Hot Jokerit vs. even hotter Metallurg is the West’s huge battle today!

With two wins in a row, Jokerit is back in the race for 30 wins, a plateau Metallurg has long since reached, thanks in good part to its current 6-game winning streak. Should be a real doozy in Helsinki!

Ak Bars also looks to continue league dominance against visiting Kunlun! All signs are that Ak Bars should keep on rolling as the disappointing Kunlun team is mired in a 4-game losing streak. Also, SKA faces off against Spartak Moscow and a win of any kind for them will qualify SKA for the playoffs.

The gameday will be kicked off in a fine Eastern Conference duel between rivals Barys and Salavat.

14:00: Barys (27-17-5) vs Salavat (31-16-5)

About the game

Barys is entering today’s contest having won its last game.

Salavat is entering today’s contest on a 2-game winning streak.

Barys is playing the 3^rd of four straight home games.

Salavat is playing the 4^th of four straight road games.

Barys has won its last five home games played against Salavat.

Salavat has defeated Barys twice this season by a score of 4-1 and 6-3, but also lost once by an overtime score of 3-2.

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

Orekhov has points in three straight games, going 2-2-4 over that span.

Manninen has points in four straight games, going 2-2-4.

Injury list

Barys: Viktor Svedberg, Leonid Metalnikov, Joni Ortio

Salavat: Mikhail Vorobyov, Danil Bashkirov

Milestone alert

Forward Vyacheslav Solodukhin is hoping to collect his 100^th career KHL game (currently at 99).

Forward Geoff Platt is hoping to score his 200^th career KHL goal (currently at 198).

Forward Alexander Kadeykin is hoping to collect his 100^th career KHL assist (currently at 99).

17:00: Ak Bars (36-8-6) vs Kunlun (11-29-8)

About the game

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

Kunlun is coming into this contest on a 4-game losing streak.

Ak Bars is on a 1-game home stand.

Kunlun is playing the 3^rd of four straight road games.

Ak Bars defeated Kunlun earlier this season by a score of 5-2.

Injury list

Ak Bars: Stephane Da Costa, Stanislav Galiyev

Kunlun: Casey Wellman, Cory Kane

Milestone alert

Defenseman Denis Barantsev is hoping to collect his 100^th career KHL point (currently at 99).

Forward Roman Lyubimov is hoping to collect his 100^th career KHL point (currently at 99).

17:00: Spartak Moscow (23-21-6) vs SKA (30-12-8)

About the game

Spartak Moscow is entering this contest having lost its last game.

SKA is coming into this contest on a 3-game winning streak.

Spartak Moscow is playing the 2^nd of three straight home games.

SKA is playing the 2^nd of three straight road games.

The teams have exchanged victories this season, with Spartak Moscow winning once 4-1 and SKA taking an earlier decision 2-0.

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

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

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

Injury list

Spartak Moscow: Andrei Kuteikin, Jori Lehtera, Nikita Nikishin, Pavel Medvedev, Zakhar Shablovsky

SKA: Artyom Shvets-Rogovoy, Stepan Starkov, Vasili Tokranov

Milestone alert

Forward Vladislav Kara is hoping to suit up for his 100^th career KHL game (currently at 99).

Forward Pavel Chernov is hoping to collect his 100^th career KHL assist (currently at 99).

19:30: Jokerit (27-16-5) vs Metallurg (31-14-5)

About the game

Jokerit is entering this contest on a 2-game winning streak.

Metallurg is coming into this contest on a 6-game winning streak.

Jokerit is playing the 4^th of four straight home games.

Metallurg is playing the 3^rd of three straight road games.

Metallurg defeated Spartak Moscow earlier this season by a score of 5-3.

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

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

Injury list

Jokerit: Iiro Pakarinen, Anders Lindback, Peter Regin

Metallurg: Bogdan Potekhin