Avangard finally returns to Omsk!
However, Sibir won’t be happy to take the role of a sacrificial victim, and will certainly battle hard in the second Siberian Derby of the season. Novosibirsk took the first edition this year, and they will be more than happy to spoil the party for the Hawks. Even more so after defeating CSKA on Thursday.
The Muscovites, by the way, will try to return to feel the victory as they visit Kunlun Red Star today. The Dragons have already defeated CSKA this season and will try to repeat the trick.
The East will see another game tonight, when Ak Bars welcomes Amur after a disappointing loss in Yekaterinburg. The Kazan franchise hasn’t unleashed its full potential yet, and a home game against Amur may be a good chance for a morale boost.
In the Western Conference, Dinamo Minsk hosts SKA trying to revert the trend. After a nice start, the Belarusians lost three straight games, including a defeat to HC Sochi. On the other hand, SKA is leading the league’s standings with just one OT loss and looked in excellent shape in its previous games.
16:30: Avangard (4-7-1, 9th E) vs Sibir (3rd E)
About the game
Avangard plays the lone home game of the series and lost to Dynamo Moscow on Tuesday (4:1).
Sibir, who has already taken down the Hawks earlier this season (3:2 SO) ends a four-game road trip and won against CSKA on Thursday (3:1).
Avangard has won its previous six home games against Sibir (all played in Balashikha), with the latest defeat dated Feb 27, 2018 (1:2 SO).
Sibir’s forward Taylor Beck is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Sibir’s defenseman Trevor Murphy is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points.
Injury list
Avangard: Corban Knight.
Sibir: Vadim Kudako.
17:10: Dinamo Minsk (6-4-2, 6th W) vs SKA (11-0-1, 1st W)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk plays its lone home game of the series and is on a three-match losing streak.
SKA starts a three-match road trip and won its previous couple of games.
SKA’s forward Damir Zhafyarov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: John Gilmour.
SKA: Nikita Komarov, Danila Moiseyev, Mikhail Pashnin, Alexander Samonov, Artyom Shvets-Rogovoy.
Milestone alert
SKA’s defensemen Roman Rukavishnikov and Stepan Falkovsky may play their 500th and 100th KHL game, respectively.
18:00: Ak Bars (7-3-1, 4th E) vs Amur (4-7-1, 10th E)
About the game
Ak Bars starts a four-game home series after losing to Avtomobilist on Thursday (2:5).
Amur ends a four-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
Ak Bars won its previous eleven home games against Amur, with the latest defeat dated Nov 26, 2013 (1:2).
Ak Bars’ forward Vadim Shipachyov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ goalie Amir Miftakhov is on a 90:39 shutout streak.
Injury list
Amur: Andrei Alexeyev, Vyacheslav Gretsky, Michal Jordan.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Alex Radulov may reach 200 goals in the KHL (currently at 198).
Amur’s forward Igor Rudenkov may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
18:00: Kunlun Red Star (3-8-1, 10th W) vs CSKA (6-4-1, 7th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star starts a four-game home series and has lost its previous four matches.
CSKA plays the lone road game of the series and lost to Sibir on Thursday (1:3).
The Dragons have already defeated CSKA this season (2:1 OT).
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Cliff Pu, Tyler Wong.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s goalie Adam Reideborn may line up for his 100th KHL game.
