Jokerit and SKA enter today’s play looking for Round 1 sweep!

Both Jokerit and SKA remain the teams of the hour in the KHL, each shooting to end their Round 1 play today with a Game 4 victory. More impressive is that Jokerit has now outscored Lokomotiv 14-1 in nine periods of play.

And can Vityaz muster some offense? They’ve been outscored 16-4 over the past nine periods of play.

The other two series today see Salavat and Barys in the driver’s seat, leading the series 2-1. Salavat has seemingly figured out Avangard, while Metallurg and Barys have pretty much been neck and neck to date!

14:30: Salavat vs Avangard

Series stand

Salavat leads the series 2-1

Game 1: 5-2 win for Avangard

Game 2: 3-2 OT win for Salavat

Game 3: 6-3 win for Salavat

About the game

Omark has points in 5 straight games, going 1-8-9 over that span.

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

Hartikainen has points in 4 straight games, going 3-2-5 over that span.

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

Semenov has points in 4 straight games, going 2-3-5 over that span.

Injury list

Avangard: Artyom Manukyan, Alexander Sudnitsin, Maxim Chudinov

Milestone alert

Goaltender Igor Bobkov is hoping to collect his 100th career KHL victory (currently at 99).

15:00: Metallurg vs Barys

Series stand

Barys leads the series 2-1

Game 1: 4-0 win for Barys

Game 2: 3-0 win for Metallurg

Game 3: 2-1 OT win for Barys

Milestone alert

Forward Yegor Petukhov is hoping to suit up for his 100th career KHL game (currently at 99).

17:00: Lokomotiv vs Jokerit

Series stand

Jokerit currently leads 3-0

Game 1: 6-0 win for Jokerit

Game 2: 5-1 win for Jokerit

Game 3: 3-0 win for Jokerit

About the game

Niemi pitched a shutout in his last outing.

Kalnins has played 93:04 straight minutes of shutout hockey.

Maenalenen has points in 3 straight games, going 2-2-4 over that span.

Injury list

Lokomotiv: Daniil Misyul

Jokerit: Henri Ikonen

Milestone alert

Defenseman Roman Savchenko is hoping to suit up for his 600th career KHL game (currently at 599).

Forward Mika Niemi is hoping to suit up for his 200th career KHL game (currently at 199).

17:00: Vityaz vs SKA

Series stand

SKA currently leads 3-0

Game 1: 6-1 win for SKA

Game 2: 4-3 win for SKA

Game 3: 6-0 win for SKA

About the game

Hellberg pitched a shutout in his last outing.

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

Marchenko has points in 3 straight games, going 3-2-5 over that span.

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

Injury list

Vityaz: Alexander Semin, Pavel Vorobey

Milestone alert

Forward Yevgeni Ketov is hoping to suit up for his 100th career KHL playoff game (currently at 99).