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Plenty of emotions ahead on an exciting KHL Saturday!
Six games are on tap today, with several exciting encounters, from Sibir hosting Spartak to Lokomotiv welcoming Salavat Yulaev. Moreover, Metallurg will seek a return to victory when the Andrei Razin’s men face Neftekhimik again, while SKA will try to build a winning streak facing Torpedo in Nizhny Novgorod. Twelve teams will hit the ice on an action-packed matchday.
In the first game of the matchday, both squads are hot as Sibir had four straight wins, with Spartak following with three consecutive victories. Novosibirk’s hot streak started with a win in Cherepovets (5:2), then went on with Sibir defeating Avangard (4:1), Neftekhimik (5:2), and Kunlun Red Star (3:1). Especially hot is the team’s captain, veteran Sergei Shirokov, who scored goals in five consecutive matches for Sibir. The Muscovites, instead, could count on almost a week of pause, with their latest game played last Saturday, a victory over Torpedo (4:2), preceded by two wins, over Dynamo Moscow (4:2) and Dinamo Minsk (5:2), respectively. Today’s game will be an interesting duel between two hot teams.
In the other game in the Eastern Conference, a struggling Metallurg faces Neftekhimik for the third time this season. The reigning Gagarin Cup champion has won only one match out of six, losing both contests to the Wolf. Monday’s loss in Cherepovets (2:5) market the fourth straight defeat for Magnitka. Neftekhimik, however, has also lost its previous couple of games, to Sibir (2:5) and Traktor (2:3), respectively. Will we see a return to victory by the Andrei Razin’s men? The team will be getting some extra motivation by the start of a five-game home series, but this may also mean more pressure to win.
The action then moves to the Western Conference. Another struggling side is Torpedo. The Nizhny Novgorod side lost its previous three games, and will be seeking a return to victory against SKA. The St. Petersburg side has shown to be in fine shape, with a recent win in Sochi with rookie Ivan Demidov collecting four points, aided by Evgeny Kuznetsov’s hat-trick of assists. On its hand, Torpedo lost to Spartak (2:4), Sochi (3:5), and Severstal (4:5), and today’s game won’t be easy for the Igor Larionov’s squad.
In the meantime, in Yaroslavl, Lokomotiv hosts Salavat Yulaev. Both won their latest game, and both are among the leaders in their conference, with the Railwaymen topping the West tied with Severstal, and Salavat Yulaev being just one point behind Traktor. And another common trait is that both teams have their leaders in good shape, with the Ufa team having Joshua Leivo on an eleven-game scoring streak, if considering also last season’s encounters, and Loko’s Alex Radulov having 5 (3+2) points in the latest five matches. Once again, it will be an exciting match which can easily go either way.
The other Eastern Conference’s leader, Severstal, pays a visit to Belarus today, facing Dinamo Minsk. The Belarusians had a good start of the 2024-2025 campaign, but has most recently lost to Dynamo Moscow. Severstal, instead, will be looking for its fourth straight win after defeating CSKA (4:2), Metallurg (5:2), and Torpedo (5:4). The Andrei Razin’s team shown that they can beat any opponent, and considering them as the favorites for tonight’s game isn’t out of question.
A showdown between Vityaz and Barys will close an exciting KHL matchday. Both teams will be looking to a return to victory and will have to enter the battle with several players sitting on injury list.
13:30: Sibir (4-3-0) vs Spartak (4-0-1)
About the game
Sibir enters the fourth game of a six-match home series on a four-game winning streak.
Spartak starts a three-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
Sibir’s forward Sergei Shirokov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (5+2) points over that span.
Sibir’s defenseman Trevor Murphy is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points.
Spartak’s defenseman Andrei Mironov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Spartak’s forward Ivan Morozov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points.
Injury list
Sibir: Dmitry Ovchinnikov.
Spartak: Yegor Zaitsev.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s defenseman Dmitry Vishnevsky and forward Ansel Galimov may reach 200 KHL points. The former is currently at 199, while the forward scored 198.
14:30: Metallurg (1-5-0) vs Neftekhimik (4-3-0)
About the game
Metallurg starts a five-game home series on a four-match losing streak.
Neftekhimik, who has defeated Metallurg twice this season (2:0, 3:2), ends a three-game road trip following two straight losses.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s defenseman Vladislav Leontyev lines up for his 100th career game.
17:00: Torpedo (2-4-1) vs SKA (3-2-1)
About the game
Torpedo plays the lone home game of the series following three straight defeats.
SKA ends a two-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
Injury list
Torpedo: Andrei Belevich, Anton Berlyov, Mikhail Orlov.
SKA: Vasily Glotov, Ivan Zinchenko.
Milestone alert
Torpedo’s defenseman Kirill Kirsanov lines up for his 100th KHL game.
Torpedo’s forward Dmitry Kagarlitsky may reach 500 KHL points (currently at 497).
Torpedo’s goalie Ivan Bocharov may record his 30th career shutout.
17:00: Lokomotiv (5-1-0) vs Salavat Yulaev (4-1-0)
About the game
Lokomotiv enters the second game of a five-match home series following a win over Lada on Tuesday (2:1).
Salavat Yulaev starts a three-game road trip and most recently defeated Avangard, also on Tuesday (4:2).
Lokomotiv’s forward Daniil But had an assist in each of his previous three games.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Joshua Leivo is on an eleven-game scoring streak, with 15 (6+9) points over that span.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Denis Alexeyev, Dmitry Simashev.
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Radulov may score his 250th goal in the league (currently at 248).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev may record his 20th KHL shutout.
17:00: Vityaz (2-4-0) vs Barys (1-4-1)
About the game
Vityaz plays the lone home game of the series following a loss to CSKA on Thursday (2:3).
Barys ends a three-game road trip and lost to Ak Bars also on Thursday (0:5).
Injury list
Vityaz: Ilya Arkalov, Vladimir Galuzin, Dean Stewart, Vladislav Tsitsyura, Grigory Vashchenko.
Barys: Viktor Antipin, Nathan Beaulieu, Batyrlan Muratov, Damir Zhafyarov.
17:10: Dinamo Minsk (3-2-0) vs Severstal (5-2-0)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk plays the lone home game of the series following a loss to Dynamo Moscow on Sunday (3:6).
Severstal starts a five-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Jordan Gross had at least an assist in each of his previous four games, totaling five helpers.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Nicolas Meloche is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Kirill Pilipenko is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 9 (6+3) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Nikita Korostelyov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points.
Severstal’s forward Danil Aimurzin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Severstal’s forward Mikhail Ilyin had an assist in each of his previous four games.
Severstal’s forward Adam Liska is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Andrei Kareyev.
