Traktor and Lokomotiv seeking revenge for inaugural games’ defeats

The KHL matchday starts in the Eastern Conference with two exciting games where teams are at their opposites. First-game winners Avtomobilist and Severstal go at it in Yekaterinburg as just one team will have a chance to lengthen its positive streak. In Chelyabinsk, Traktor and Lokomotiv will seek their first victory in the new season after losing their respective opener.

In the West, Spartak will try to defeat Sibir after three straight home losses to the Novosibirsk side in the previous seasons – both teams won their opener, with Sibir’s Krasotkin posting the first shutout of the 2022-2023 campaign. Kunlun Red Star hosts Amur, and HC Sochi welcomes Admiral in the remaining two games of an eventful Sunday for KHL teams and fans.

14:30: Avtomobilist (1-0-0) vs Severstal (1-0-0) 

About the game

Both teams have won their inaugural game, respectively against Lokomotiv (4:2) and Traktor (4:2). The Motormen end a two-game home series tonight, while Severstal is in the middle of a three-match road trip. 

Injury list

Avtomobilist: Georgy Belousov, Arsen Khisamutdinov, Alexei Makeyev.

Milestone alert

Avtomobilist’s captain Sergei Shirokov is hoping to check the 250-assist mark in the KHL (currently at 249).

His teammate, goalie Igor Bobkov, seeks his 30^th KHL shutout. 

14:30: Traktor (0-1-0) vs Lokomotiv (0-1-0)

About the game

Both teams lost their first game of the season. Traktor is in the middle of a three-game home series, while Lokomotiv ends a two-match road trip.

Injury list

Lokomotiv: Alexei Marchenko.

Milestone alert

Traktor’s netminder Emil Garipov and Lokomotiv’s forward Denis Alexeyev may line up for their 300^th KHL game.

17:00: Kunlun Red Star (1-0-0) vs Amur (0-1-0) 

About the game

Kunlun Red Star recorded a victory in their home debut against Admiral (3:1), while Amur lost in Moscow to Spartak (3:2). The Dragons are in the middle of a three-game home series, while Amur is at its second match on a four-game road trip.

Amur won its previous six games against Kunlun Red Star.

Injury list

Amur: Artyom Alyayev, Cameron Lee, Evgeny Oksentyuk, Vadim Pereskokov, Sergei Tereshchenko 

Milestone alert

Amur’s goalie Janis Kalnins may play his 200^th KHL game. 

17:00: Spartak (1-0-0) vs Sibir (1-0-0) 

About the game

Both teams won their inaugural games, with Spartak defeating Amur and Sibir shutting out HC Sochi (2:0) on the road. Both teams are in the middle of a three-game home and road series, respectively.

Spartak lost its previous three home games to Sibir, with the most recent victory dated Jan 5, 2019 (7:0).

Sibir’s goalie Anton Krasotkin is on a 59:42 shutout series – he recorded the first shutout of the season against HC Sochi on Thursday.

Milestone alert

Sibir’s forward Denis Golubev may score his 100^th KHL point tonight (currently at 99). 

17:00: HC Sochi (0-1-0) vs Admiral (0-1-0) 

About the game

Both teams lost their inaugural game of the season – against Sibir and Kunlun Red Star, respectively. The Black Sea franchise is at its second home game in a series of four, while Admiral plays its second of a four-match road trip