss to Lokomotiv on Thursday (3:5).
Barys is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost its previous three matches.
The Hawks won their previous seven home games against Barys.
Injury list
Avangard: Mikhail Berdin, Vladimir Tkachyov.
Barys: Batyrlan Muratov, Ruslan Ospanov, C.J. Smith.
Milestone alert
Barys’ defenseman Tamirlan Gaitamirov may line up for his 100th KHL game.
14:30: Lada (3-6-2, 10th E) vs Admiral (5-4-1, 8th E)
About the game
Lada starts a three-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Admiral is in the middle of a five-game road trip and lost its previous three matches.
Lada’s forward Nikita Popugayev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Lada: Dmitry Kugryshev, Danila Moiseyev.
Admiral: Vyacheslav Osnovin.
Milestone alert
Admiral’s defenseman Libor Sulak may score his 100th KHL point (currently at 98).
15:00: Avtomobilist (7-3-2, 2nd E) vs Sibir (6-5-0, 5th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist, who has already defeated Sibir twice this season (4:0, 4:2), enters the third game of a four-match home series after losing a couple of games.
Sibir enters the second game of a five-match road trip also on a two-game losing streak.
Sibir’s defenseman Trevor Murphy is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 12 (2+10) points over that span.
Sibir’s forward Taylor Beck is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Sibir’s forward Vladimir Butuzov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Curtis Valk.
Sibir: Dmitry Ovchinnikov.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Vladimir Butuzov may net his 100th league tally (currently at 99).
17:00: Severstal (6-6-0, 7th W) vs SKA (7-3-1, 3rd W)
About the game
Severstal starts a three-game home series following a loss to HC Sochi on Tuesday (0:1).
SKA, who has already defeated Severstal this season (8:5), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and has defeated Dinamo Minsk on Thursday (3:0).
SKA’s goalie Artemy Pleshkov is on a 60:32 shutout streak.
SKA’s forward Valentin Zykov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points over that span.
SKA’s defenseman Danila Galenyuk had an assist in each of his previous four games.
Injury list
SKA: Artyom Zemchyonok.
17:00: Spartak (8-1-2, 2nd W) vs Metallurg (5-7-0, 8th E)
About the game
Spartak, who has already defeated Metallurg this season (4:3), enters the fourth game of a six-match home series following a win over Barys on Thursday (4:2).
Metallurg ends a two-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Metallurg’s goalie Ilya Nabokov is on a 61:56 shutout streak.
Metallurg’s forward Alexander Petunin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Spartak: Daniil Ivanov.
Metallurg: Artyom Minulin.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s forward Ansel Galimov may score his 200th league point (currently at 199).
Metallurg’s forward Luke Johnson lines up for his 100th KHL appearance.
17:00: CSKA (6-3-3, 4th W) vs Traktor (7-2-2, 3rd E)
About the game
CSKA enters the second game of a four-match home series after a loss to Metallurg on Thursday (0:7).
Traktor ends a three-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
Traktor’s forward Maxim Shabanov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
Injury list
CSKA: Colby Williams.
Traktor: Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Dylan Sikura.
