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55th birthday for Neftekhimik tonight!
Today, Neftekhimik celebrates its 55th birthday with an exciting home encounter against Traktor. The team is riding high on a four-game winning streak, and their recent triumph over SKA with a remarkable 2:0 shutout victory marked a season highlight. This was the third blanking of the season for their goaltender, Filipp Dolganov. Neftekhimik’s recent form has been nothing short of impressive, and they are looking to extend their winning streak on this special occasion.
The match against Traktor holds particular significance as both teams are in a heated battle for a playoff spot. With only a mere two points separating them in the Eastern Conference standings, this game is of paramount importance. The birthday celebration adds an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to what is already felt as a crucial matchup.
But the intensity will be just as high in the Western Conference, with Lokomotiv hosting SKA as the two sides face for the third time this year. Both teams have lost games recently, with the Railwaymen remarkably on a three-match losing streak, and SKA being blanked by Neftekhimik. Fans will be likely be treated to a no-holds-barred battle.
In the last game of the night, Dynamo Moscow welcomes Lada. Both sides come from two-match winning streaks, and they are having a good season – Nikita Gusev is still hunting his 200th KHL tally as he missed the opposition’s crease in his latest three games. Maybe tonight he’ll finally hit this milestone in his already illustrious KHL career.
Only three games are on tap today, but their intensity will be thriving.
19:00: Neftekhimik (8-8-4, 10th E) vs Traktor (10-9-2, 7th E)
About the game
Neftekhimik is in the middle of a five-game home series and won its previous four matches.
Traktor starts a two-game road trip fresh off a victory over Metallurg on Thursday (2:1).
Neftekhimik’s goalie Filipp Dolganov is on an 82:37 shutout streak.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Emil Garipov.
Traktor: Anton Burdasov, Andrei Chibisov, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Vladimir Zharkov.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Nikita Setdikov will line up for his 200th league appearance.
19:00: Lokomotiv (14-6-1, 2nd W) vs SKA (10-9-0, 7th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv, who has already defeated SKA twice this season (3:2, 3:2), starts a four-game home series on a three-match losing streak.
SKA enters the second game of a four-match road trip following a loss to Neftekhimik on Friday (0:2).
SKA’s goalie Artemy Pleshkov is on a 61:27 shutout streak.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Yegor Averin.
SKA: Stepan Falkovsky, Marat Khairullin, Brendan Leipsic, Andrei Pedan.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Denis Alexeyev may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 198).
Lokomotiv’s forward Sergei Andronov may net his 100th KHL tally (currently at 99).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Ivan Bocharov may record his 30th KHL shutout.
SKA’s forward Sergei Tolchinsky lines up for his 300th league game.
19:30: Dynamo Moscow (13-6-1, 4th W) vs Lada (11-7-4, 3rd E)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow enters the third game of a four-match home series on a two-game winning streak.
Lada starts a two-game road trip also on a two-match winning streak.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Kirill Gotovets, Yegor Martynov.
Lada: Pavel Koltygin, Nikita Popugayev, Nikolai Vladimirov.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Nikita Gusev may tally his 200th goal in the KHL (currently at 199).
Lada’s forward Dmitry Kugryshev may reach 350 league points (currently at 348).
