Spartak and CSKA often play close games, despite being in different parts of the standings. Their latest showdown - last than a week ago - had CSKA winning with a tight 1:0 score, with the game's lone goal coming off Sergei Plotnikov's stick. It was an exciting goalkeeping duel between Adam Reideborn and Oscar Dansk, but it was also the last game played by the Spartak netminder so far.
In Nizhny Novgorod, things get exciting for the home crowd as Torpedo has a chance to stretch a winning streak against Avtomobilist and further climb up in the standings.
The action moves to the Moscow Region, where Avangard hosts a more aggressive HC Sochi - the team recently appointed Andrei Nazarov as their new head coach - and Vityaz welcomes Sibir as both teams are desperately seeking a win to halt losing streaks.
About the game
Torpedo enters tonight's game, the second of a two-match home series, with two wins in a row.
Avtomobilist starts a three-game road trip and defeated Salavat Yulaev on Friday.
Avtomobilist's forward Stephane Da Costa is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.
His teammate Maxim Shumakov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (4+1) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Ilya Ovchinnikov, Shane Prince, Alexander Shchemerov, Alexei Vasilevsky
About the game
Spartak plays its lone home game of the series after defeating Dinamo Minsk on Thursday.
CSKA plays its lone away match of the series after defeating Admiral on Friday.
CSKA has already defeated Spartak twice this season (5:3; 1:0).
CSKA's defenseman Nikita Nesterov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Injury list
CSKA: Artyom Blazhiyevsky, Danil Yurtaikin.
Milestone alert
CSKA's defenseman Bogdan Kiselevich may play his 600th KHL game.
About the game
Vityaz plays its third home game of four and is on a seven-match losing streak.
Sibir ends a four-game road trip and lost its previous three matches.
Earlier this season, Sibir has already defeated Vityaz (2:1)
Sibir's defenseman Trevor Murphy is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Vityaz: Igor Golovkov
Sibir: Viktor Komarov
Milestone alert
Vityaz's defenseman Viktor Antipin may reach the 200-point mark tonight, as he's currently at 198.
Vityaz's forward Fyodor Malykhin may score his 100th KHL goal tonight, currently sitting at 99.
Sibir's defenseman Ilya Morozov plays his 200th career game tonight.
About the game
HC Sochi starts a three-game home series and lost to Traktor on Friday.
Avangard starts a three-game road trip and is on a four-match winning streak.
Avangard has already defeated HC Sochi this season (3:1).
Avangard's forward Corban Knight is on a 4-game scoring series, with 7 (3+4) points over that span.
Avangard's defenseman Oliwer Kaski is on a 4-game scoring streak, with 5 (0+5) points.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Nikita Tochitsky
Avangard: Peter Cehlarik, Maxim Goncharov
Milestone alert
Oliwer Kaski lines up for his 100th KHL game tonight.