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Ak Bars faces CSKA tonight for the second time this season!
The KHL matchday starts early on the Far East, with Admiral hosting Spartak. The Sailors had a rocky start of the season, while Spartak is one of the top teams in the league, empowered by its first line of Ivan Morozov, Pavel Poryadin, and Nikolai Goldobin.
However, the matchday’s most awaited match will be the second encounter of the 2023 finalists in the current season. Vadim Shipachyov is racking up points for Kazan, Dmitrij Jaskin is dominating in the forward position, and in the absence of Timur Bilyalov and Amir Miftakhov, the young Artur Akhtyamov is shining brightly between the piping. The Kazan squad trails only Metallurg in the Eastern Conference’s standings.
On Sep 1, Ak Bars claimed the Opening Cup with 5:2 score, and it appears that Kazan will once again be the favorite in this meeting. It will be even more interesting to monitor CSKA and their progress over the past month and a half of the regular season. The Muscovites are climbing up and currently sit on fifth place in the West.
In the Eastern Conference, Avtomobilist hosts Sibir – it’ll be the third encounter between the two clubs, with Avto collecting two wins so far – while Metallurg welcomes Avangard in two exciting matchups.
In the West, Kunlun Red Star entertains Barys, while Dinamo Minsk faces Salavat Yulaev. The Belarusians lost their last eight home games to Ufa, with the most recent victory dated back to Dec 08, 2014. The Bashkirs defeated Dinamo earlier this season as well.
10:00: Admiral (5-11-2, 12th E) vs Spartak (14-5-2, 1st W)
About the game
Admiral, who has already defeated Spartak this season (6:2), starts a three-game home series on a five-match losing streak.
Spartak enters the fourth game of a six-match road trip on a seven-game winning streak.
Spartak’s forward Nikolai Goldobin is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 15 (6+9) points over that span.
Injury list
Admiral: Ruslan Ibatullin.
Spartak: Daniel Usmanov.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s forward Maxim Tsyplakov lines up for his 300th league appearance.
14:30: Avtomobilist (12-7-2, 4th E) vs Sibir (9-8-3, 9th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist, who has already defeated Sibir twice this season (6:1, 4:0), enters the fifth game of a six-match home series following two straight losses.
Sibir ends a four-game road trip also on a two-match losing streak.
Sibir’s forward Taylor Beck is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Sibir’s forward Vladimir Butuzov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Denis Barantsev, Maxim Denezhkin, Nick Ebert, Semyon Kizimov.
Sibir: Trevor Murphy.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s goalie Evgeny Alikin may record his 20th KHL shutout.
14:30: Metallurg (14-5-3, 1st E) vs Avangard (10-7-2, 6th E)
About the game
Metallurg, who has already defeated the Hawks this season (4:1), starts a two-game home series following a loss to Traktor on Thursday (1:2).
Avangard enters the third game of a four-match road trip on a two-game losing streak.
Injury list
Metallurg’s forward Danila Yurov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.
Avangard’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 11 (3+8) points over that span.
Avangard’s forward Ryan Spooner had one assist in each of his previous three games.
Avangard’s forward Valentin Pyanov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Metallurg: Jean-Sebastian Dea, Vladislav Yeryomenko.
Avangard: Ivan Telegin.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may record his 20th KHL shutout.
17:00: Ak Bars (13-4-2, 2nd E) vs CSKA (11-8-1, 5th W)
About the game
Ak Bars, who has already defeated CSKA this season (5:2), is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost to Sibir on Friday (2:3 OT).
CSKA starts a five-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Radulov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
CSKA’s goalie Alexander Sharychenkov is on an 83:10 shutout streak, while Ivan Fedotov didn’t allow a goal in his latest 67:16.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Amir Miftakhov, Evgeny Svechnikov.
CSKA: Andrei Svetlakov, Vsevolod Skotnikov.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Damir Zhafyarov may line up for his 600th KHL game.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Vyacheslav Voynov may score his 200th league point (currently at 199).
CSKA’s goalie Ivan Fedotov may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
17:00 Kunlun Red Star (7-14-2, 10th W) vs Barys (6-9-6, 11th E)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star starts a two-game home series fresh off a win over Dinamo Minsk on Thursday (4:3 SO).
Barys enters the third game of a four-match road trip after a win over HC Sochi on Friday (5:3).
Barys’ forward Riley Barber is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Corey Kane, Alexander Lazushin, Austin Wong.
Barys: Alex Grant, Samyan Daniyar.
Milestone alert
Kunlun Red Star’s forward Teemu Pulkkinen may net his 100th league tally (currently at 99).
17:10: Dinamo Minsk (8-7-3, 9th W) vs Salavat Yulaev (12-7-0, 5th E)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk ends a two-game home series and lost its previous three matches.
Salavat Yulaev, who has already defeated Dinamo Minsk this season (4:2), enters the second game of a four-match road trip on a five-game winning streak.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Sharov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 10 (2+8) points over that span.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Chmelevski is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (5+2) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Vyacheslav Leshchenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Sergei Shmelyov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (2+5) points.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Oleg Pozhigan, Nikita Pyshkailo, Ivan Serekin, Alexander Suvorov.
Salavat Yulaev: Danil Alalykin, Josh Levuo.
