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Spartak trying to return to victory facing Metallurg, Loko could jump into playoffs
In today’s top game, Spartak faces off against Metallurg, each team carrying contrasting momentum into the game. Spartak, grappling with a disheartening five-game losing streak, is eager to break free from the slump and reclaim the taste of victory. On the flip side, Metallurg enters the contest riding high on a three-game winning streak and currently commands the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The stakes are intensified by Metallurg’s previous triumph over Spartak earlier in the season, securing a 3:1 victory. As the clash unfolds, Spartak finds itself in a pivotal position, striving to climb back up the Western Conference standings from their current 4th
However, the matchday will start with a real playoff struggle between Admiral and Sibir. The Vladivostok side has lost its previous seven games, but they remain a tough opponent. Sibir was on the verge of getting surpassed by Amur, but two straight wins – one of them over the Tigers – put them back in security in eighth place, with a four-point gap over Neftekhimik, who has just surpassed Amur. The Wolves, on their hand, are called to a difficult challenge. Not only they need to close the gap with Sibir, but they also host Ak Bars today. Neftekhimik has already defeated Kazan this season, but facing Ak Bars is always hard.
In the Western Conference, the action starts with Kunlun Red Star hosting Salavat Yulaev. Then, Lokomotiv faces Vityaz at home – the Railwaymen can become the first team to qualify for postseason should they achieve a regulation victory today. The battle for the eighth spot continues, with Severstal facing SKA and Dinamo Minsk welcoming Traktor. Both sides are on a good spot to reach to the postseason, with the Steelers having eight points over the Bisons, who have a nine-point advantage over ninth seed Kunlun Red Star.
10:00: Admiral (14-24-11, 12th E) vs Sibir (23-19-9, 8th E)
About the game
Admiral ends a four-game home series on a seven-match losing streak.
Sibir ends a four-game road trip on a two-game winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (3:2 OT, 1:4, 2:4).
Injury list
Admiral: Pavel Makhanovsky, Pavel Shen.
Milestone alert
Admiral’s defenseman Evgeny Lisovets lines up for his 500th KHL game.
14:00: Spartak (30-14-7, 4th W) vs Metallurg (33-12-6, 1st E)
About the game
Spartak enters the second game of a four-match home series on a five-game losing streak.
Metallurg, who has already defeated Spartak this season (3:1), starts a two-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
Metallurg’s forward Igor Geraskin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Spartak: Ivan Morozov, Daniel Usmanov.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s defenseman Valery Orekhov lines up for his 300th KHL game.
14:00: Kunlun Red Star (16-29-6, 9th W) vs Salavat Yulaev (30-16-3, 3rd E)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star, who has already defeated Salavat Yulaev this season (2:1), plays the lone home game of the series following a loss to Severstal on Friday (1:2).
Salavat Yulaev enters the second game of a four-match road trip on a two-game losing streak.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Ryan Sproul, Zach Yuen.
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin, Joshua Leivo.
17:00: Neftekhimik (21-21-9, 9th E) vs Ak Bars (28-19-2, 7th E)
About the game
Neftekhimik ends a two-game home series following a win over Salavat Yulaev on Friday (2:0).
Ak Bars is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Traktor also on Friday (1:3).
The teams have already defeated each other this season (2:1, 0:4).
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Rafael Bikmullin, Emil Garipov, Ilya Khokhlov, Ruslan Petrishchev, Nail Yakupov, Artyom Zagidulin.
Ak Bars: Dmitrij Jaskin.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Radulov may reach 450 league assists (currently at 449).
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov may celebrate his 30th KHL shutout.
17:00: Lokomotiv (33-12-4, 1st W) vs Vityaz (15-28-6, 10th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv starts a six-game home series fresh off a win over Lada on Thursday (3:2 SO).
Vityaz starts a four-game road trip on a four-match losing streak.
The teams have already defeated each other this season (1:2, 5:2).
Lokomotiv’s forward Artur Kayumov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Yegor Averin, Nikita Cherepanov.
Vityaz: Scott Wilson.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Daniil Tesanov lines up for his 100th league appearance.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Ivan Bocharov may record his 30th KHL shutout, while Vityaz’s Dmitry Shikin may reach 10.
17:00: Severstal (24-18-7, 7th W) vs SKA (33-15-2, 4th W)
About the game
Severstal ends a five-game home series on a four-match winning streak.
SKA, who has already defeated Severstal twice this season (4:1, 5:2), ends a three-game road trip following two straight victories.
Severstal’s forward Nikita Korostelyov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 8 (5+3) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Adam Liska is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
SKA’s forward Anatoly Gritsyuk is on a six-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points.
Injury list
Severstal: Dmitry Moiseyev, Konstantin Shostak, Dmitry Shugayev.
SKA: Vadim Alistrov, Andrei Pedan.
Milestone alert
SKA’s forward Artyom Shvets-Rogovoi may line up for his 300th KHL game.
17:10: Dinamo Minsk (21-22-5, 8th W) vs Traktor (28-18-5, 5th E)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk is in the middle of a five-game home series and lost to Torpedo on Thursday (0:3).
Traktor, who has already defeated Dinamo Minsk this season (3:2), plays the lone road game of the series on a two-match winning streak.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Vitaly Pinchuk, Brett Ritchie, Ivan Sekerin, Alexander Suvorov.
Traktor: Andrei Chibisov.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Anton Burdasov may reach 200 KHL tallies (currently at 199).
