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Ak Bars seeking return to victory in Chelyabinsk
Three games are on tap today on a light KHL Sunday – starting with the Traktor and Ak Bars showdown in Chelyabinsk. Both teams are among the biggest disappointments in the season, although the Kazan side is fourth in the Eastern standings. The main problem with them is that they are stuck on a deep five-game losing streak and a road win in Chelyabinsk may be a good way to trying to recover.
The action then moves to the West, where Kunlun Red Star hosts Spartak. Despite a loss to Severstal, the Dragons are roaring of late, with their captain Brandon Yip on a hot streak and able to beat a record held by Jaromir Jagr for the longest scoring streak for a player older than 37. The Red-and-Whites are equally in a good run of late, and the game promises to be an exciting one in Mytishchi.
In Sunday’s last game, HC Sochi hosts Severstal. The Steelmen had a nice win over Kunlun Red Star on Friday, and they will try to replicate such a success on the Black Sea shores. Sochi has only accomplished three wins this year so far and to return to playoffs contention points are needed now.
14:30: Traktor (6-10-3, 10th E) vs Ak Bars (8-5-4, 4th E)
About the game
Traktor is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost to Sibir on Thursday (1:2 SO).
Ak Bars, who has already defeated Traktor this season (3:2), ends a three-game road trip and is on a five-match losing streak.Injury list
Ak Bars: Dmitry Voronkov.
Disqualifications
Ak Bars’ defenseman Kirill Adamchuk serves the fourth game of a five-match ban.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Mikhail Kotlyarevsky may line up for his 100th KHL game.
17:00: Kunlun Red Star (7-9-3, 10th W) vs Spartak (9-5-5, 5th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star ends a two-game home series and lost to Severstal on Friday (3:5).
Spartak plays the lone road game of the series and defeated Dinamo Minsk on Thursday (3:2 OT).
Kunlun Red Star’s forward Brandon Yip is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 9 (6+3) points over that span. He can tie Hunter Shinkaruk’s record with eight consecutive games with points.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Luke Lockhart, Paris O’Brien, Ryan Sproul, Tyler Wong.
Spartak: Shane Prince, Semyon Ruchkin.
17:00: HC Sochi (3-10-3, 11th W) vs Severstal (8-7-3, 8th W)
About the game
HC Sochi ends a two-game home series and is on a two-match losing streak.
Severstal ends a three-game road trip and defeated Kunlun Red Star on Friday.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Brandon Gormley, Joe Morrow, Sergei Popov.
Severstal: Alexander Suvorov.
