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Avangard and Metallurg battle for leadership!
Today, Avangard and Metallurg will clash again in the battle for the top spot in the East. Magnitka is up in the standings by only one point, and both teams have lost their previous couple of matches, which is a rarity this season.
The last encounter between the teams took place on Feb 2 in Magnitogorsk. It was a real thriller! Metallurg equalized in the last second of regulation, and in the second minute of OT, the Steelers reached a deserved victory. In both cases, the goal was scored by Danila Yurov, who last weekend repeated the record for U21 players for points scored in one regular season (47, held by Vladimir Tarasenko).
The action then moves to the West. Following a clash between Kunlun Red Star and Dinamo Minsk, Salavat Yulaev will also try and climb up in the Eastern standings paying a visit to Yaroslavl. Vityaz will host Dynamo Moscow, with the Blue-and-White’s forward Nikita Gusev at just five points from Sergei Mozyakin’s record-breaking 2016-2017 campaign with 85 points in the regular season.
Another exciting matchup is Spartak against Ak Bars. Kazan’s leading forward Alexander Radulov is eyeing 700 league points – only Mozyakin and Radulov’s teammate Vadim Shipachyov have reached those heights before.
14:00: Avangard (41-18-4, 2nd E) vs Metallurg (40-16-7, 1st E)
About the game
Avangard starts a three-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Metallurg ends a two-game road trip and has also lost its previous couple of matches.
The season series between the two sides is 2-2 (4:1, 4:3 ОТ, 2:3, 3:4 ОТ).
Today’s game is the last road match for Magnitka.
Metallurg’s forward Nikita Grebyonkin is on a six-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points over that span.
Injury list
Metallurg: Yegor Korobkin.
16:00: Kunlun Red Star (22-35-6, 9th W) vs Dinamo Minsk (29-30-5, 8th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star enters the third game of a four-match home series following a win over Lada on Thursday (3:1).
Dinamo Minsk ends a four-game road trip and lost to Dynamo Moscow also on Thursday (1:2).
The season series between the two teams is 3-2 (4:3, 0:4, 4:3 SO, 1:5, 5:2).
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Roman Gorbunov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Kyle Wood.
Dinamo Minsk: Sam Anas, Yegor Borikov, Dmitry Deryabin, Ivan Sekerin, Nikita Smirnov, Alexander Suvorov.
17:00: Vityaz (19-37-7, 11th E) vs Dynamo Moscow (41-16-6, 2nd W)
About the game
Vityaz ends a seven-game home series and lost its previous couple of matches.
Dynamo Moscow ends a four-game road trip on a four-match winning streak.
The season series between the two sides is 1-2 (2:5, 1:3, 2:1).
Today’s game will be the last home game for Vityaz of the season, and the last on the road for Dynamo Moscow.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Nikita Gusev is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (1+7) points over that span.
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Daniil Pylenkov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Injury list
Vityaz: Ilya Arkalov, Vladimir Galuzin, Ivan Yezhov.
Dynamo Moscow: Cedric Paquette, Artyom Volchenkov.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Brennan Menell may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
17:00: Lokomotiv (41-18-5, 3rd W) vs Salavat Yulaev (40-18-5, 3rd E)
About the game
Lokomotiv, who has already defeated Salavat Yulaev this season (3:1), ends a three-game road trip after defeating CSKA on Thursday (5:4 OT).
Salavat Yulaev is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to SKA also on Thursday (0:2).
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Yegor Averin.
Salavat Yulaev: Nikolai Kulemin, Joshua Leivo, Alexei Pustozyorov.
17:00: Spartak (38-18-8, 4th W) vs Ak Bars (38-23-2, 4th E)
About the game
Spartak starts a four-game home series following a loss to Severstal on Wednesday (2:4).
Ak Bars, who has already defeated Spartak this season (4:3 SO), starts a two-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Spartak’s forward Ivan Morozov is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 9 (3+6) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ forward Artyom Galimov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Spartak: Joey Keane, Andrei Loktionov, Pavel Rybar.
Ak Bars: Dmitrij Jaskin.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Radulov may reach 700 league points (currently at 696), while Dmitry Kagarlitsky may reach 500 (currently at 497).
