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Do or die for Neftekhimik in Minsk
Sibir has recently lost all hopes for a playoff qualification, thus only Amur and Neftekhimik are left to battle out for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. The Tigers are currently sitting in eighth place, but they will rest today. Neftekhimik instead will take the ice against Dinamo Minsk in the matchday’s central game. The Wolves absolutely need a win in Belarus to retain their hopes – an OT/SO loss won’t get them out by mathematics, but losing out another point will be a tough one for Neftekhimik, who lost its previous three games.
Another team on a losing streak is Lada. The KHL newcomer has lost its previous six matches, but has clinched a playoff spot and is ready to return to victory as the opponent today is Sibir. On its end, the Novosibirsk side will want to please its crowd in its last home game of the season.
Having just climbed being surpassed at the summit in the East by Magnitka, Avangard today will be busy on a home game against Avtomobilist trying to fly back to the top. The Hawks have a strong record of nine straight home victories over the Motormen as they will try to reach ten. That said, Avtomobilist is on good shape, with two straight wins and leaders Stephane Da Costa and Anatoly Golyshev with active scoring streak.
The action moves then to the Western Conference for three more games. Spartak faces Torpedo for the sixth time this year – it’s a possible playoff matchup and it will be interesting to see whether the Igor Larionov’s young guns will be able to revert the trend and get a win as the Red-and-Whites are up 4-1 in the season series.
As interesting as this matchup seems to be SKA facing Severstal. Both teams are winning games, and Severstal managed to get one game off the St. Petersburg giant, who replied with two victories. Both sides will be seeking out a win, and the home crowd will be certainly pleased by high-level hockey as SKA ends its first series in its new home.
A showdown between Kunlun Red Star and HC Sochi ends a remarkable KHL Tuesday. The Dragons have defeated the Black Sea franchise four straight times this season, and they will be battling out for a fifth victory.
15:30: Sibir (26-28-10, 10th E) vs Lada (29-21-14, 7th E)
About the game
Sibir, who will play its last home game of the season, ends a two-game home series after a win over Neftekhimik on Thursday (2:1 SO).
Lada enters the third game of a six-match road trip after six straight losses.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (2:3 SO, 2:1 ОТ, 1:4).
Injury list
Lada: Nikolai Demidov, Alexei Ozhgikhin, Nikolai Vladimirov.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s defenseman Ziyat Paigin may line up for his 400th league appearance.
16:30: Avangard (42-18-4, 1st E) vs Avtomobilist (35-22-8, 5th E)
About the game
Avangard enters the fourth game of a five-match home series following a win over Metallurg on Saturday (3:0).
Avtomobilist starts a two-match road trip on a two-game winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (3:2 OT, 1:5, 2:4).
Avangard’s goalie Pavel Khomchenko is on a 60:04 shutout streak.
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points over that span.
Avtomobilist’s forward Anatoly Golyshev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Avangard: Roman Abrosimov, Ivan Telegin.
Avtomobilist: Maxim Denezhkin, Valery Sitnikov.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nikita Tryamkin may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (30-30-5, 8th W) vs Neftekhimik (26-25-14, 9th E)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk, who has defeated Neftekhimik this season (5:4 OT), starts a two-game home series fresh off a victory over Kunlun Red Star on Saturday (4:2).
Neftekhimik ends a three-game road trip on a three-match losing streak.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Roman Gorbunov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Sam Anas, Yegor Borikov, Dmitry Deryabin, Ivan Sekerin, Nikita Smirnov, Alexander Suvorov.
Neftekhimik: Bulat Shafigullin, Nail Yakupov.
19:30: Spartak (38-19-8, 4th W) vs Torpedo (34-25-6, 6th W)
About the game
Spartak enters the second game of a four-match home series following two straight losses.
Torpedo ends a four-game road trip on a four-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 4-1 (4:2, 4:3, 5:2, 1:2 SO, 3:2).
Injury list
Spartak: Joey Keane, Andrei Loktionov, Patrik Rybar.
Torpedo: Kirill Kirsanov.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s goalie Andrei Kareyev lines up for his 200th KHL game, while Torpedo’s forward Yegor Vinogradov reaches 100.
19:30: Kunlun Red Star (22-36-6, 10th W) vs HC Sochi (22-36-7, 9th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star ends a four-game home series following a loss to Dinamo Minsk on Saturday (2:4).
HC Sochi ends a two-game road trip after a loss to Avtomobilist on Sunday (1:2).
The Dragons have defeated HC Sochi four times so far this season (3:0, 5:4 ОТ, 4:3 ОТ, 4:2).
Kunlun Red Star’s forward Brandon Yip is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Kyle Wood.
HC Sochi: Daniil Avershin, Vasily Machulin, Yegor Spiridonov.
19:30: SKA (45-17-3, 1st W) vs Severstal (35-21-8, 6th W)
About the game
SKA ends a five-game home series on a five-match winning streak.
Severstal starts a four-game road trip on a four-match winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (4:1, 5:2, 2:3).
SKA’s goalie Nikita Serebryakov is on an 87:27 shutout streak.
SKA’s forward Mikhail Vorobyov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Danil Aimurzin is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Injury list
SKA: Vladimir Alistrov, Alex Galchenyuk.
Severstal: Timur Mukhanov, Konstantin Shostak, Dmitry Shugayev.
Milestone alert
SKA’s forward Mikhail Vorobyov lines up for his 300th KHL game.
SKA’s defenseman Alexander Nikishin may reach 100 league assists (currently at 99).
