KHL press office
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Penultimate regular season day with just three games!
The regular season’s marathon is coming to an end for five league teams today, starting with a showdown between Avtomobilist and Lokomotiv. Both sides can theoretically hope for a higher placing in the standings, but much will also depend on other team’s results within the Conference. However, the Yekaterinburg crowd should expect its team playing for a victory. Moreover, its leader Anatoly Golyshev may reach a milestone, and that may translate into some extra motivation for the home side’s top line.
Fewer significance will have the encounter between HC Sochi and Neftekhimik. Both sides are out of the playoffs, and HC Sochi will want to please its home crowd a last time this season. The Wolves will however also try to win and perhaps try some new combinations as the preparation for the next campaign will start now. Also, the Oleg Leontyev’s men will likely want to end a five-game skid.
Kunlun Red Star, instead, will have to hit the ice tomorrow as well, but today the opposition is SKA. The St. Petersburg side will seek out a victory to secure the first place in the Western Conference standings and perhaps another win in the Continental Cup as the league’s top regular-season record. Tomorrow, the Dragons will face Vityaz. Today’s game will however take place in St. Petersburg at the brand new SKA Arena.
14:30: Avtomobilist (36-23-8, 5th E) vs Lokomotiv (44-18-5, 3rd W)
About the game
Avtomobilist plays the lone home game of the series and has defeated Barys on Thursday (4:1).
Lokomotiv, who has already defeated Avtomobilist this season (3:1), end a three-game road trip on a four-match winning streak.
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 10 (4+6) points over that span.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Maxim Denezhkin.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s forward Anatoly Golyshev may reach 300 KHL points (currently at 299).
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nikita Tryamkin may record his 100th league assist (currently at 99).
17:00: HC Sochi (23-37-7, 9th W) vs Neftekhimik (26-26-15, 9th E)
About the game
HC Sochi, who has already defeated Neftekhimik this season (3:2 SO), ends a two-game home series following a win over Kunlun Red Star on Friday (6:3).
Neftekhimik plays the lone road game of the series on a five-match losing streak.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Daniil Avershin, Vasily Machulin, Yegor Spiridonov.
Neftekhimik: Nail Yakupov.
Milestone alert
HC Sochi’s forward Timur Khafizov lines up for his 200th KHL game.
17:00: Kunlun Red Star (23-37-6, 10th W) vs SKA (46-18-3, 1st W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star plays the second straight game on the road after two consecutive losses.
SKA plays its last game of the season following an away win over Dinamo Minsk on Friday (5:1).
Kunlun Red Star’s forward Tyler Wong is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Kyle Wood.
SKA: Vladimir Alistrov, Ivan Zinchenko.
Milestone alert
SKA’s defenseman Alexander Nikishin may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99)
