CSKA and Avangard meet tonight!
The KHL matchday starts again in the Far East, with games in both Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. The Tigers host Neftekhimik for a rematch of the Monday’s contest, with Nizhnekamsk getting the upper hand thanks to an OT goal by Andrei Chivilyov. The Sailors host Torpedo. Igor Larionov’s young squad is one of the most intriguing sides this year, but they lost twice in a row and will be seeking revenge.
Another two games are scheduled in the East, with Ak Bars taking on Sibir, and Traktor hosting Barys. The battle in Chelyabinsk will be key for both teams as they are pushing hard for a top-eight spot. Then, in Kazan, Ak Bars hosts Sibir. The Oleg Znarok’s men have finally achieved a two-win small streak, and they will be trying to stretch it.
The action then moves to Moscow, with three games on tap in the Russian capital. The most exciting matchup is CSKA facing Avangard. The two sides disputed two straight Gagarin Cup finals (with the 2020 pause due to the Covid pandemic), and they will face for the first time this year. In the meantime, Spartak hosts Dinamo Minsk, while Dynamo Moscow faces Vityaz.
12:00: Amur (12-15-6, 11th E) vs Neftekhimik (15-19-1, 10th E)
About the game
Amur is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost its previous three matches.
Neftekhimik ends a four-game road trip and defeated Amur on Monday (4:3 OT).
Amur’s forward Denis Vikharev is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) games over that span.
Injury list
Amur: Andrei Alexeyev, Andrew Calof.
Neftekhimik: Emil Garipov, Maxim Goncharov, Alexander Sudnitsin.
12:30: Admiral (21-11-4, 4th E) vs Torpedo (21-12-2, 4th W)
About the game
Admiral enters the third of a four-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Torpedo starts a four-game road trip after two consecutive losses.
Injury list
Admiral: Anton Berlyov, Ruslan Ibatullin, Alexander Lazushin.
Torpedo: Kenny Agostino, Vasily Atanasov, Kirill Urakov, Daniil Veryayev.
17:00: Traktor (14-17-5, 8th E) vs Barys (14-19-3, 9th E)
About the game
Traktor ends a five-game home series and lost its previous couple of matches.
Barys, who has already defeated Traktor this season (3:1), ends a two-game road trip and is on a three-match losing streak.
Injury list
Traktor: Adam Almquist.
19:00: Ak Bars (15-13-6, 7th E) vs Sibir (22-13-3, 3rd E)
About the game
Ak Bars enters the second of a four-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Sibir, who has already defeated Ak Bars this season (4:2), ends a three-game road trip fresh off a win over Severstal on Monday (3:2).
Injury list
Ak Bars: Mikhail Glukhov, Dinar Khafizullin.
Sibir: Denis Alexandrov, Vyacheslav Litovchenko.
19:30: Dynamo Moscow (18-12-5, 5th W) vs Vityaz (15-13-7, 8th W)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow, who has already defeated Vityaz this season (2:0), ends a two-game home series and lost its previous couple of matches.
Vityaz ends a four-game road trip and also lost its previous couple of matches.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Jordan Weal is on a six-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points over that span.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Alexander Skorenov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Vityaz’s forward Stepan Starkov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Eric O’Dell, Bogdan Yakimov, Vladislav Yefremov.
Vityaz: Daniel Butsayev, Dmitry Shikin.
19:30: Spartak (18-14-5, 6th W) vs Dinamo Minsk (16-13-7, 7th W)
About the game
Spartak plays the lone home game of the series and won its previous four matches.
Dinamo Minsk is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
The teams traded wins this season (3:2 OT, 2:3).
Spartak’s defenseman Joey Keane is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Ryan Spooner is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Moroz is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Spartak: Alexander Bryntsev, Kirill Kozhevnikov, Daniil Orlov, Semyon Ruchkin, Fyodor Svechkov, Dmitry Vishnevsky.
Dinamo Minsk: Brandon Kozun.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s forward Alexander Khokhlachyov may score his 100th KHL goal (currently at 99).
19:30: CSKA (23-6-5, 2nd W) vs Avangard (19-13-3, 6th E)
About the game
CSKA ends a two-game home series and won its previous couple of matches.
Avangard ends a three-game road trip and lost to Lokomotiv on Monday (3:2).
Injury list
CSKA: Darren Dietz, Vsevolod Skotnikov, Danil Yurtaikin.
Avangard: Stanislav Galimov, Nail Yakupov, Vladimir Zharkov.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov may reach 250 KHL points (currently at 249).
Avangard’s forwards Sergei Tolchinsky and Corban Knight may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99 and 98, respectively).
