Crucial battle in Magnitogorsk where Metallurg hosts Neftekhimik

Salavat can secure at least the 6th playoff seed in the Eastern Conference if defeats Barys today AND Metallurg should lose to Neftekhimik in regulation time, but Barys hasn’t done all that much losing in recent weeks. And Metallurg has a 2-game winning streak that it thoroughly intends to continue against Neftekhimik.

16:30: Barys (36-15-8) vs Salavat (28-21-10)

About the game

Barys is playing the 3rd of three straight home games.

Salavat is playing the 1st of three straight road games.

Barys is coming into this contest having lost its last game in OT.

Salavat is coming into this contest fresh off a victory.

Barys has defeated Salavat twice this season by scores of 2-1 and 5-3, but also lost to them once by a score of 5-2.

This is the last home game of the regular season for Barys.

Metsola pitched a shutout in his last outing.

Injury list

Barys: Roman Starchenko

Salavat: Pyotr Khokhryakov, Alexei Kruchinin, Stanislav Gareyev

Milestone alert

Defensemen Atta Ohtamaa is hoping to suit up for his 300th career KHL game (currently at 299).

Defenseman and Salavat Captain Grigori Panin is hoping to suit up for his 600th career KHL game (currently at 599).

17:00: Metallurg (27-23-8) vs Neftekhimik (26-26-8)

About the game

Metallurg is playing the 2nd of three straight home games.

Neftekhimik is playing the 1st of four straight road games.

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

Neftekhimik is also coming into this contest fresh off a loss.

Metallurg has defeated Neftekhimik 8 times in a row at home. It last lost to them in Magnitogorsk on January 5th, 2015, by a score of 3-1.

Neftekhimik has shutout Metallurg twice this season by scores of 3-0 and 4-0, but also lost to them once 4-3 in OT.

Sharychenkov pitched a shutout in his last outing.

Injury list

Neftekhimik: Pavel Padakin, Ziyat Paigin

Milestone alert

Forward Brandon Kozun is hoping to collect his 200th career KHL point (currently at 199).

Forward Jonas Enlund is hoping to suit up for his 500th career KHL game (currently at 499).

19:30: CSKA (43-12-4) vs Dinamo Minsk (13-34-11)

About the game

CSKA is playing the 1st of three straight home games.

Dinamo Minsk is playing the 1st of two straight road games.

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

Dinamo Minsk is coming into this contest on a 3-game losing streak.

Dinamo Minsk last defeated CSKA in Moscow on November 5th, 2010, by a score of 5-2.

CSKA has defeated Dinamo Minsk three times this season by scores of 5-2, 5-1, and 4-1. In fact, they have beaten the Belarussians 14 straight times.

Sorokin has played 66:42 straight minutes of shutout hockey.

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

Kiselevich is hoping to take over the lead for career points by a CSKA defenseman in the KHL. He is currently tied with Yakov Rylov and Denis Denisov at 106.

Injury list

CSKA: Jiri Sekac, Ivan Telegin, Sergei Andronov

Dinamo Minsk: Sergei Kostitsyn

Milestone alert

Forward Alexander Kogalev his hoping to suit up for his 100th career KHL game (currently at 99).

19:30: Avangard (37-14-8) vs Jokerit (37-14-8)

About the game

Avangard is playing the 1st of three straight home games.

Jokerit is on a 1-game road trip.

Avangard is coming into this contest having lost its last game.

Jokerit is coming into this contest having won its last game.

Avangard defeated Jokerit earlier this season by a score of 3-1.

Niemi has played 89:51 straight minutes of shutout hockey.

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

Pihlström has points in 3 straight games, going 0-3-3 over that span.

Should he get two points tonight, Lehtonen can tie the KHL record for points by a Finn in a KHL season, which is currently the 50 once collected by Esa Pirnes.

Injury list

Avangard: Artyom Manukyan, Alexei Potapov, Alexander Sudnitsin, Maxim Chudinov

Jokerit: Henri Ikonen

Suspension

Jokerit: Defenseman Tommi Kivisto will miss this game while serving a 1-game suspension.

Milestone alert

Defenseman Oliver Lauridsen is hoping to suit up for his 200th career KHL game (currently at 199).