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Ak Bars, Salavat Yulaev try to stretch winning streak!
Ak Bars has won five straight games and they will host Sibir tonight. The Tatarstan side is on a hot streak, but Sibir has won its last three games in Kazan – unpredictability will be key once again on an exciting clash, with Ak Bars wanting to win to cement its Eastern leadership, while Sibir needs points to return on the correct side of the playoffs line. Another Eastern team on a hot streak is Salavat Yulaev. The Ufa team achieved four straight wins as it will face Severstal tonight. It will be interesting to check how some players will perform tonight after this summer’s trade that saw Salavat sending Daniil Aimurzin to Severstal for goalie Alexander Samonov.
Earlier on, Lada hosts Avangard, while HC Sochi welcomes Barys. Both teams have lost their previous three matches and will try to return back on track.
18:00: Lada (10-7-4, 4th E) vs Avangard (10-6-2, 6th E)
About the game
Lada ends a four-game home series and defeated Barys on Wednesday (2:1).
Avangard enters the second game of a five-match road trip following a loss to Vityaz (2:5) also on Wednesday.
Avangard’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 10 (3+7) points over that span.
Avangard’s forward Valentin Pyanov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Lada: Pavel Koltygin, Nikita Popugayev, Nikolai Vladimirov.
Avangard: Ivan Telegin.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may record his 20th KHL shutout.
19:00: Ak Bars (13-4-1, 1st E) vs Sibir (8-8-3, 9th E)
About the game
Ak Bars starts a three-game home series on a five-match winning streak.
Sibir enters the third game of a four-match road trip following a win over Torpedo on Wednesday (5:4 SO).
Ak Bars’ defenseman Kirill Lyamkin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Timur Bilyalov, Amir Miftakhov, Evgeny Svechnikov, Vyacheslav Voynov.
Sibir: Trevor Murphy.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Damir Zhafyarov may line up for his 600th league appearance, while Nikita Dynyak may reach 200.
19:00: Severstal (8-7-3, 8th W) vs Salavat Yulaev (11-7-0, 5th E)
About the game
Severstal starts a two-game home series and lost to Dynamo Moscow on Wednesday (2:3 SO).
Salavat Yulaev starts a four-game road trip on a four-match winning streak.
Severstal’s goalie Konstantin Shostak is on a 60:01 shutout streak.
Severstal’s forward Kirill Pilipenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Nikita Korostelyov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Chmelevski is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Sharov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 9 (1+8) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forwards Sergei Shmelyov and Vladislav Yefremov are on a scoring streak with 6 (2+4) points, but Shmelyov accrued his production in three games, while Yefremov needed four.
Injury list
Severstal: Andrei Churkin, Nikita Guslistov, Yegor Stepanov, Daniil Vovchenko.
Salavat Yulaev: Danil Alalykin, Josh Leivo.
19:30: HC Sochi (11-8-1, 6th W) vs Barys (5-9-6, 11th E)
About the game
HC Sochi enters the third game of an eight-match home series on a three-game losing streak.
Barys enters the second game of a four-match road trip also on a three-game losing streak.
Injury list
Barys: Samat Daniyar, Alex Grant.
