Playoff ramifications in battle between Neftekhimik & Sochi! Preview Jan 29

Avtomobilist and SKA continue to push for 1st overall in the KHL while Sibir desperately needs points for playoff qualification!

15:30 Sibir (21-28-4) vs. Barys (33-11-8)

About the game

- Sibir is coming into this contest having won its last game.

- Barys is also coming into this contest having won its last game.

- Sibir is playing the 1st of four straight home games.

- Barys is playing the 4th of four straight road games.

- Barys has defeated Sibir twice this season, 5-2 and 2-1 in OT.

- Bochenski has points in 3 straight games, going 3-1-4 over that span.

- Demidov has points in 4 straight games, going 1-5-6 over that span.

- Peltola has points in 3 straight games, going 2-1-3 over that span.

Injury list

- Sibir: Konstantin Alexeyev (expected to be out until April 30th), Samvel Mnatsyan

- Barys: Dominik Hrachovina

17:00 Metallurg (36-15-2) vs. SKA (41-6-5)

About the game

- Metallurg is coming into this contest on a 2-game winning streak.

- SKA is coming into this contest on a 4-game winning streak.

- Metallurg is playing the 4th of four straight home games.

- SKA is playing the 1st of four straight road games.

- It was a long time coming, but as of January 28th, 2019, SKA had finally overtaken CSKA for first place in the West.

- SKA defeated Metallurg earlier this season 2-1.

- Gusev has points in 4 straight games, going 0-9-9 over that span.

- Prokhorkin has points in 4 straight games, going 2-4-6 over that span.

- Belov has points in 4 straight games, going 3-1-4 over that span.

- Metallurg’s top line features three 40-point players, namely KHL legend Mozyakin (49), Ellison (43), and Rasmussen (41).

Injury list

- Metallurg: Viktor Antipin (expected to be out until January 30th)

- SKA: Patrik Hersley, Roman Rukavishnikov

Milestone alert

- Forward Pavel Datsyuk is hoping to collect his 100th career regular season KHL assist.

- Forward Alexei Byvaltsev is hoping to suit up for his 200th career regular season KHL game.

17:00 Salavat (29-18-8) vs. Jokerit (32-14-6)

About the game

- Salavat is coming into this contest fresh off a loss.

- Jokerit is coming into this contest fresh off a win.

- Salavat is playing the 1st of three straight home games.

- Jokerit is playing the 1st of seven straight road games.

- Salavat defeated Jokerit earlier this season by a tight score of 3-2.

- Manninen has points in 3 straight games, going 1-2-3 over that span.

- N. Jensen has points in 11 straight games, going 8-4-12 over that span.

Injury list

- Salavat: Pyotr Khokhryakov (expected to be out until February 1st)

- Jokerit: Max Warn

19:30 Ak Bars (34-15-4) vs. Avtomobilist (41-12-1)

About the game

- Ak Bars is coming into this contest having lost its last game.

- Avtomobilist is coming into this contest also having lost its last game.

- Ak Bars is playing the 2nd of two straight home games.

- Avtomobilist is playing the 3rd of three straight road games.

- Ak Bars has defeated Avtomobilist twice this season 4-3 and 3-1.

Injury list

- Ak Bars: Emil Garipov (expected to be out until February 5th)

- Avtomobilist: Vitali Popov, Yevgeni Chesalin, Stanislav Yegorshev, Alexander Kucheryavenko, Kirill Koltsov (expected to be out until February 27th), Mikhail Mamkin (expected to be out until February 27th)

Milestone alert

- Forward Andrei Popov is looking to suit up for his 600th career KHL game.

19:30 Neftekhimik (20-29-6) vs. Sochi (22-22-9)

About the game

- Neftekhimik is coming into this contest having won its last game.

- Sochi is coming into this contest having lost its last two games.

- Neftekhimik is playing the 3rd of three straight home games.

- Sochi is playing the 2nd of three straight road games.

- The two teams have faced each other three times this season. Neftekhimik won the first two games 3-2 and 1-0, but lost the third match 4-2.

Injury list

- Sochi: Dmitri Lugin, Nikita Shchitov, Oleg Pogorishny, Stepan Starkov, Nikita Tochitsky

Milestone alert

- Forward Ildar Shiksatdarov is looking to suit up for his 100th career KHL game.

- Defenseman Yuri Alexandrov is hoping to collect his 100th career regular season KHL point.