First Green Derby, Metallurg hosts SKA, Spartak faces CSKA!

Two big games are scheduled for tonight, with Ak Bars visiting Ufa for the first Green Derby of the season and Metallurg hosting SKA as the St. Petersburg franchise is having its first contest this year. Five games are on tap on an action-packed KHL Tuesday!

Metallurg lost its home opener to Lokomotiv, but today will have a great chance to redeem as SKA comes to town for another high-octane game. Magnitka was down by three by the third stanza against the Railwaymen, and two fast goals in the closing stages weren’t enough to rally back. SKA, on its hand, will have its debut in the season, and expectations are high for this game as the St. Petersburg franchise had a busy summer with several big signings.

Another hot game today will be the first Green Derby in the season, with Ak Bars paying a visit to Ufa. A full crowd is to be expected, with the teams entering the 2024-2025 season with an exciting matchup that no one will want to lose.

The action in the Eastern Conference continues with Lada hosting Lokomotiv in its home opener for the season, with the Railwaymen seeking to start a winning streak. The action then moves to the West.

In Moscow, Spartak hosts CSKA for the first Moscow Derby in the new season, while Dinamo Minsk welcomes Amur as the Belarusians kick off their season in front of a sell-out crowd at the Minsk Arena. Dinamo’s captain Vadim Shipachyov will start his hunt for Mozyakin’s record – he only lacks eight points to reach the former Metallurg star.

17:00 Metallurg (0-1-0) vs SKA

About the game

Metallurg enters the second game of a three-match home series following a loss to Lokomotiv on Thursday (2:3).

SKA starts a three-game road trip to kick off its season. The St. Petersburg franchise is at its debut for the season, and will be hunting a win over a contender to start the 2024-2025 campaign on a positive note.

17:00 Salavat Yulaev vs Ak Bars

About the game

Both sides underwent significant changes this summer, with Ak Bars changing head coach and Salavat Yulaev trying to strengthen its roster acquiring several international players from North America. The Kazan franchise, however, will boast a more stacked roster, and will feature a more ambitious lineup, but a derby is always a derby, and unpredictability will be high tonight as well. Moreover, Salavat Yulaev has won five consecutive home games against Ak Bars.

Injury list

Salavat Yulaev: Mikhail Naumenkov.

Milestone alert

Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Sharov may score his 250^th career point (currently at 249).

Ak Bars’ forward Yegor Korshkov may reach 200 league points (currently at 199).

Ak Bars’ forward Semyon Koshelev may record his 100^th KHL assist (currently at 99).

18:00 Lada vs Lokomotiv (1-0-0)

About the game

Lada will start its season with the first game of a three-match home series, while Lokomotiv ends a two-match road trip after an away win over Metallurg in the Opening Cup game last Thursday (3:2).

Injury list

Lada: Rafael Bikmullin.

Lokomotiv: Alexei Bereglazov.

Milestone alert

Lokomotiv’s young defenseman Dmitry Simashev lines up for his 100^th league appearance.

19:30 Spartak vs CSKA

About the game

Both Moscow sides will enter the new season with good ambitions. But while Spartak tried to build from its former roster – also signing Andrei Mironov off Dynamo – CSKA shuffled its lineup, returned six players from North America, and hired Ilya Vorobyov as the new head coach. It will certainly be an interesting matchup in Moscow.

Injury list

Spartak: Yegor Zaitsev.

CSKA: Christian Jaros, Colby Williams.

Milestone alert

Spartak’s forward Ansel Galimov is seeking his 200^th point in the KHL (currently at 198).

19:30 Dinamo Minsk vs Amur

About the game

Dinamo Minsk starts its season with a lone home game welcoming Amur, who is starting a four-match road trip. The Khabarovsk side lost Yegor Korshkov in this off-season, but signed several new players, including Alex Galchenyuk, and they will be a difficult matchup this season. The Belarusians also signed several new players, most noticeably Russian star Vadim Shipachyov, and the game can easily go either side.

Injury list

Amur: Ilya Talaluyev.

Milestone alert

Dinamo Minsk’s forward Roman Gorbunov may score his 100^th career point (currently at 99).

Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov may tally his 250^th goal in the KHL regular season (currently at 249).