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SKA against Torpedo, do or die in the Eastern Conference
The KHL action will start early in the Far East, with Amur hosting Barys for the second time in three days. The Tigers showed plenty of determination lately, winning six straight games and emerging as the eighth seed in the East, surpassing both Neftekhimik and Sibir. A win by Amur over the Kazakhs would kill any postseason hope for the Novosibirsk side.
The second Far East game will have less dramatic implications, with Traktor facing Admiral for the fourth time this season before returning home to Chelyabinsk for a final home series before kicking off the Gagarin Cup playoffs. Another team who has already clinched a postseason spot is Avtomobilist. The Motormen face HC Sochi today.
The action then moves to the West. The showdown between Severstal and Neftekhimik can have profound consequences over the Eastern Conference standings. The Wolves need a win to try and catch up with the Tigers – who face Barys earlier – but a loss to Severstal can also send Lada to the postseason, even if the KHL newcomer isn’t going to play today.
In the closing game of the matchday, SKA hosts Torpedo. The Nizhny Novgorod side isn’t in its best moment, and it’ll be interesting to see whether Igor Larionov will try to change his lineup or approach to adapt to the ever-changing difficulties of the season, especially now with the Gagarin Cup playoff approaching.
10:00: Amur (27-24-12, 8th E) vs Barys (20-36-8, 12th E)
About the game
Amur ends a four-game home series on a six-game winning streak.
Barys ends a four-game road trip after a loss to Amur on Friday (1:4).
The Tigers have defeated Barys three times this season so far (3:2 ОТ, 2:0, 4:1).
Amur’s forward Yegor Korshkov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points over that span.
Amur’s forward Konstantin Bocharov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.
Amur’s forward Vladislav Barulin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points.
Injury list
Amur: Evgeny Grachyov, Pyotr Khokhryakov, Sergei Lapin, Cameron Lee.
Barys: Alex Grant, Batyrlan Muratov.
Milestone alert
Amur’s forward Alex Broadhurst lines up for his 100th KHL game.
Amur’s forward Alexander Khokhlachyov may reach 300 KHL points (currently at 299).
10:00: Admiral (20-33-11, 11th E) vs Traktor (34-24-6, 6th E)
About the game
Admiral ends a four-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Traktor ends a six-game road trip and defeated Admiral on Friday (3:2).
Traktor is at its last road game of the season and has defeated the Sailors three times this season so far (3:2 ОТ, 6:1, 3:2).
Admiral’s forward Dmitry Buchelnikov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over this span.
Admiral’s forward Alexander Gorshkov is on a five-game scoring streak with 6 (1+5) points.
Injury list
Admiral: Evgeny Lisovets, Pavel Shen.
Traktor: Andrei Chibisov, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev.
Milestone alert
Three Traktor’s players may reach points milestone: forward Anton Burdasov – 400 points, defenseman Albert Yarullin – 300, and defenseman Grigory Dronov – 100. All three only lack one point to reach their achievement.
14:30: Avtomobilist (34-22-8, 5th E) vs HC Sochi (22-35-7, 9th W)
About the game
Avtomobilist, who has already defeated HC Sochi this season (4:1), ends a three-game home series following a win over Avangard on Thursday (5:2).
HC Sochi starts a two-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
HC Sochi’s forward Nikolai Chebykin is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
HC Sochi’s forward Daniil Seroukh is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (4+1) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Semyon Kizimov.
HC Sochi: Danil Avershin, Vasily Machulin, Yegor Spiridonov.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nikita Tryamkin may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
17:00: Severstal (34-21-8, 5th W) vs Neftekhimik (26-25-13, 9th E)
About the game
Severstal, who has already defeated Neftekhimik this season (5:3), ends a four-game home series on a three-game winning streak.
Neftekhimik enters the fourth game of a five-match road trip after two straight losses.
Severstal plays its last home game of this year’s regular season.
Severstal’s forward Danil Aimurzin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Severstal: Nikita Korostelyov, Timur Mukhanov, Kirill Pilipenko, Konstantin Shostak, Dmitry Shugayev.
Neftekhimik: Nail Yakupov.
17:00: SKA (44-17-3, 1st W) vs Torpedo (34-24-6, 6th W)
About the game
SKA enters the fourth game of a five-match home series on a four-game winning streak.
Torpedo enters the third game of a four-match road trip on a three-game losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (3:4, 4:3 SO, 1:3).
SKA’s forward Mikhail Vorobyov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Injury list
SKA: Vladimir Alistrov, Alex Galchenyuk, Johan Mattsson.
Torpedo: Kirill Kirsanov.
Milestone alert
SKA’s defenseman Alexander Nikishin may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
