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Nine games on a big KHL matchday!
The KHL Friday will start in Novosibirsk, with Sibir and Salavat Yulaev facing off for the second time this season, with the Ufa team taking the first edition of the challenge. Then, Traktor hosts Barys trying to return to victory after two straight losses. Barys, on its turn, won its previous four matches, and is back to playoffs contention.
Then, Neftekhimik plays again after yesterday’s game against Lada – this time Metallurg comes to town as the teams face for the fourth time this season, with three previous Magnitka victories. Neftekhimik needed an OT yesterday to defeat Lada – the team may be a bit tired after such an effort. In the last today’s game in the Eastern Conference, Ak Bars welcomes Admiral in its first 2024 game, trying to build on their win in the Green Derby against Salavat Yulaev in 2023’s final match.
The action then moves to the West. HC Sochi entertains Avtomobilist at home, trying to return to victory after eleven straight losses. An important game is scheduled in Cherepovets, where Severstal hosts Vityaz. The Moscow Region team is trying to rally back to playoffs spot, but it’s currently six points behind eight-seeded Dinamo Minsk. On their hand, the Belarusians will host Amur as both teams are fighting for a postseason spot, with the Tigers being currently the ninth seed in the East.
In Moscow, the first Moscow Derby of the season will see CSKA facing Spartak, while in St. Petersburg, SKA will host Lokomotiv. Both will be exciting and unpredictable games, with profound implications on the standings.
13:30: Sibir (21-18-8, 8th E) vs Salavat Yulaev (28-14-3, 3rd E)
About the game
Sibir ends a five-game home series following a win over Admiral on Wednesday (4:1).
Salavat Yulaev, who has already defeated Sibir this season (2:0), ends a five-game road trip and has defeated Avangard also on Wednesday (4:2).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Chmelevski is on a six-game scoring streak, with 8 (2+6) points over that span.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Ivan Drozdov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Joshua Leivo is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 9 (4+5) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s defenseman Dinar Khafizullin had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four points.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Sergei Shmelyov.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Taylor Beck may score his 100th KHL tally (currently at 99).
14:30: Traktor (25-17-5, 5th E) vs Barys (16-23-7, 11th E)
About the game
Traktor starts a four-game home series after losing its previous couple of matches.
Barys enters the second game of a four-match road trip on a four-game winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (1:2, 2:0, 1:5).
Traktor’s forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Barys’ defenseman David Sklenicka is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points.
Barys’ forward Anthony Camara is also on a seven-game scoring streak, with 10 (8+2) points.
Injury list
Traktor: Andrei Chibisov.
Barys: Alex Grant.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Anton Burdasov may net his 200th tally in the league (currently at 198).
Barys’ forward Pontus Aberg lines up for his 100th KHL match.
17:00: Neftekhimik (18-20-9, 9th E) vs Metallurg (30-12-5, 1st E)
About the game
Neftekhimik ends a two-game home series on a three-game winning streak.
Metallurg, who has already defeated Neftekhimik three times this season (8:3, 3:1, 4:3 SO), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous three matches.
Neftekhimik’s forward Jean-Sebastien Dea is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Metallurg’s forward Danila Yurov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Rafael Bikmullin, Emil Garipov, Ilya Khokhlov, Ruslan Petrishchev, Nail Yakupov.
Metallurg: Danila Kvartalnov.
17:00: Ak Bars (25-18-2, 7th E) vs Admiral (14-22-9, 12th E)
About the game
Ak Bars, who has already defeated Admiral twice this season (2:1, 3:0), is in the middle of five-game home series and defeated Salavat Yulaev on Dec 30 (3:2).
Admiral ends a two-game road trip on a three-match losing streak.
Ak Bars’ forward Artyom Lukoyanov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Dmitrij Jaskin.
Admiral: Pavel Makhanovsky.
17:00: HC Sochi (14-27-6, 11th W) vs Avtomobilist (26-17-5, 6th W)
About the game
HC Sochi ends a five-game home series and lost its previous eleven games.
Avtomobilist starts a three-game road trip fresh off a win over Traktor on Wednesday (4:3).
Injury list
HC Sochi: Kirill Rasskazov, Maxim Tretyak.
Avtomobilist: Semyon Kizimov, Denis Osipov, Kirill Vorobyov.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s forward Curtis Valk may score his 200th KHL point (currently at 199).
17:00: Severstal (21-18-7, 7th W) vs Vityaz (15-25-6, 9th W)
About the game
Severstal enters the second game of a five-match home series following a win over Amur on Wednesday (4:2).
Vityaz ends a two-game road trip following a loss to SKA also on Wednesday (1:6).
The season series between the two teams is 2-2 (3:0, 3:5, 6:2, 3:5).
Injury list
Severstal: Christian Jaros, Dmitry Moiseyev, Konstantin Shostak.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s forward Scott Wilson lines up for his 100th KHL game.
17:00: SKA (31-14-1, 3rd W) vs Lokomotiv (30-11-4, 2nd W)
About the game
SKA enters the third game of a four-match home series on a four-game winning streak.
Lokomotiv starts a four-game road trip following a loss to Barys on Wednesday (4:5 SO).
The season series between the two team is 2-2 (2:3, 2:3, 3:2, 2:1).
SKA’s goalie Nikita Serebryakov is on a 102:03 shutout streak.
SKA’s defenseman Alexander Nikishin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points over that span.
SKA’s forward Vasily Glotov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 11 (7+4) points.
SKA’s defenseman Artyom Zemchyonok had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four points.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev is on a 68:47 shutout streak.
Injury list
SKA: Vadim Alistrov, Andrei Pedan.
Lokomotiv: Yegor Averin.
Milestone alert
SKA’s defenseman Artyom Zemchyonok may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Shalunov lines up for his 600th league appearance.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Ivan Bocharov may record his 30th career shutout.
17:30: CSKA (23-18-4, 6th W) vs Spartak (30-11-6, 1st W)
About the game
CSKA is in the middle of a seven-game home series and defeated Severstal on Dec 30 (3:1).
Spartak enters the fourth game of a six-match road trip following a loss to Vityaz also on Dec 30 (4:5 OT).
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (3:2 OT, 3:5, 3:0).
Injury list
Spartak: Ivan Morozov.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s forward Ilya Kovalchuk may reach 400 KHL points (currently at 398).
19:30: Dinamo Minsk (19-21-4, 8th W) vs Amur (19-18-8, 9th E)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk plays the lone home game of the series after a win over HC Sochi on Dec 30 (7:4).
Amur, who has already defeated the Bisons this season (2:1), ends a two-game road trip following a loss to Severstal on Wednesday (2:4).
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Sam Anas is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 9 (3+6) points over that span.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Vitaly Pinchuk, Brett Ritchie, Alexander Suvorov.
Amur: Alex Broadhurst, Pyotr Khokhryakov, Yakov Rylov.
