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CSKA faces Lokomotiv in today’s top match!
The Gagarin Cup reigning champion didn’t have its better start of the season, while Lokomotiv is confidently settling at the top of the Western Conference. Igor Nikitin’s pragmatic style of play is proving effective. For instance, since the beginning of October, Lokomotiv has already defeated Spartak (4:2), Dynamo Moscow (5:2), and SKA (3:2). These are three teams vying for the top spots and playing in different styles. Next up is CSKA. The reigning champions have long been formidable opponents for the Railwaymen so the motivation for the Yaroslavl team is not hard to find. Similarly, the Muscovites don’t need to search for motivation either. While victories have been piling up for CSKA, there is no doubt that the current Cup holders are still capable of adding more to their achievements.
Another exciting game scheduled for tonight is the showdown between Traktor and Metallurg. Last week, the Chelyabinsk squad engaged in the Ural Derby against Avtomobilist, and now the team is gearing up for another crucial battle. Under the guidance of Andrei Razin, who has recently celebrated his 200th KHL win, Magnitka currently leads in the Eastern Conference. Traktor hasn’t had the same success to boast about, but since Alexey Zavarukhin took over as the interim head coach, the team’s performance has appeared more revitalized. With this foundation, a victory over their neighbors will be a significant step for Chelyabinsk, so one can expect Traktor to give their all in the battle against the conference leader.
Other two games are on tap today. First, Avtomobilist will seek revenge for Monday’s 0:4 loss to Magnitka as the Motormen face Amur on home soil. In Belarus, Dinamo Minsk and Kunlun Red Star will both try to halt their skid in their third encounter this season – the Dragons have lost their latest ten games, while Dinamo Minsk suffered from defeats by Salavat Yulaev and SKA.
17:00: Traktor (9-9-2, 7th E) vs Metallurg (14-4-3, 1st E)
About the game
Traktor ends a two-game home series and lost its previous couple of matches.
Metallurg ends a five-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
Metallurg’s goalie Ilya Nabokov is on a 66:40 shutout streak.
Metallurg’s forward Denis Zernov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Metallurg’s forward Danila Yurov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Injury list
Traktor: Anton Burdasov, Andrei Chibisov, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Vladimir Zharkov.
Metallurg: Jean-Sebastian Dea.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Maxim Shabanov lines up for his 100th league appearance, while Metallurg’s forward Alexander Petunin will reach 300.
17:00: Avtomobilist (12-6-2, 3rd E) vs Amur (7-6-5, 8th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist, who has already defeated Amur this season (2:1 SO), enters the fourth game of a six-match home series after a loss to Metallurg on Tuesday (0:4).
Amur is in the middle of a three-game road trip and defeated Traktor also on Tuesday (3:2).
Amur’s last win in Yekaterinburg is dated Nov 11, 2016 (2:1 SO). Vitaly Atyushov, who is now an assistant to Andrei Martemyanov on the Tigers’ bench, was on the ice that night for Amur.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Denis Barantsev, Jessie Blacker, Maxim Denezhkin, Nick Ebert, Semyon Kizimov, Curtis Valk.
Amur: Alex Broadhurst, Jan Drozg, Pyotr Khokhryakov.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s goalie Evgeny Alikin may reach 20 KHL shutouts.
Amur’s forward Anatoly Nikontsev may score his 250th KHL point (currently at 248).
19:30: CSKA (10-8-1, 6th W) vs Lokomotiv (14-4-1, 1st W)
About the game
CSKA ends a three-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Lokomotiv enters the fourth game of a five-match road trip following a loss to Avangard on Sunday (1:4).
The teams have already defeated each other this season (2:1, 1:2) – both in away games.
CSKA’s goalie Alexander Sharychenkov is on an 83:10 shutout streak.
CSKA’s forward Prokhor Poltapov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over t hat span.
Injury list
CSKA: Andrei Svetlakov.
Lokomotiv: Yegor Averin, Andrei Sergeyev.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s defenseman Nikita Nesterov and Lokomotiv’s forward Denis Alexeyev may score their 200th league point (currently at 199 and 198, respectively).
Lokomotiv’s forward Sergei Andronov may net his 100th KHL tally (currently at 99).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Ivan Bocharov may record his 30th career shutout.
19:30: Dinamo Minsk (8-7-2, 9th W) vs Kunlun Red Star (6-14-2, 11th W)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk starts a two-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Kunlun Red Star ends a two-game road trip on a ten-match losing streak.
The teams have already defeated each other this season (4:0, 3:4).
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Roman Gorbunov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Nikita Pyshkaylo, Ivan Serekin, Alexander Suvorov.
Kunlun Red Star: Corey Kane, Alexander Lazushin, Austin Wong.
Milestone alert
Kunlun Red Star’s defenseman Ryan Sproul lines up for his 200th league appearance.
Kunlun Red Star’s forward Teemu Pulkkinen may net his 100th KHL tally (currently at 99).
