KHL opens the 2020-2021 season with two juggernauts clashing!

Reigning 2019 champ CSKA makes its home – and 2020-21 season – debut against long-time Eastern Conference rival Ak Bars. It’s a huge clash of two league favorites to kick off the post-Sorokin era for CSKA!

About the game

This is the season opener for both teams.

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

Ak Bars is on a 1-game road trip.

CSKA is participating in the KHL’s season-opening game for the 5th time ever. The team’s only victory in those five contests came in 2015.

Ak Bars is participating in the KHL’s season-opening game for the 4th time ever. The team’s only victory in those four contests came in 2009.

CSKA has defeated Ak Bars in its last six regular season home games against the team from Kazan.

Ak Bars last defeated CSKA in Moscow in regular season games on October 21st, 2014, by an overtime score of 3-2.

In addition, Ak Bars last defeated CSKA in a KHL game on April 22nd, 2018. It was the fifth game of the Gagarin Cup final.

Injury list

Ak Bars: Daniil Zhuravlyov, Roman Rukavishnikov

Milestone alert

Forward Maxim Shalunov is hoping to score his 100th career KHL goal (currently at 99).

Forward Danis Zaripov is hoping to collect his 650th career KHL point (currently at 647).