Sixth Ural Derby tonight!
A new, powerful version of the Ural derby is underway – Magnitka is fighting for the highest places, while Traktor is trying to carve out a place for itself in the playoffs places through direct and indirect battles with Amur, Barys, and Neftekhimik. The battles between Metallurg and Traktor this season are worth watching. First, Metallurg had three hard-fought wins (5:2, 4:3, 2:1 OT), but Chelyabinsk was able to respond (5:4 SO, 5:2), especially the New Year’s match, when Traktor caught up from 1:3 and won after shootouts. In general, the Black-and-Whites look stronger in matches against top opponents than against rival in the tournament table. All of this together suggests that this game will also be one to remember, but Traktor will lack one if its leaders – forward Anton Burdasov.
The KHL matchday however starts in Novosibirsk, where Sibir welcomes Admiral. The hosts are tied with Ak Bars on the top of the Eastern standings – with Kazan traveling to the Moscow Region to face Kunlun – and they are looking for a victory trying not to lose ground. On their hand, Admiral needs points as well, as while the Sailors are on a good spot for a postseason qualification, anything can still happen.
The action then moves to the West, where the playoffs battle is less fierce, but there are still many things to be decided. First, Vityaz hosts Neftekhimik, with Nizhnekamsk stuck on the ninth place in the East despite some recent successes. Spartak is ninth too, and a win may be a good way to return fighting to get up of the playoffs line.
In the remaining couple of games for today’s matchday, Lokomotiv faces HC Sochi and CSKA welcomes Barys. The Kazakhs slipped down to last place in the East, and climbing up will be hard for them, also considering that they have played more games than the remaining teams.
12:30: Sibir (35-19-5, 2nd E) vs Admiral (29-21-8, 7th E)
About the game
Sibir starts a three-game home series following a defeat to Amur on Wednesday (0:3).
Admiral starts a four-game road trip after losing to Avangard also on Wednesday (2:3 SO).
Admiral has defeated Sibir twice this season (4:2, 5:4 OT), and lost once (2:3 SO). Its forwards Alexander Gorshkov and Anton Berlyov are on an identical three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Sibir: Vyacheslav Litovchenko, Nikita Setdikov.
Admiral: Michal Kristof, Evgeny Lisovets.
14:00: Vityaz (30-20-8, 6th W) vs Neftekhimik (28-26-5, 9th E)
About the game
Vityaz ends a three-game home series coming off a four-match winning streak.
Neftekhimik ends a two-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
The teams have equally traded wins this season (5:2, 4:5).
Vityaz’s forward Stepan Starkov had at least an assist in each of his previous four games, totaling five helpers.
Vityaz’s forward Vladislav Kara is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Emil Garipov, Bulat Shafigullin.
15:00: Metallurg (30-20-8, 5th E) vs Traktor (25-26-8, 10th E)
About the game
Metallurg starts a three-game home series and lost its previous four matches.
Traktor is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
Magnitka has defeated Traktor three times this season (5:2, 4:3, 2:1 OT), and lost twice (4:5 SO, 2:5).
Injury list
Traktor: Anton Burdasov.
17:00: Lokomotiv (35-17-8, 4th W) vs HC Sochi (7-41-9, 11th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv starts a three-game home series coming off a loss to Severstal on Friday (0:3).
HC Sochi enters the third game of a four-match road trip after a defeat against Vityaz on Thursday (1:5).
Lokomotiv has defeated HC Sochi twice this season (4:1, 2:1), and lost once (3:4 OT).
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Yegor Averin, Yegor Korshkov, Mikhail Varnakov.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Georgy Ivanov lines up for his 300th KHL game.
17:30: Kunlun Red Star (20-34-5, 10th W) vs Ak Bars (33-17-9, 1st E)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star plays the lone home game of the series and has lost its previous couple of matches.
Ak Bars, who has already defeated the Dragons this season (3:1), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to SKA on Friday (4:7).
Kunlun Red Star’s defenseman Zach Leslie had an assist in each of his previous three games.
Kunlun Red Star’s forward Colin Campbell is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ forward Ilya Safonov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Ak Bars’ forward Dmitry Voronkov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Paris O’Brien, Jack Rodewald.
Ak Bars: Nikita Yevseyev.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Kirill Semyonov may reach 100 KHL goals (currently at 99).
17:30: CSKA (37-15-6, 3rd W) vs Barys (25-29-7, 11th E)
About the game
CSKA, who has already defeated Barys this season (5:2), ends a five-game home series coming off a two-match winning streak.
Barys ends a three-game road trip and lost its previous three matches.
Injury list
CSKA: Danil Yurtaikin.
Barys: Yefim Gurkov, Yury Sergiyenko, Linden Vey.
