Lokomotiv faces Dynamo for the third time this season!
The regular season is heating up as Lokomotiv and Dynamo Moscow prepare to face off for the third time this season. In their previous encounters, Lokomotiv emerged victorious both times, but Dynamo will be looking to turn the tables and come out on top in this pivotal matchup.
Lokomotiv is currently sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference, while Dynamo is just one spot behind in fifth. Both teams will be looking to secure a win in order to improve their standing in the league.
Unfortunately for Lokomotiv, they will be without three key players as Yegor Averin, Artur Kayumov, and Yegor Korshkov are all sitting on the injured list. Despite this setback, the team was able to secure a 6:2 victory over Severstal on Friday.
On the other hand, Dynamo Moscow is coming off a tough 0:2 loss to SKA on Friday. The team will be looking to bounce back and secure a much-needed win against the Railwaymen.
As the regular season nears its end, every game becomes more and more important. With both teams looking to secure a spot in the playoffs, this matchup between Lokomotiv and Dynamo Moscow is sure to be an intense and exciting one.
The KHL matchday however starts early in Moscow with Spartak facing Kunlun Red Star. Much of the stats are in the Dragons’ favor, with Kunlun Red Star collecting two wins over the Red-and-Whites this season, and Spartak being on a two-match losing streak.
Another two games are to be played in the Moscow Region, with Vityaz hosting Traktor and CSKA welcoming Severstal. Both the opposition are fighting hard to get to the eight place of the respective conferences, and both games will be hard and tough matchups.
Not less hard will be the challenge for SKA, who will be welcoming Amur tonight in St. Petersburg. The Roman Rotenberg’s men are continuing dominating the KHL and have another chance today to clinch a playoffs spot. However, the Khabarovsk side recorded an away win in Minsk and will be determined to return onto the right side of the playoffs line in the East. Competition is incredibly tight in the East, with four teams in three points, and just one spot available for the eighth seed.
13:00: Spartak (22-22-7, 7th W) vs Kunlun Red Star (18-28-5, 10th E)
About the game
Spartak enters the second game of a six-match home series coming off a two-game losing streak.
Kunlun Red Star, who has defeated Spartak twice this season (3:0, 3:1), plays the lone road game of the series and won its previous couple of matches.
Spartak’s forward Shane Prince had an assist in each of his previous three games.
Spartak’s forward Matvei Zaseda is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Several Kunlun Red Star players are on a four-game scoring streak: Jack Chelios, with 6 (1+5) points; Parker Foo, 4 (2+2); Tomas Jurco, 7 (4+3), and Luke Lockhart 5 (3+2). Cliff Pu had 5 (4+1) points in his latest three games, while Cory Kane had 3 (1+2).
Kunlun Red Star’s goalie Matt Jurusik is on a 71:10 shutout streak.
Injury list
Spartak: Yegor Chezganov, Kiril Kozhevnikov, Danila Kvartalnov.
Kunlun Red Star: Paris O’Brien.
17:00: Lokomotiv (30-14-7, 4th W) vs Dynamo Moscow (28-14-4, 5th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv, who has defeated Dynamo Moscow twice this season (3:1, 4:2), ends a four-game scoring streak coming off a win over Severstal on Friday (6:2).
Dynamo Moscow is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to SKA, also on Friday (0:2).
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Yegor Averin, Artur Kayumov, Yegor Korhskov.
Dynamo Moscow: Eric O’Dell.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Denis Osipov celebrates his 500th KHL game, while forward Maxim Beryozkin may reach 100.
17:00: Vityaz (23-19-8, 7th W) vs Traktor (22-23-6, 8th E)
About the game
Vityaz, who has already defeated Traktor this season (5:2), starts a two-game home series after a loss to Kunlun Red Star on Friday (0:4).
Traktor ends a three-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches. Its forward Nikita Tertyshny is on a six-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points over that span.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s forward Vladimir Galuzin may reach 250 KHL points and 100 goals (currently at 248 and 98, respectively).
17:00: SKA (39-8-4, 1st W) vs Amur (21-22-6, 10th E)
About the game
SKA ends a three-game home series coming off a three-match winning streak.
Amur, who has already defeated SKA this season (2:1 OT), ends a three-game road trip fresh off a win over Dinamo Minsk on Friday (2:1 SO).
Amur collected its most recent win in St. Petersburg on Jan 15, 2016 (2:1 OT).
SKA may clinch a playoffs spot if they don’t lose to Amur in regulation and Dinamo Minsk loses to Avtomobilist.
SKA’s defenseman Alexander Nikishin had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling five helpers.
SKA’s forward Nikita Gusev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
SKA’s goalie Dmitry Nikolayev is on a 79:55 shutout streak.
Injury list
SKA: Evgeny Ketov, Danila Moiseyev, Roman Rukavishnikov, Artyom Shvets-Rogovoi, Vladislav Tsitsyura.
Amur: Vasily Sredin.
17:00: CSKA (32-12-5, 1st W) vs Severstal (20-19-11, 8th W)
About the game
CSKA starts a two-game home series fresh off a win over Barys on Thursday (5:2).
Severstal, who has already defeated CSKA this season (4:1), is in the middle of a three-game losing streak and lost to Lokomotiv on Friday (2:6).
CSKA’s forward Sergei Plotnikov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
CSKA’s defenseman Nikita Nesterov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
CSKA: Danil Yurtaikin.
Severstal: Mikhail Tikhonov.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s forward Sergei Plotnikov can become the eighth player to reach 450 KHL points (currently at 449).
17:10: Dinamo Minsk (19-21-11, 9th W) vs Avtomobilist (29-13-7, 1st E)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk enters the third game of a four-match home series on a three-game losing streak.
Avtomobilist starts a three-game road trip fresh off a victory over CSKA on Tuesday (4:2).
Dinamo Minsk had its latest home win over Avtomobilist on Jan 24, 2017 (5:4 OT).
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Artyom Demkov, Denis Mosalyov.
Avtomobilist: Stephane Da Costa, Anatoly Golyshev, Johan Mattsson, Brooks Macek.
