HC Sochi tries to return to win after firing head coach
Tonight, the HC Sochi team will face off against Spartak Moscow in a highly-anticipated matchup. The Sochi team has had a difficult season, sitting at the bottom of the standings and recently firing their head coach, Sergei Svetlov, who only managed to win only three games out of 32 and had a record-breaking 21-match losing streak. However, a few players have been shining on the team, such as Sergei Popov and the highly-touted Matvei Michkov, who is on loan from SKA St. Petersburg.
The game holds a lot of weight for both teams, as a loss for HC Sochi could mean the end of any mathematical chance for a playoff spot. On the other hand, Spartak is sitting just one point above the playoffs line in the Western Conference and a win would get them an inch closer to the elimination stage. With both teams playing with something to prove, this game promises to be an exciting and competitive match.
Another important match for the playoffs battle is the sixth clash between Severstal and Dinamo Minsk. So far, the Andrei Razin’s men took three games, but most recently the Belarusians defeated them and moved up to eighth place in the West. In the meantime, Vityaz pays a visit to Kunlun Red Star, while Lokomotiv welcomes Salavat Yulaev.
In the lone Eastern match of the night, Neftekhimik hosts Avangard as the Wolves need a win to stay on top of their playoffs ambition in an incredibly tight Conference.
13:00: Spartak (23-23-7, 7th W) vs HC Sochi (6-37-9, 11th W)
About the game
Spartak, who has already defeated HC Sochi this season (1:0), enters the fourth game of a six-match home series after a defeat against Avtomobilist on Tuesday (4:7).
HC Sochi ends a three-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
The Sochi team can be mathematically left off any playoffs hope in case of a regulation loss to Spartak or an OT/SO win by Severstal over Dinamo Minsk.
Spartak’s forward Alexander Khokhlachyov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
Injury list
Spartak: Yegor Chezganov, Kirill Kozhevnikov, Danila Kvartalnov.
17:00: Kunlun Red Star (19-30-5, 10th W) vs Vityaz (25-19-8, 6th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star is in the middle of a five-game home series and defeated HC Sochi on Friday (5:1).
Vityaz starts a four-game road trip coming off a two-match winning streak.
Vityaz has defeated the Dragons three times this season so far (5:3, 3:1, 2:1), and lost once (0:4).
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Paris O’Brien, Jack Rodewald.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s forward Vladimir Galuzin may reach 250 KHL points (currently at 249).
17:00: Lokomotiv (31-15-8, 4th W) vs Salavat Yulaev (27-17-9, 6th E)
About the game
Lokomotiv starts a four-game home series after a defeat to Torpedo on Thursday (3:2 OT).
Salavat Yulaev, who has already defeated Lokomotiv this season (2:1), ends a three-game road trip coming off a three-match losing streak.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Yegor Averin, Yegor Korshkov.
Salavat Yulaev Ufa: Josh Ho-Sang.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Nikolai Kulemin lines up for his 300th KHL game tonight.
His teammate, goalie Ilya Ezhov, may reach 30 KHL shutouts.
17:00: Neftekhimik (24-26-3, 11th E) vs Avangard (31-17-4, 4th E)
About the game
Neftekhimik is in the middle of a three-game home series and defeated Salavat Yulaev on Friday (5:2).
Avangard, who has defeated Neftekhimik twice this season so far (3:2, 3:0), ends a two-game road trip after a loss to Ak Bars also on Friday (0:2).
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Emil Garipov.
Avangard: Stanislav Galimov, Nail Yakupov.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s goalie Alexander Sudnitsin may celebrate his 100th KHL victory.
17:00: Severstal (20-21-12, 9th W) vs Dinamo Minsk (21-21-11, 8th W)
About the game
Severstal ends a two-game home series and lost its previous four matches.
Dinamo Minsk starts a three-game road trip coming off a two-match winning streak.
Severstal has defeated Dinamo Minsk three times this season (5:2, 4:3, 4:0), and lost twice (2:3, 0:2).
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Konstantin Shostak is on a 62:17 shutout streak.
Injury list
Severstal: Mikhail Tikhonov.
Dinamo Minsk: Artyom Demkov, Denis Mosalyov.
