KHL press office
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Another big day for the playoff standings and SKA’s first game in its new place!
The KHL matchday will start in Omsk, with the fourth Siberian derby of the season between Avangard and Sibir. Of course, the Novosibirsk side will be pushing the gas to try and return to the top eight in the Eastern Conference. Sibir is just a couple of points behind Neftekhimik and Amur – tied with 62 points – and they desperately need a win to return to playoff places. The Wolves will face no simpler opponents as they pay a visit to Nizhny Novgorod. It will be the second encounter between Torpedo and Neftekhimik, with Torpedo taking the first game earlier in the season. Moreover, should the Wolves earn at least one point today, Admiral will be officially out from the playoff qualification run.
There’s still another game scheduled in the East, with Metallurg hosting Dynamo Moscow as the two teams collide for the second time this season.
In the West, other than Torpedo facing Neftekhimik, there are other three games. CSKA will be seeking a return to victory after four straight losses in an away game against Vityaz, while SKA plays its inaugural game at the brand-new SKA Arena facing HC Sochi. Despite the difference in the standings, the Black Sea franchise is up in the season series between the two sides, having collected two victories to one. A regulation loss today would mean the end for HC Sochi’s playoff hopes, and even going to OT may be not enough, depending on the result of the remaining game of the matchday.
Then, a showdown between Severstal and Dinamo Minsk. With the Steelers having already clinched a playoff spot, the game will bear more importance to the Belarusians, who will have a chance to book their ticket to the postseason if they won’t lose in regulation today. In this case, all the playoffs’ participants in the West will be confirmed. It will be the second game in two days for Severstal after yesterday’s win over Lokomotiv (3:2 SO).
14:00: Avangard (40-16-4, 2nd E) vs Sibir (25-27-10, 10th E)
About the game
Avangard ends a three-game home series following a loss to Spartak on Thursday (3:5).
Sibir ends a four-game road trip after a win over Neftekhimik on Friday (2:1 OT).
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (2:1, 3:4, 3:2 ОТ).
Avangard’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling five helpers, while defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov had six assists in the same span.
Sibir’s forward Taylor Beck is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Sibir’s forward Vladimir Butuzov had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four helpers.
Sibir’s forward Andy Andreoff is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (5+1) points.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s defenseman Ziyat Paigin lines up for his 400th KHL game.
14:30: Metallurg (40-15-8, 1st E) vs Dynamo Moscow (38-16-6, 4th W)
About the game
Metallurg, who has already defeated Dynamo Moscow this season (5:3), ends a three-game home series following two straight wins.
Dynamo Moscow starts a two-game road trip fresh off a win over Avtomobilist on Tuesday (5:3).
Metallurg’s forward Nikita Grebyonkin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
Metallurg’s defenseman Valery Orekhov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Brennan Menell had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
Metallurg: Yegor Korobkin.
Dynamo Moscow: Cedric Paquette, Artyom Volchenkov.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Ivan Murano lines up for his 300th league appearance.
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Brennan Menell may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
17:00: Torpedo (34-22-5, 5th W) vs Neftekhimik (25-24-12, 8th E)
About the game
Torpedo, who has already defeated Neftekhimik this season (3:2 OT), enters the fifth game of a seven-match home series following two straight wins.
Neftekhimik starts a five-game road trip after its loss to Sibir on Friday (1:2 OT).
Torpedo’s forward Yegor Vinogradov and Neftekhimik’s forward Alexander Dergachyov are on an identical three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Torpedo: Vasily Atanasov, Kirill Kirsanov.
Neftekhimik: Nail Yakupov.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s defenseman Ilya Khokhlov lines up for his 400th KHL game.
17:00: Vityaz (19-35-7, 11th E) vs CSKA (30-25-6, 7th W)
About the game
Vityaz enters the fifth game of a seven-match home series after a win over Severstal on Thursday (2:1 OT).
CSKA, who has defeated Vityaz twice this season (9:1, 4:1), is in the middle of a five-game road trip and lost its previous four matches.
Vityaz’s forward Scott Wilson had at least a goal in each of his previous three games, totaling four tallies.
Injury list
Vityaz: Ilya Arkalov, Vladimir Galuzin, Ivan Vorobyov, Ivan Yezhov.
CSKA: Marsel Ibragimov.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s forward Mikhail Grigorenko lines up for his 400th KHL game.
CSKA’s forward Sergei Plotnikov may reach 500 league points (currently at 499).
17:00: SKA (41-17-3, 1st W) vs HC Sochi (20-34-7, 10th W)
About the game
SKA starts a five-game home series fresh off a win over Barys on Thursday (2:1 SO).
HC Sochi ends a three-game road trip following a loss to Torpedo on Friday (3:5).
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (4:5, 4:5, 7:2).
SKA’s defenseman Alexander Nikishin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
SKA’s forward Marat Khairullin is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 13 (3+10) points.
Injury list
SKA: Vladimir Alistrov, Johan Mattsson.
HC Sochi: Daniil Avershin, Kirill Rasskazov, Yegor Spiridonov.
17:00: Severstal (32-21-8, 6th W) vs Dinamo Minsk (28-28-5, 8th W)
About the game
Severstal enters the second game of a four-match home series after defeating Lokomotiv yesterday (3:2 SO).
Dinamo Minsk starts a four-game road trip fresh off a win over CSKA on Thursday (4:1).
Severstal has defeated Dinamo Minsk three times this season (2:1, 4:2, 4:2)
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Alexander Volkov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Rob Hamilton had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
Severstal: Ruslan Abrosimov, Konstantin Shostak, Dmitry Shugayev.
Dinamo Minsk: Sam Anas, Yegor Borikov, Dmitry Deryabin, Ivan Sekerin, Nikita Smirnov, Alexander Suvorov.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Moroz lines up for his 100th KHL game.
