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Ak Bars hosts Dynamo in today’s top match!
In the upcoming clash between Ak Bars and Dynamo Moscow tonight, both teams find themselves in contrasting situations. Ak Bars has faced a challenging period, suffering three consecutive losses, which has led them to slip to the 5th position in the competitive Eastern Conference. Dynamo Moscow, on the other hand, despite a recent setback against Spartak in the Moscow derby, boasts an impressive record of winning ten out of the last twelve games. The defeat to Spartak included Dynamo’s top line being shut out, leaving the players eager to rebound and regain valuable points. As the Eastern Conference remains tightly contested, Dynamo Moscow currently holds the second position in the Western Conference, trailing behind the Red-and-Whites.
Earlier, in the East, Sibir takes on Metallurg. The Novosibirsk side has recently achieved a nice win over Torpedo, gaining some vital points for its playoffs push, but Magnitka is one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and won its previous five matches. Still in the East, Traktor faces Barys as the Kazakhs will be in dire need of points, and have already defeated Traktor this season.
The action then moves to the Western Conference. Lokomotiv welcomes Kunlun Red Star, while SKA pays a visit to Cherepovets trying to stretch its three-game winning streak. Another team on a good winning streak is Vityaz, who will travel to Minsk following three straight victories.
On the opposite side of the spectrum is HC Sochi. The Black Sea franchise had lost its last nine matches, but tonight they will face Lada – the team is currently sitting in second place in the East. An exciting showdown between Spartak and Salavat Yulaev closes a tense KHL matchday.
15:30: Sibir (14-13-3, 9th E) vs Metallurg (19-8-4, 1st E)
About the game
Sibir ends a three-game home series following a win over Torpedo on Tuesday (4:1).
Metallurg, who has already defeated Sibir twice this season (4:2, 6:3), ends a two-game road trip on a five-match winning streak.
Metallurg’s forward Maxim Karpov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points over that span.
Injury list
Sibir: Trevor Murphy.
Metallurg: Jean-Sebastian Dea, Nikita Kvartalnov, Vladislav Yeryomenko.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Mikhail Nazarov lines up for his 100th KHL game.
Sibir’s forward Vladimir Butuzov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
17:00: Traktor (16-11-3, 7th E) vs Barys (9-15-7, 11th E)
About the game
Traktor enters the second game of a four-match home series on a two-game losing streak.
Barys, who has already defeated Traktor this season (2:1), starts a three-game road trip fresh off a victory over Severstal on Sunday (4:1).
Traktor’s forward Maxim Shabanov is on a ten-game scoring streak, with 15 (8+7) points over that span.
Traktor’s forward Vitaly Kravtsov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Traktor’s forward Danil Yurtaikin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Traktor: Andrei Chibisov, Sergei Mylnikov, Vladimir Zharkov.
Barys: Samat Daniyar, Alex Grant.
19:00: Ak Bars (18-10-2, 5th E) vs Dynamo Moscow (21-6-3, 2nd W)
About the game
Ak Bars is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost its previous three matches.
Dynamo Moscow enters the third game of a four-match road trip following a loss to Spartak on Tuesday (3:4 OT).
Injury list
Ak Bars: Dmitry Bykov, Amir Miftakhov, Sergei Terekhov.
Dynamo Moscow: Yegor Bryzgalov, Yegor Martynov.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Vadim Shipachyov may score his 900th KHL point (currently at 899).
Ak Bars’ defenseman Dmitry Yudin may reach 100 career points (currently at 99).
19:00: Lokomotiv (18-9-2, 3rd W) vs Kunlun Red Star (10-19-5, 10th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv, who has already defeated the Dragons twice this season (2:1, 4:0), starts a four-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Kunlun Red Star ends a four-game road trip and lost to Avangard on Sunday (4:6).
Lokomotiv’s forward Daniil But is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Kunlun Red Star’s defenseman Ryan Merkley had an assist in each of his previous four matches.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Yegor Averin, Yaroslav Likhachyov.
Kunlun Red Star: Corey Kane, Alexander Lazushin, Austin Wong.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Denis Alexeyev may reach 200 career points (currently at 199).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Ivan Bocharov may record his 30th KHL shutout.
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Alexei Bereglazov lines up for his 600th KHL game, while Kunlun Red Star’s forward Brandon Yip reaches the 300-game mark.
19:00: Severstal (13-11-5, 8th W) vs SKA (16-13-0, 5th W)
About the game
Severstal starts a four-game home series on a three-match losing streak.
SKA, who has already defeated Severstal this season (4:1), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous three matches.
SKA’s goalie Pavel Moisevich is on a 131:55 shutout streak.
Injury list
SKA: Zakhar Bardakov, Brendan Leipsic, Andrei Pedan.
Disqualifications
Severstal’s defenseman Mark Barberio serves the second game of a two-match ban.
Milestone alert
Severstal’s forward Nikita Rozhkov lines up for his 100th KHL game.
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (14-11-4, 7th W) vs Vityaz (10-17-4, 11th W)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk, who has defeated Vityaz twice this season (7:0, 3:2), ends a six-game home series and lost its previous couple of matches.
Vityaz is in the middle of a five-game road trip and won its previous three matches.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vyacheslav Osnovin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Vityaz’s forward Derek Barach is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points.
Vityaz’s forward Scott Wilson had at least a goal in each of his previous three games, totaling four tallies.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Roman Gorbunov, Oleg Pozhigan, Ivan Sekerin, Alexander Suvorov.
Vityaz: Kirill Ustimenko.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may record his 10th KHL shutout.
19:30: HC Sochi (12-17-2, 9th W) vs Lada (18-8-5, 2nd E)
About the game
HC Sochi enters the third game of a four-match home series on a nine-game losing streak.
Lada, who has never won in Sochi at the KHL level, starts a two-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
Lada’s forward Ostap Safin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
Lada’s defenseman Georgy Solyannikov had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling five points.
Lada’s forward Sergei Shumakov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (5+1) points.
Lada’s forward Mikhail Fisenko had an assist in each of his previous three games.
Injury list
Lada: Andrei Altybarmakyan, Pavel Koltygin, Scott Kosmachuk, Danila Moiseyev, Nikita Popugayev.
19:30: Spartak (21-7-3, 1st W) vs Salavat Yulaev (18-11-1, 6th W)
About the game
Spartak is in the middle of a three-game home series and defeated Dynamo Moscow on Tuesday (4:3 OT).
Salavat Yulaev enters the second game of a four-match road trip following a win over Traktor also on Tuesday (4:3).
Injury list
Spartak: German Rubtsov, Daniel Usmanov.
Salavat Yulaev: Danil Alalykin, Artyom Pimenov, Sergei Shmelyov, Evgeny Timkin.
