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Third Siberian Derby today!
The Siberian Derby is back, with Avangard hosting Sibir seeking a win after a completely unexpected seven defeats in a row. Three games are on tap today, all hosted in the Eastern Conference, with Metallurg welcoming Lada and Barys facing Torpedo seeking to climb up from the bottom of the standings.
Avangard is currently trying to return to victory, although for now it looks like a very difficult mission. The Hawks have lost their latest seven games—a long streak—but sooner or later a win will come. The opposition today is again Sibir. The two sides have already disputed two Siberian Derbies this season, with Avangard getting the upper hand in the first edition – it was the first game of the year for both – but losing to the Novosibirsk side in the second one. Sibir also lost the most recent game, but they are in a much better, top-four position in the Eastern Conference standings, while Avangard slipped down to eighth place. Despite its recent loss to Avtomobilist, several Sibir’s leaders are on a scoring streak, including veteran Sergei Shirokov. Historically, Avangard has a much better record in the Siberian Derby, with 47 wins in 69 editions, but Sibir grabbed the latest contest achieving a 4:1 win, with a hat-trick of assist by defenseman Trevor Murphy and two points from Shirokov and Taylor Beck. However, Avangard will start a home series and will want to get full advantage of the home ice support to return back on track with a win.
Another struggling side is Metallurg. The reigning champion didn’t have a good start of the season, and has lost its previous couple of matches, and only three wins in ten games wasn’t what Magnitka was expecting. The Andrei Razin’s men have most recently lost to Spartak and Ak Bars – both with a 3:4 score – and today they will face Lada. Only one point separates the two sides in the Eastern Conference standings, but Magnitka has one game more. Moreover, Metallurg will play the last home game of the current series, and the team will have to fly following today’s match. On its hand, Lada has defeated Neftekhimik (5:4 SO) in its latest game and will travel to Magnitogorsk pumped with the recent victory.
In the last game of the matchday Barys hosts Torpedo. It has been a rocky season for the Kazakhs so far, with only two wins achieved so far. Barys was also the first team to fire its head coach this year, with Vyacheslav Butsayev replacing David Nemirovsky. Butsayev did win his first game, but on Saturday, they suffered from a shutout loss to Vityaz, failing to climb up in the standings as the team is still the last seed in the East. Torpedo also had a difficult period, but the Igor Larionov’s young guns won their latest three games and they will try to make it a four-game winning streak as the team ends its current road trip. Torpedo has just defeated Kunlun Red Star (4:2), Admiral (4:2 again), and Amur (7:2). Several leading players are on an active scoring streak for Torpedo, and Barys will have to work hard to stop them.
16:30: Avangard (3-6-1, 8th E) vs Sibir (6-4-0, 3rd E)
About the game
Avangard starts a three-game home series and lost its previous seven matches.
Sibir starts a five-game road trip following a loss to Avtomobilist on Saturday (2:4).
The two teams have already faced and defeated each other this season (2:1, 1:4).
Sibir’s defenseman Trevor Murphy is on a six-game scoring streak, with 11 (2+9) points over that span.
Sibir’s forward Sergei Shirokov is also on a six-game scoring streak, with 8 (6+2) points.
Sibir’s forward Vladimir Butuzov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.
Injury list
Avangard: Mikhail Berdin, Vladimir Tkachyov.
Sibir: Dmitry Ovchinnikov.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Vladimir Butuzov may tally his 100th goal in the KHL (currently at 99).
17:00: Metallurg (3-7-0, 11th E) vs Lada (3-5-1, 9th E)
About the game
Metallurg ends a five-game home series following two consecutive losses.
Lada starts a two-game road trip fresh off a win over Neftekhimik on Friday (5:4 SO).
Injury list
Metallurg: Artyom Minulin.
Lada: Danila Moiseyev.
17:30: Barys (2-7-1, 12th E) vs Torpedo (5-5-1, 5th W)
About the game
Barys ends a four-game home series after losing to Vityaz on Saturday (0:2).
Torpedo ends a four-game road trip and won its previous three matches.
Torpedo’s forward Nikita Artamonov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points over that span.
Torpedo’s forward Maxim Letunov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (2+5) points.
Torpedo’s forward Vladislav Firstov is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points.
Torpedo’s forward Mikhail Abramov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Barys: Viktor Antipin, Batyrlan Muratov, Ruslan Ospanov, C.J. Smith, Damir Zhafyarov.
Torpedo: Andrei Belevich, Igor Larionov, Vyacheslav Voynov.
Milestone alert
Torpedo’s forward Dmitry Kagarlitsky may score his 500th career point in today’s game (currently at 499).
