Salavat Yulaev and Metallurg face off tonight!
The stage is set for a thrilling matchup as Salavat Yulaev Ufa and Metallurg gear up for a showdown tonight. Both teams are known for their fierce competitiveness and tonight’s game promises to be no different. Salavat Yulaev will be looking to avenge their previous losses against Magnitka, who have dominated the competition in previous meetings. Ufa will have to dig deep and bring their A-game to take down the powerful Metallurg team.
On the other hand, the Ilya Vorobyov’s men will be looking to bounce back after a string of disappointing losses, including a defeat against HC Sochi, which holds the unfortunate record of 21 straight losses in the league. With their position in the league standings at stake, Metallurg will be fighting to hold on to their spot in the top three in the Eastern Conference.
This match is not one to be missed as both teams will be leaving it all on the ice to come out victorious. The tension will be high as the players hit the ice, and the crowd will be likely on the edge of their seats for most of the game.
But naturally, much is at stake in other games as well. At first, Avangard faces Neftekhimik with the Wolves being just one point shy of the eighth spot in the East. In Kazakhstan, Barys faces Sibir trying to catch up their rivals to get back in playoff places. However, the Novosibirsk side is currently second in the East, and will be no easy opponent.
A showdown between Ak Bars and Admiral closes a light KHL Monday. Admiral doesn’t record a win in Kazan for almost eight years, yet not many could have imagined that by mid-January the Sailors would have been ahead of Ak Bars in the standings.
16:30: Avangard (29-16-4, 4th E) vs Neftekhimik (23-24-3, 9th E)
About the game
Avangard, who has already defeated Neftekhimik this season (3:2), enters the third of a four-game home series after a loss to Ak Bars on Wednesday (1:2).
Neftekhimik is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
Avangard’s forward Sergei Tolchinsky is on a four-game scoring streak with 7 (1+6) points over that span.
Neftekhimik’s forward Andrei Belozyorov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Avangard: Stanislav Galimov, Viktor Svedberg, Nail Yakupov.
Neftekhimik: Emil Garipov, Maxim Goncharov.
16:30: Barys (22-26-4, 10th E) vs Sibir (30-17-4, 2nd E)
About the game
Barys ends a three-game home series after three straight losses.
Sibir ends a two-game road trip and defeated Ak Bars on Saturday (3:4 OT).
Barys has defeated Sibir thrice this season (2:0, 3:1, 2:1), and lost once (3:4).
Sibir’s forward Tylor Beck had at least an assist in his previous four games, totaling six helpers.
Sibir’s forward Nikita Korotkov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Sibir’s defenseman Evgeny Alanov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Barys: Nelson Nogier.
Sibir: Vladislav Litovchenko.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s defenseman Trevor Murphy may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
Sibir’s forward Valentin Pyanov may score his 100th assist in the KHL (currently at 99).
17:00: Salavat Yulaev (27-14-9, 4th E) vs Metallurg (28-15-7, 3rd E)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev ends a two-game home series and defeated Admiral on Saturday (2:0).
Metallurg enters the second game of a four-match road trip on a three-game losing streak.
Salavat Yulaev has recorded one win over Magnitka this season (2:0), but lost three times (2:3, 1:2, 1:3).
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Ilya Ezhov is on a 65:44 shutout streak and may celebrate his 30th KHL shutout.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Vladislav Kartayev, Josh Ho-Sang, Ryan Murphy, Grigory Panin.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s goalie Ed Pasquale may reach the 100 KHL wins’ mark.
His teammate, forward Denis Zernov, may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
19:00: Ak Bars (26-16-8, 7th E) vs Admiral (27-19-5, 6th E)
About the game
Ak Bars, who has already defeated Admiral this season (2:1 OT), enters the second game of a four-match road trip after a loss to Sibir on Saturday (3:4 OT).
Admiral enters the third game of a four-match road trip after a loss to Salavat Yulaev on Saturday (0:2). Its most recent win in Kazan is dated Dec 27, 2015.
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Radulov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Admiral’s goalie Pavel Khomchenko is on a 105:09 shutout streak.
Injury list
Admiral: Michal Kristof, Yegor Rykov.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov may record his win #100 tonight.
Admiral’s forward Evgeny Grachyov celebrates 500 games in KHL.
Admiral’s forward Alexander Gorshkov may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 199).
