The KHL returns with the Opening Cup match in Moscow!

As tradition dictates, last year’s Gagarin Cup finalists clash to kick off the new season. Both sides have high expectations for the upcoming campaign, with CSKA losing his starting goalie and Metallurg signing one of the top imports available on the market – Eddie Pasquale. However, in the pre-season, the teams had different paths: Metallurg lost its home tournament to regional rivals Traktor Chelyabinsk, while CSKA triumphed at the Mayor of Moscow Cup defeating Kunlun Red Star in the final.

Excluding the goaltending moves, both teams didn’t change much during the summer. CSKA lost one of its long-time leaders, Sergei Andronov, and playoffs MVP Alexander Popov is still without a contract, but a couple of new signings, including Maxim Mamin, and further development of younger players should make up for the losses. If talking about prospects, Magnitka’s Nikita Grebyonkin and Danila Yurov were excellent in the pre-season – if they keep on playing like this, Vorobyov will have two further cards to play in this year’s 68-game-long campaign.

Finally, a new and exciting KHL season is here to enjoy!

19:00: CSKA vs Metallurg 

About the game

CSKA starts its season with a three-game home series, while Metallurg will travel for two matches in a row.

The Muscovites don’t have the best record in the Opening Cup, being only 1-5 (4:3 OT vs SKA in 2015, 2:3 vs Metallurg in 2016, 2:4 vs SKA in 2017, 1:3 vs Avangard in 2019, 2:3 OT vs Ak Bars in 2020, and 0:4 to Avangard in 2021). Metallurg, on the other hand, can boast a 2-0 record (6:1 vs Dynamo Moscow in 2014 and 3:2 over CSKA in 2016).

Milestones

Metallurg’s forward Anatoly Nikontsev is hoping to collect his 100^th KHL assists tonight (currently sitting at 99).

Disqualifications 

Metallurg’s forward Josh Currie serves the second match of a two-game ban.