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Six games on tap as the KHL resumes action!
The KHL matchday starts in the Far East, with Amur hosting Dinamo Minsk as both teams are trying hard to return to the top eight of the respective conference. Then, in Kazakhstan, Metallurg has a chance to catch up with Avtomobilist. The Motormen lost their previous six matches, and while they are still on the top of the Eastern standings, their lead shrunk to two points – if they lose to Avangard today, a Magnitka’s win can take them down to second place.
The action then moves to the Western Conference. The most-awaited match of the night is the Moscow Derby between CSKA and Dynamo. The two famed sides traded wins this season, with just one goal separating the teams in both cases. A battle is to be awaited tonight as the Red-and-Blues try to close the gap with Lokomotiv as they recover a game.
In the other two Western battles, Torpedo hosts HC Sochi, with Matvei Michkov scoring twice in four games since he joined the Black Sea franchise on a loan from SKA; and Vityaz welcomes Kunlun Red Star with the Dragons still in the competition for a playoffs spot despite a ten-point gap from Severstal.
10:00: Amur (18-20-6, 10th E) vs Dinamo Minsk (17-20-9, 9th W)
About the game
Amur starts a three-game home series fresh off a win over Admiral on Friday (5:3).
Dinamo Minsk starts a three-game road trip on an eight-match losing streak.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Ryan Spooner had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling fourhelpers.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Brandon Kozun is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Denis Mosalyov, Sergei Sapego.
14:00: Barys (20-22-3, 9th E) vs Metallurg (27-12-6, 2nd E)
About the game
Barys plays the lone home game of the series and defeated Sibir on Wednesday (2:1).
Metallurg, who has defeated Barys twice this season (5:0, 3:2 SO), ends a three-game road trip and lost to Traktor on Friday (2:5).
Barys’ forward Linden Vey is on a six-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points over that span.
His teammate, forward Nikita Mikhailis, is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Metallurg’s forward Philippe Maillet is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 14 (2+12) points.
Injury list
Barys: Nelson Nogier, Yegor Shalapov.
Milestone alert
Barys’ forward Alikhan Asetov lines up for his 200th KHL game.
Metallurg’s forward Maxim Karpov may reach 300 KHL points (currently at 299).
Metallurg’s forward Denis Zernov may score his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
14:30: Avtomobilist (28-11-6, 1st E) vs Avangard (27-14-4, 3rd E)
About the game
Avtomobilist plays the lone home game of the series and lost its previous six matches.
Avangard starts a two-game road trip on a six-match winning streak.
The teams traded wins this season so far (4:2, 0:5).
Avtomobilist’s goalie Igor Bobkov is on an 85:53 shutout streak.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Stephane Da Costa, Johann Mattsson.
Avangard: Stanislav Galimov, Viktor Svedberg, Nail Yakupov.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s head coach Mikhail Kravets celebrates 200 games at the helm of a KHL game.
17:00: Torpedo (28-14-3, 4th W) vs HC Sochi (5-31-8, 11th W)
About the game
Torpedo, who defeated HC Sochi twice this season (4:1, 5:3), starts a two-game home series after a loss to Severstal on Friday (2:3).
HC Sochi starts a two-game road trip and is on a 16-game losing streak.
Torpedo’s forward Denis Yan is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
HC Sochi’s goalie Mikhail Berdin is on a 61:39 shutout streak.
Injury list
Torpedo: Kenny Agostino, Kirill Urakov.
Milestone alert
HC Sochi’s forward Artyom Nikolayev lines up for his 100th KHL game.
17:00: Vityaz (20-17-8, 6th W) vs Kunlun Red Star (16-26-4, 10th W)
About the game
Vityaz, who defeated Kunlun Red Star twice this season (5:3, 3:1), ends a two-game home series and is on a two-win streak.
Kunlun Red Star starts a four-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
Vityaz’s forward Scott Wilson is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Vityaz’s forward Stanislav Yarovoi is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Kunlun Red Star’s forward Parker Foo is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Paris O’Brien.
18:00: CSKA (28-11-5, 3rd W) vs Dynamo Moscow (26-12-7, 5th W)
About the game
CSKA enters the fourth of a five-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Dynamo Moscow ends a three-game road trip and won its previous six matches.
The teams traded wins this season so far (3:2, 1:2).
CSKA’s forward Konstantin Okulov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Andrei Mironov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points.
Dynamo’s defenseman Brennan Menell had at least an assist in his previous three games, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
CSKA: Vsevolod Skotnikov, Danil Yurtaikin.
Dynamo Moscow: Pavel Kudryavtsev, Eric O’Dell, Alexander Skorenov.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s defenseman Yaroslav Dyblenko may reach 400 KHL games tonight.
Dynamo Moscow’s blueliner Yegor Martynov lines up for his 500th game in the KHL.
