The battle for Gagarin Cup is back!

Metallurg hosts Barys again in the Eastern conference’s first round, while Traktor welcomes Neftekhimik in their only second playoff meet-up. In the West, CSKA starts what promises to be a long series against Lokomotiv.

17:00: Metallurg – Barys

Series stand
0-0

Series History
2021: 1^st round meet-up. Metallurg defeated Barys 4-2
2020: 1^st round meet-up. Barys defeated Metallurg 4-1
2017: 2^nd round meet-up. Metallurg defeated Barys 4-0
2012: 1^st round meet-up. Metallurg defeated Barys 4-3

Injury list
Metallurg: Mikhail Grigoryev.
Barys: Dmitry Gurkov.

About the game
Metallurg has defeated Barys twice (4:3 at home, 1:2 on the road), just as Barys achieved two victories over Magnitogorsk (3:2 at home, 4:3 OT on the road).

Milestone alert
Metallurg’s defenseman Artyom Zemchyonok may reach 100 points in the KHL (currently at 99).
Metallurg’s forward Anatoly Nikontsev may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).

17:00 Traktor – Neftekhimik

Series stand
0-0

Series History
2018: 1^st round meet-up. Traktor defeated Neftekhimik 4-1.

Injury list
Traktor: Marsel Sholokhov.
Neftekhimik: Alexei Puzanov, Timur Sharifyanov.

About the game
Neftekhimik defeated Traktor twice this season (0:1 on the road, 4:2 at home).

Milestone alert
Traktor’s defenseman Nick Bailen may score his 250^th KHL point tonight (currently at 247).

19:30: CSKA – Lokomotiv

Series stand
0-0

Series history
2017: 2^nd round meet-up. Lokomotiv defeated CSKA 4-2.
2021: 2^nd round meet-up. CSKA defeated Lokomotiv 4-3.

Injury list
CSKA: Nikita Rtishchev.

About the game
Both teams exchanged home wins. CSKA defeated the Railwaymen twice in Moscow (3:1 and 1:0 OT), while Lokomotiv had the best over the Muscovites in Yaroslavl (2:1 OT and 3:2 OT).

Milestone alert
CSKA’s forward Anton Slepyshev may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
CSKA’s defenseman Vladislav Provolnev plays his 250^th KHL game tonight.