Ak Bars and Avangard clash again tonight!
The stage is set for an epic showdown between two of the East’s top teams, as Ak Bars and Avangard face off for the fifth time this season. Both teams have won two games each so far – always with not more than a one-goal difference, making this match crucial in determining who will come out on top. With Avangard sitting at fourth place and Ak Bars at fifth, the stakes are high as the winner will secure a spot in the Eastern top four and the coveted home ice advantage in the first round of the elimination stage.
The game will be fast-paced and action-packed, with both teams giving it their all. The Ak Bars’ top scorer, Alex Radulov, is on a hot streak, and he’s determined to keep it going. But the Hawks have their own top scorers to rely on, in the form of Sergei Tolchinsky and Arseny Gritsyuk, who are also on active scoring streaks.
Who will prevail? Zinetula Bilyaletdinov’s pragmatic approach or Mikhail Kravets’ more offensive lineup? Soon we’ll find out.
However, that’s certainly not the only exciting game to be played tonight, with Sibir and Metallurg colliding and disputing one of the places at the top spot of the Eastern Conference, where the standings are incredibly tight.
Another two games are on tap tonight, with Neftekhimik hosting Salavat Yulaev and Kunlun Red Star welcoming HC Sochi. The Wolves are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, but just three points separate them and the right side of the playoffs line.
15:30: Sibir (32-17-4, 2nd E) vs Metallurg (29-15-8, 3rd E)
About the game
Sibir is in the middle of a three-game home series and won its previous three games.
Metallurg ends a four-game road trip and lost to Avangard on Wednesday (4:3 OT).
The teams have traded wins so far this season (3:2 SO, 2:4).
Sibir’s forward Alexander Sharov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (4+1) points over that span.
Sibir’s forward Denis Golubev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Sibir: Vyacheslav Litovchenko, Nikita Setdikov.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Valentin Pyanov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
19:00: Ak Bars (28-16-8, 5th E) vs Avangard (31-16-4, 4th E)
About the game
Ak Bars ends a four-game home series coming off a two-match winning streak.
Avangard starts a two-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
The teams have traded wins so far this season (3:2 OT, 2:1 – 3:4, 1:2 OT).
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Radulov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Avangard’s forward Sergei Tolchinsky is on a six-game scoring streak, with 10 (1+9) points.
Avangard’s forward Arseny Gritsyuk scored a goal in each of his previous four games.
Injury list
Avangard: Stanislav Galimov, Nail Yakupov.
19:00: Kunlun Red Star (18-30-5, 10th W) vs HC Sochi (6-36-9, 11th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star enters the second game of a five-match home series coming off a two-match losing streak.
HC Sochi is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Vityaz on Wednesday (3:2).
The Dragons have defeated Sochi three times this year so far (3:1, 5:2, 3:0).
HC Sochi’s forward Sergei Popov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points over that span.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Paris O’Brien.
Milestone alert
HC Sochi’s defenseman Yury Alexandrov lines up for his 700th KHL game.
19:00: Neftekhimik (23-26-3, 11th E) vs Salavat Yulaev (27-16-9, 6th E)
About the game
Neftekhimik starts a three-game home series coming off a two-match losing streak.
Salavat Yulaev, who defeated Neftekhimik twice this season (4:0, 3:2), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and also lost its last couple of matches.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Emil Garipov, Maxim Goncharov.
Salavat Yulaev: Josh Ho-Sang.
Disqualifications
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Evgeny Timkin serves a one-game ban.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Ilya Ezhov may reach 30 KHL shutouts.
Salavat Yulaev’s Gleb Kuzmin and Ryan Murphy line up for their 100th KHL game.
