KHL press office
exclusive for khl.ru
Will Salavat Yulaev stop Avto’s run?
Avtomobilist is currently on a three-game winning streak, and its top players are in excellent shape, with several scoring streaks alive. Salavat Yulaev’s season has had a fluctuating curse, with bad defeat and a shutout win in its latest match – the first for Andrei Kareyev this year.
Earlier on, Barys faces HC Sochi on a two-game winning streak. The Kazakhs are improving after a slow start, when they also gifted the Black Sea franchise its first win in the season. However, the Andrei Skabelka’s man are riding a good wave with their goalies in top form. Still in the East, Traktor hosts Neftekhimik. Will the Oleg Leontyev’s pack get its third straight win?
The action then moves to the West, where Dynamo Moscow hosts Severstal for a rematch of last year’s first-round challenge. The Cherepovets franchise isn’t having its best period, and will try to revert the trend today with a trip to the Russian capital. A showdown between Spartak and Vityaz closes the KHL matchday. Both teams are playing well of late, with the Red-and-Whites being treated by some fine goaltending, and Vityaz enjoying excellent success from their North American imports – it will be an exciting matchup at the Megasport Arena.
14:00: Barys (6-5-1, 6th E) vs HC Sochi (2-8-1, 11th W)
About the game
Barys starts a two-game home series and won its previous couple of matches.
HC Sochi, who has already defeated Barys this season (6:3), starts a four-match road trip and defeated Dinamo Minsk on Wednesday (3:1).
Barys has won its most recent four home games against Sochi, with the latest defeat dated Dec 29, 2017 (2:3). Its goalie Nikita Boyarkin is on a 76:18 shutout streak.
14:30: Avtomobilist (9-2-1, 1st E) vs Salavat Yulaev (6-4-2, 5th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist ends a three-game home series and won its previous three matches.
Salavat Yulaev plays its lone road game of the series and defeated Traktor on Friday (3:0).
Avtomobilist is still undefeated in its first seven home games and can tie the franchise’s record of eight home wins to start the season in the 2018-2019 campaign.
Avtomobilist’s forward Sergei Shirokov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
His linemate Stephane Da Costa is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points.
Avtomobilist’s forward Brooks Macek is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Avtomobilist’s forward Curtis Valk is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Avtomobilist’s forward Anatoly Golyshev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nick Ebert is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points.
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Yefim Gurkin had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four helpers.
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Andrei Kareyev is on a 60:00 shutout streak.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Sergei Shmelyov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Jesse Blacker, Arsen Khisamutdinov, Pavel Kulikov, Alexei Makeyev.
Salavat Yulaev: Josh Ho-Sang.
Milestone alert
Avto’s goalie Igor Bobkov may reach 30 KHL shutouts.
Avtomobilist’s forward Sergei Shirokov may become the sixth all-time KHL scorer surpassing Matt Ellison, with both having currently 458 points.
14:30: Traktor (5-8-0, 8th E) vs Neftekhimik (2-9-1, 11th E)
About the game
Traktor is in its third of a four-game home series and lost to Salavat Yulaev on Friday (0:3).
Neftekhimik is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
Traktor has already defeated the Wolves twice (4:0, 5:3).
Neftekhimik’s forward Mikhail Nazarov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Neftekhimik’s forward Pavel Poryadin scored a goal in each of his previous three games.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s defenseman Igor Isayev lines up for his 200th KHL game.
17:00: Dynamo Moscow (9-3-0, 2nd W) vs Severstal (5-5-2, 9th W)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow, who has already defeated Severstal this season (3:1), ends a three-game home series and won its previous four games.
Severstal is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
Dynamo Moscow’s goalie Konstantin Volkov is on a 66:11 shutout streak.
Severstal’s defenseman Robin Press is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Daniil Vovchenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Bogdan Yakimov.
17:00: Spartak (7-3-3, 3rd W) vs Vityaz (6-3-3, 6th W)
About the game
Spartak is at its third of a four-game home series and defeated Torpedo on Friday (3:2).
Vityaz starts a three-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
Vityaz’s forward Tyler Graovac is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Vityaz: Alexander Avtsin.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s defenseman Artyom Borodkin may line up for his 500th KHL game.
