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First Far East derby of the season!
In Khabarovsk, the Far Eastern derby will take place for the first time this season. Last year, the teams faced each other ten times, with Amur taking the last laugh (3:2 in the Feb 25 game). However, the Khabarovsk side is unlikely to be satisfied—they still missed the playoffs, while their regional rivals reached the second round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
Throughout the history, the teams have played each other 45 times, with a slight advantage on the side of Leonids Tambijevs’ team—25 victories to 20 in favor of the Sailors. Alexander Gorshkov can be considered the derby’s main hero – he managed to play on both sides of the barricades. Gorshkov is the top scorer for Admiral in the history of the derby (5+6), and at the same time, he is the top sniper for Amur in this confrontation with 6 tallies. The sides will meet again in two days.
Then, Neftekhimik hosts Avangard. On Friday, the Wolves snapped a three-game skid to pick up a key win over a direct playoff rival. Neftekhimik’s victory moves the team up to ninth, ahead of Amur and just one point behind eighth-placed Sibir. Home goalie Filip Dolganov finished the game with 38 saves as he recorded his fourth shutout of the season, while hometown hero Nail Yakupov netted a goal for the third straight game.
The second consecutive showdown between Severstal and Vityaz closes a light KHL Sunday. Yesterday the Steelers celebrated a 6:2 win as the team snapped its skid of four straight losses, while Vityaz lost after as many wins.
10:00: Amur (12-13-6, 10th E) vs Admiral (7-16-6, 12th E)
About the game
Amur starts a six-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Admiral is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost its previous four matches.
Injury list
Amur: Alex Broadhurst, Pyotr Khokhryakov, Cam Lee, Anatoly Nikontsev.
Admiral: Andrei Chebykin, Kirill Maksimov.
Milestone alert
Amur’s forward Yegor Korshkov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
17:00: Neftekhimik (13-13-5, 9th E) vs Avangard (20-8-3, 2nd E)
About the game
Neftekhimik is in the middle of a three-game home series and defeated Amur on Friday (4:0).
Avangard starts a three-game road trip on an eight-match winning streak.
The teams have already defeated each other this season (2:1 OT, 1:5).
Neftekhimik’s goalie Filipp Dolganov is on a 97:54 shutout streak.
Neftekhimik’s forward Nail Yakupov had a goal in each of his previous three matches.
Avangard’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov is on a nine-game scoring streak, with 20 (4+16) points over that span.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Emil Garipov.
Avangard: Mikhail Belyayev, Ilya Proskuryakov.
17:00: Severstal (14-12-5, 7th W) vs Vityaz (11-17-4, 10th W)
About the game
Severstal enters the third game of a four-match home series and defeated Vityaz yesterday (6:2).
Vityaz ends a five-game road trip following its loss to Severstal.
The Steelers have achieved two wins this season over Vityaz (3:0, 6:2), while the Moscow Region team celebrated a 5:3 win.
Severstal’s forward Alexander Skorenov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Ilya Ivantsov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Severstal’s forward Kirill Pilipenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points.
Injury list
Severstal: Ruslan Abrosimov.
Vityaz: Kirill Ustimenko.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may record his 10th KHL shutout.
