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Spartak, Neftekhimik hunting the playoffs
The playoff is approaching, and fourteen of sixteen spots have been assigned. However, the battle for the last one is fiercer than ever, with two teams for each conference still having chances. In the West, Spartak is called to a hard task, with CSKA in front of them and Dinamo Minsk above in the standings. However, they have already downed a mighty opponent on Monday, when a double by Andrei Loktionov led the Red-and-Whites to a 4:2 home win over Metallurg.
In the Eastern Conference, Neftekhimik is eighth and they welcome Magnitka tonight after a sensational home defeat to HC Sochi, with the opposition goalie Mikhail Berdin having one of the game of his life, with a whopping 61 saves. Neftekhimik thus wasted an excellent chance to boost its playoff qualification hopes, but they will have another attempt tonight.
The KHL matchday starts with a clash between Sibir and Barys – the Kazakhs have lost any playoff hope, but they had three wins over Novosibirsk this season. The action then continues with two exciting matchups with Avangard taking on Lokomotiv, and Avtomobilist hosting Salavat Yulaev. The Motormen are yet to defeat Ufa this season, will tonight be the first one?
In the Western Conference, Dynamo Moscow celebrates its 1,000th KHL game with a home game against Vityaz, while Torpedo tries to forget Monday’s thumping by CSKA as they welcome Severstal. Seven games are on tap as the KHL action gets closer and closer to its culmination – the playoffs.
15:30: Sibir (37-21-7, 4th E) vs Barys (27-32-7, 11th E)
About the game
Sibir starts a three-game home series fresh off a win over Salavat Yulaev on Saturday (2:1 SO).
Barys ends a three-game road trip following a loss to Avangard on Monday (3:4).
Barys has defeated Sibir three times this season (2:0, 3:1, 2:1) and lost twice (3:4, 1:2).
Barys’ forward Linden Vey is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Barys’ forward Nikita Mikhailis is on a six-game scoring streak, with 11 (6+5) points.
Injury list
Barys: Yury Sergiyenko, Yegor Shalapov.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Alexander Sharov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
Barys’ defenseman Ivan Mishchenko lines up for his 300th KHL game.
16:30: Avangard (37-21-7, 3rd E) vs Lokomotiv (40-17-9, 3rd W)
About the game
Avangard enters the seventh game of an eight-match home series coming off a two-game winning streak.
Lokomotiv, who has already defeated Avangard this season (3:2), starts a two-game road trip after losing to CSKA on Saturday (1:2 OT).
Injury list
Avangard: Stanislav Galimov, Nail Yakupov.
Lokomotiv: Yegor Korshkov, Mikhail Varnakov.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Yegor Averin may reach 300 KHL points tonight (currently at 299).
17:00: Avtomobilist (36-20-9, 2nd E) vs Salavat Yulaev (35-20-10, 5th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist starts a two-game home series fresh off a win over Admiral on Sunday (4:1).
Salavat Yulaev, who has defeated Avtomobilist thrice this season (4:0, 3:2 ОТ, 3:2 ОТ), starts a three-game road trip following a loss to Sibir on Saturday (1:2 SO).
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Avtomobilist’s forward Anatoly Golyshev is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Sergei Shmelyov had at least an assist in his previous three games, totaling five helpers.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Alexander Shchemerov.
Salavat Yulaev: Josh Ho-Sang.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Jesse Blacker may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa may dish out his 200th assist in the KHL (currently at 199).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Kadeikin may score his 250th KHL point (currently at 249).
19:00: Neftekhimik (31-29-6, 8th E) vs Metallurg (34-20-11, 6th E)
About the game
Neftekhimik, who has defeated Metallurg thrice this season (6:5, 3:2, 4:2), is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost its previous couple of matches.
Metallurg is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Spartak on Monday (2:4).
Metallurg’s defenseman Yegor Yakovlev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Emil Garipov, Bulat Shafigullin.
19:00: Torpedo (42-18-5, 4th W) vs Severstal (29-23-13, 7th W)
About the game
Torpedo plays the lone home game of the series and lost to CSKA on Monday (2:4).
Severstal enters the third game of a four-match road trip and won its previous couple of games.
Torpedo, who plays the last home game of this year’s regular season, has defeated Severstal twice (2:1 ОТ, 3:2 ОТ) and lost thrice (2:3, 4:5 SO, 3:4 SO).
Torpedo’s forward Nikolai Kovalenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Torpedo’s forward Vladislav Firstov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points.
Injury list
Torpedo: Andrei Belevich, Alexei Kruchinin, Yu Sato, Kirill Voronin.
19:30: Dynamo Moscow (36-19-10, 5th W) vs Vityaz (34-24-8, 6th W)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow plays the lone home game of the series coming off a two-match losing streak.
Vityaz plays the lone road game of the series following a loss to Severstal on Monday (2:3).
Dynamo Moscow has defeated Vityaz twice this season (2:0, 3:2 OT) and lost once (1:3).
Vityaz’s defenseman Alexei Volgin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Sergei Boikov.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow celebrates its 1,000th KHL game tonight.
19:30: Spartak (28-30-8, 9th W) vs CSKA (41-16-8, 2nd W)
About the game
Spartak ends a five-game home series and defeated Metallurg on Monday (4:2).
CSKA plays the lone road game of the series and won its previous couple of matches.
Spartak, who is at its last home game of this year’s regular season, has defeated CSKA once (2:1), and lost twice (2:3 OT, 2:4).
CSKA’s forward Mikhail Grigorenko is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (5+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Spartak: Danila Kvartalnov, Kirill Kozhevnikov, German Rubtsov, Fyodor Svechkov, Mark Verba.
CSKA: Danil Yurtaikin.
