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Dynamo Moscow may clinch a playoff spot today!
It will be a hot night in Moscow, with Dynamo Moscow and Dinamo Minsk facing off in need of points – albeit for opposite reasons. The Muscovites have a good chance to clinch a playoff spot, while Dinamo Minsk is fighting to protect its place in the Western top eight after a home loss to Kunlun Red Star. However, the Bisons have an 11-point advantage over Vityaz, and they shouldn’t have too many problems in qualifying for postseason. Dynamo Moscow, on its hand, may clinch a playoff spot should they avoid a regulation loss today or Vityaz loses to Lada later in the afternoon.
The Moscow Region team will travel to Togliatti to face Lada – Vityaz has already achieved a victory over the KHL newcomer this season, while Traktor welcomes HC Sochi. The Black Sea franchise has recently halted a 15-game skid, and will be looking for a second straight wins as they travel to the Southern Urals to face seventh-placed Chelyabinsk side, who has lost some ground of late.
13:00: Dynamo Moscow (34-14-4, 2nd W) vs Dinamo Minsk (23-23-5, 8th W)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow, who has defeated Dinamo Minsk twice this season (2:1, 4:1), enters the third game of a four-match home series following a loss to Neftekhimik on Thursday (1:2).
Dinamo Minsk starts a four-game road trip after a loss to Kunlun Red Star on Wednesday (2:5).
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Cedric Paquette is on a six-game scoring streak, with 9 (7+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Maxim Dzhioshvili.
Dinamo Minsk: Vitaly Pinchuk, Brett Ritchie, Ivan Sekerin, Alexander Suvorov.
15:30: Traktor (28-19-6, 7th E) vs HC Sochi (15-31-6, 11th W)
About the game
Traktor is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost its previous couple of matches.
HC Sochi, who has already defeated Traktor this season (4:3), starts a four-game home series fresh off a win over Ak Bars on Tuesday (3:1).
Traktor’s goalie Zach Fucale is on a 110:47 shutout streak.
Injury list
Traktor: Andrei Chibisov.
HC Sochi: Timur Khafizov, Kirill Rasskazov, Anton Sagadeyev.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Anton Burdasov may reach 200 KHL goals (currently at 199).
HC Sochi’s defenseman Artyom Volkov may line up for his 400th league appearance.
16:00: Lada (26-17-11, 5th E) vs Vityaz (17-29-6, 10th W)
About the game
Lada starts a three-game home series following a loss to Ak Bars on Thursday (1:5).
Vityaz, who has already defeated Lada this season (1:0 OT), ends a four-game road trip after defeating Torpedo also on Thursday (2:1).
Lada’s goalie Vladislav Podyapolsky is on a 62:04 shutout streak.
Lada’s forward Dmitry Kugryshev and Vityaz’s forward Alexander Yaremchuk are on an identical three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Lada: Pavel Koltygin, Alexei Ozhgikhin, Nikolai Vladimirov.
Vityaz: Scott Wilson.
Milestone alert
Lada’s forward Donat Stalnov lines up for his 100th KHL game.
