Jokerit returns to Helsinki seeking to retain West leadership!

After losing to Dynamo Moscow on Monday, the Jokers are back in Helsinki with a home game against Admiral. Eight games in three countries are on tap on a busy KHL Wednesday.

After a bitter visit to Moscow on Monday, the Jokers return to Helsinki trying to boost their mood with a home game against Admiral - the latest team in the league’s standings. However, the Finn side shouldn’t wait for a walk in the park - the Sailors are in desperate need of points and will also want to break the spell as Admiral is yet to achieve a win in Helsinki.

The KHL matchday starts in the East with a showdown between Avtomobilist and Neftehimik. Another two exciting games are on tap in the Eastern Conference, with Metallurg hosting Amur trying to revert the trend - the Steelers lost their previous three matches. In Chelyabinsk, a winning streak is going to be abruptly interrupted as Traktor welcomes Sibir - both teams achieved four straight wins.

The action then moves to the Western Conference. In Belarus, Dinamo Minsk faces Severstal coming off a loss to CSKA after nine straight wins. SKA welcomes Lokomotiv, while Kunlun Red Star hosts Avangard trying to break their losing streak. However, the other Western Conference’s summit clash is the Moscow derby between CSKA and Dynamo. The Red Army won the first edition with a 3:0 shutout victory, but the Blue-and-Whites will likely want to get their revenge and fireworks are to be expected.

17:00: Avtomobilist (12-11-5) vs Neftekhimik (11-12-4)

About the game
Avtomobilist starts a three-game home series and lost its previous three matches.

Neftekhimik is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Sibir on Monday.

Avtomobilist already defeated Neftekhimik this season (3:2).

Milestone alert

Avtomobilist’s forward Stanislav Bocharov may score his 200th career point tonight (currently at 199).

His teammate, defenseman Yefim Gurkin, may reach 100 (currently at 99).

17:00: Metallurg (23-14-1) vs Amur (11-13-5)

About the game

Metallurg plays his lone home game of the series and is on a three-loss streak.

Amur is at its fifth of a six-game road trip and won its previous three matches. 

Metallurg already defeated Amur this season with a 6:2 score.

Injury list

Metallurg: Grigory Dronov, Mikhail Pashnin.

Amur: Gleb Koryagin, Gleb Zyryanov.

17:00: Traktor (22-6-2) vs Sibir (13-12-3)

About the game

Traktor enters the second of a four-game home series with four straight wins.

Sibir starts a three-game road trip and is also on a four-match winning streak.

Each team defeated each other this season (3:2 OT, 2:0).

Traktor’s forward Nikita Tertyshny is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points over that span.

Traktor’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.

Sibir’s forward Nick Shore had an assist in each of his previous four games.

Sibir’s forward Anton Krasotkin is on a 120:00 shutout streak.

Injury list

Traktor: Tomas Hyka.

19:10: Dinamo Minsk (15-10-2) vs Severstal (16-8-3)

About the game

Dinamo Minsk is at its second of a four-match home series and lost to Lokomotiv on Monday.

Severstal ends a two-game road trip and lost to CSKA on Monday.

Dinamo Minsk already defeated Severstal this season (4:1).

Injury list

Dinamo Minsk: Mario Kempe.

Severstal: Yegor Morozov, Jakob Stenqvist.

19:30: Kunlun Red Star (7-18-3) vs Avangard (16-11-1)

About the game

Kunlun Red Star ends a two-game home series and is on a three-loss streak.

Avangard plays its lone road game of the series and defeated Vityaz on Monday.

Avangard already defeated Kunlun Red Star on Saturday (5:0) and its goalie Simon Hrubec is on a 131:56 shutout streak.

Injury list

Kunlun Red Star: Colin Joe.

Avangard: Ivan Telegin, Sergei Tolchinsky.

19:30: SKA (17-5-5) vs Lokomotiv (14-9-5)

About the game

SKA starts a two-game home series and lost its previous three matches.

Lokomotiv enters the second of a four-game road trip fresh off a win over Dinamo Minsk on Monday.

SKA defeated Lokomotiv twice this season (4:3 SO, 1:0).

Injury list

SKA: Joonas Kemppainen.

Milestone alert

SKA’s defenseman Vasily Tokranov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).

Lokomotiv’s Reid Boucher may line up for his 100th KHL game tonight.

19:30: CSKA (18-9-1) vs Dynamo Moscow (18-10-0)

About the game

CSKA ends a three-game home series and is on a four-win streak.

Dynamo Moscow plays its lone road match of the series and is on a two-game winning streak.

CSKA already defeated Dynamo this season (3:0).

CSKA’s forward Lucas Wallmark is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.

CSKA’s Mikhail Grigorenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points.

CSKA’s goalie Adam Reideborn is on a 73:26 shutout streak.

Injury list

CSKA: Danil Yurtaikin.

Dynamo Moscow: Andrei Pedan, Bogdan Yakimov, Vladislav Yefremov.

Milestone alert

Dynamo Moscow’s goalie Ivan Bocharov may reach 20 KHL shutouts.

Dynamo Moscow’s forward Vadim Shipachyov may reach 250 career goals (currently at 249).

19:30: Jokerit (18-6-4) vs Admiral (6-17-5)

About the game

Jokerit starts a two-game home series and lost to Dynamo Moscow on Monday.

Admiral, who is yet to win a game in Helsinki, is at its fifth of a seven-game road trip and lost to Dinamo Riga on Monday.

Jokerit already defeated Admiral this season (4:1).

Injury list

Jokerit: Henrik Haapala, Philip Holm.

Admiral: Artyom Manukyan, Mikhail Patrikeyev.