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Avtomobilist, Kunlun seek standings improvement on home soil!
Avtomobilist is having a tremendous season, and its record is even more impressive if considering the sheer number of players in its injury list – seven men are sitting there, and if that’s not enough, the list includes key players like Stephane Da Costa, Curtis Valk, and Sergei Shirokov, without even mentioning that veteran Alexei Makeyev is yet to hit the ice this season at all. On the other hand, Ak Bars is having a disappointing season, with such a disappointed made even more severe by a four-game losing streak – a rarity for the Kazan side, and even more resounding considering this summer’s moves.
In the other game of the night, red hot Kunlun Red Star host Severstal – the Dragons’ captain Brandon Yip is in top shape, and his performance only underlines his professionalism and resilience, other than paramount importance for the Chinese side. Kunlun Red Star may reach tonight four wins in a row.
17:00: Avtomobilist (12-4-1, 1st E) vs Ak Bars (8-5-3, 4th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist is in the middle of a three-game home series and defeated Torpedo on Tuesday (4:1).
Ak Bars is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost its previous four games.
Avtomobilist has already defeated Ak Bars three times so far (5:2, 5:4 OT, 2:1 OT) and today’s game is the last regular season encounter between the two sides.
Avtomobilist’s forward Brooks Macek is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ forward Ilya Safonov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Jesse Blacker, Stephane Da Costa, Arsen Khisamutdinov, Stepan Khripunov, Alexei Makeyev, Sergei Shirokov, Curtis Valk.
Ak Bars. Dmitry Voronkov.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nikita Tryamkin and Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Radulov line up for their 500th KHL game.
Avtomobilist’s forward Pavel Kulikov may score his 100th KHL point (currently at 99).
Avtomobilist’s goalie Igor Bobkov may reach 30 KHL shutouts.
19:30: Kunlun Red Star (7-8-3, 9th W) vs Severstal (7-7-3, 10th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star starts a two-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
Severstal is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Dynamo Moscow on Wednesday (2:1 SO).
Severstal has already defeated the Dragons this year (3:2 SO), and Kunlun’s latest home win over the Steelers is dated Dec 22, 2017 (2:1 OT).
Kunlun Red Star’s goalies have shutout streaks alive, with Jeremy Smith and Matt Jurusik being at 88:15 and 77:29, respectively.
Kunlun’s forward Brendon Yip is on a six-game scoring streak, with 8 (5+3) points over that span.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Luke Lockhart, Paris O’Brien, Tyler Wong.
Severstal: Alexander Suvorov
