Will SKA become the first club go clinch playoffs?
Lokomotiv has had a rough stretch of games recently, losing five straight. The team is now looking to turn things around as they face off against the Severstal squad, currently sitting as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
The pressure is on for the Railwaymen, who are currently sitting in the fourth seed, as they look to secure their spot in the postseason. On the other hand, Severstal is fighting to qualify for the playoffs and the game against Lokomotiv presents a crucial opportunity for them to earn crucial points. The Cherepovets side is determined to make the most of this chance and come out on top. Both teams are determined to come out victorious, but only one can prevail.
The game is sure to be intense and action-packed as both teams battle it out on the ice. Will Lokomotiv be able to snap their losing streak and secure their spot in the playoffs or will the Andrei Razin’s men come out on top and an inch closer to the postseason? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure, it’s going to be an exciting match to watch.
The temperature will be even higher in Minsk, with Dinamo facing Amur after a stunning home defeat against Kunlun Red Star that complicated things up in the Belarusians’ path to the elimination stage. On their hand, the Dragons return home to face Vityaz tonight.
Another team returning home is Spartak. The Muscovites had a long road trip, with nine straight games played away, and now they will be having it a bit easier with six straight matches on home soil. For the first one, the opponent will be Chelyabinsk’s Traktor.
And finally, another hot matchup is featured in St. Petersburg, with SKA facing Dynamo Moscow at their sixth clash this season. The Roman Rotenberg’s men had five wins so far, and tonight will be another intense game between two exciting opponents.
19:00: Kunlun Red Star (17-28-5, 10th W) vs Vityaz (23-18-8, 7th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star plays its lone home game of the series after a win in Minsk on Wednesday (6:2).
Vityaz, who has defeated the Dragons three times this season (5:3, 3:1, 2:1), will be ending a four-game road trip coming off a two-match winning streak.
Several Kunlun Red Star players are on a three-game scoring streak: Brandon Yip, with 5 (0+5) points; Jack Chelios, 5 (1+4); Parker Foo, 3 (2+1); Tomas Jurco, 5 (3+2), and Luke Lockhart 3 (1+2).
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Paris O’Brien.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s forward Nikita Goncharov may line up for his 100th KHL game.
Vityaz’s forward Vladimir Galuzin may reach 250 KHL points and 100 goals (currently at 248 and 98, respectively).
19:00: Lokomotiv (29-14-7, 4th W) vs Severstal (20-18-11, 8th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv enters the third game of a four-match home series on a five-game losing streak.
Severstal starts a three-game road trip coming off a two-match winning streak.
Lokomotiv has achieved two victories over Severstal this season (5:3, 4:3 OT), and lost once (2:3 OT).
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Yegor Averin, Artur Kayumov, Yegor Korshkov.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Beryozkin may line up for his 100th KHL game tonight.
Severstal’s forward Daniil Vovchenko lines up for his 400th KHL game tonight and may celebrate surpassing Vadim Shipachyov as the team’s top all-time scoring player (both have recorded 202 points for Severstal).
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (19-21-10, 9th W) vs Amur (20-22-6, 11th E)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk, who has already defeated Amur this season (4:1), enters the second game of a four-match home series on a two-game losing streak.
Amur is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Neftekhimik on Wednesday (0:1).
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Denis Mosalyov.
19:30: SKA (38-8-4, 1st W) vs Dynamo Moscow (28-13-8, 5th W)
About the game
SKA is in the middle of a three-game home series and won its previous couple of matches.
Dynamo Moscow starts a three-game road trip fresh off a win over Salavat Yulaev on Tuesday (3:2).
SKA has defeated Dynamo Moscow four times this season (4:1, 3:2, 4:3 SO, 2:1 OT), and lost once (1:2 SO). Moreover, the St. Petersburg franchise can become the first KHL club to clinch a playoffs spot this season if they defeat the Blue-and-Whites in regulation and Dinamo Minsk loses to Amur also in regulation.
Injury list
SKA: Evgeny Ketov, Danila Moiseyev, Roman Rukavishnikov, Artyom Shvets-Rogovoi, Vladislav Tsitsyura.
Dynamo Moscow: Eric O’Dell, Alexander Skorenov.
19:30: Spartak (22-21-7, 7th W) vs Traktor (21-23-6, 9th E)
About the game
Spartak, who has already defeated Traktor this season (5:3), starts a six-game home series coming off a loss to SKA on Tuesday (2:3).
Traktor’s goalie Sergei Mylnikov is on a 74:43 shutout streak, and its forward Nikita Tertyshny is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Spartak: Yegor Chezganov, Kirill Kozhevnikov, Alexander Kvartalnov, Dmitry Vishnevsky.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s goalie Alexei Krasikov may line up for his 200th KHL game.
