Dinamo Riga continues playoff hunt against Sochi
The Latvians will try to return over the playoff line hosting HC Sochi. Six games are on tap on an exciting KHL Friday.
Dinamo Riga is currently the tenth seed in the Western Conference's standings and has a chance to get two for one when HC Sochi comes to the Latvian capital on Friday - Dinamo may both get two points for the standings and put a spoke in a rival's wheels. However, the Riga side will have to do with four injured players and a suspension.
The KHL matchday starts in the East when Salavat Yulaev hosts a disgruntled Avangard, who lost its previous couple of games. In Kazakhstan, Barys welcomes Traktor off a loss to Jokerit on Wednesday. Then, Neftekhimik hosts Admiral.
The action moves to the West, where Vityaz hosts CSKA and Dynamo Moscow welcomes Amur. The Blue-and-Whites will seek a victory to boost their morale after some ups and downs.
14:30: Salavat Yulaev (18-6-2) vs Avangard (13-10-1)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev is in the middle of a three-game home series and won its previous couple of matches.
Avangard, who already defeated Salavat Yulaev this season (2:1), ends a three-game road trip and is on a two-loss streak.
Salavat Yulaev's forward Markus Granlund is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Salavat Yulaev's forward Sergei Shmelyov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Avangard: Ivan Telegin, Sergei Tolchinsky.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev's defenseman Dinar Khafizullin plays his 600th KHL game tonight.
16:30: Barys (10-13-3) vs Traktor (19-6-2)
About the game
Barys ends a two-game home series and lost to Jokerit on Wednesday.
Traktor starts a two-game road trip and defeated Admiral on Wednesday.
Traktor's forward Nikita Tertyshny is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.
Traktor's forward Lukas Sedlak is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points.
Traktor's forward Vitaly Abramov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
Traktor: Tomas Hyka, Evgeny Kulik, Lawrence Pilut, Alexei Potapov, Andrei Stas.
17:00: Neftekhimik (10-12-3) vs Admiral (5-15-5)
About the game
Neftekhimik ends a three-game home series and defeated Avangard on Wednesday.
Admiral enters the second game of a seven-match road trip on a five-loss negative streak.
Neftekhimik already defeated Admiral this season (4:0).
Neftekhimik's forward Marat Khairullin is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points over that span.
Neftekhimik's defenseman Lukas Knok is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (2+6) points.
Neftekhimik's forward Dan Sexton may break the club's record for the most KHL points (currently tied with Igor Polygalov at 180).
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Timur Sharifyanov.
Admiral: Ivan Nalimov, Mikhail Patrikeyev.
17:00: Vityaz (7-12-6) vs CSKA (15-9-1)
About the game
Vityaz starts a two-game home series and defeated Traktor on Monday.
CSKA plays its lone road trip of the series fresh off a victory over Avtomobilist on Tuesday.
Vityaz's forward Nico Ojamaki is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.
Vityaz's forward Miro Aaltonen is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
CSKA's goalie Adam Reideborn is on a 67:38 shutout streak.
Injury list
Vityaz: Igor Golovkov, Alexander Yaremchuk.
CSKA: Danil Yurtaikin
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.
CSKA's forward Sergei Andronov may establish a club record for the most games; he's currently tied with Alexei Kasatonov at 535.
17:00: Dynamo Moscow (16-9-0) vs Amur (8-13-5)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow plays its lone home game of the series and is fresh off a victory over Dinamo Minsk on Tuesday.
Amur enters the second of a six-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
Dynamo Moscow already defeated Amur this season (5:2).
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Artyom Fyodorov, Rob Klinkhammer, Oscar Lindberg, Andrei Pedan, Bogdan Yakimov.
Amur: Valery Vasilyev, Gleb Zyryanov.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow's goalie Ivan Bocharov may reach 20 KHL shutouts.
Amur's defenseman Artyom Alyayev plays his 300th KHL game tonight.
20:30: Dinamo Riga (9-10-5) vs HC Sochi (8-14-4)
About the game
Dinamo Riga plays its third of a six-game home series and is fresh off a victory over Dynamo Moscow on Sunday.
HC Sochi starts a two-game road trip and loss to Kunlun Red Star on Thursday.
Both teams defeated each other this season, with Dinamo getting a W over Sochi 2:1 and the Black Sea franchise gaining a 3:0 OT victory.
HC Sochi's forwards Artyom Nikolayev and Amir Garayev are on an identical three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Dinamo Riga: Nikolajs Jelisejevs, Matej Machovsky, Alexander Protapovich, Kristaps Sotnieks.
HC Sochi: Nikita Tochitsky, Denis Vikharev.
Suspensions
Dinamo Riga's defenseman serves the first match of a three-game suspension.
