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Big day in the Western Conference! Avtomobilist faces Lokomotiv
Four games are hosted in the West, with two Eastern Conference matches featuring Western teams on an exciting KHL Tuesday that will kick off the regular-season second month!
The matchday, however, will start with Avtomobilist welcoming Lokomotiv. Although the Urals team lost to Ak Bars on Sunday, they remain the leaders in the Eastern Conference. So, on the first day of October, we are in for a battle between the best teams of the conference. Could there be a better headline? Last season, the teams exchanged home victories — Lokomotiv won 3:1 in Yaroslavl, while Avtomobilist took a shutout revenge 2:0 in Yekaterinburg. Will this trend continue? Lokomotiv heads into the road game with three consecutive wins, the latest being a 3:1 victory over HC Sochi. The hosts lead the Eastern Conference with 15 points, while the Railwaymen have two more points and sit in first place in the West. Avtomobilist will be without forward Curtis Valk for the next two to three weeks.
In the meantime, Salavat Yulaev hosts Kunlun Red Star. The Dragons had a sensational win in St. Petersburg on Sunday, but now Mikhail Kravets’ squad is set to face Salavat Yulaev, who have won six of their eight games this season. In its latest outing, the Ufa team achieved a comeback road victory against Traktor (5:3). Kunlun Red Star has accumulated eight points this season and currently sits in the second-to-last position in the Western Conference.
The action then moves to the West. Dinamo Minsk will continue its home series following a 2:3 loss to Severstal facing Admiral. The Sailors will begin their five-game road trip in Minsk. Leonids Tambijevs' team sits mid-table in the Eastern Conference with 11 points, while their opponents have one point less and are in seventh place in the West.
The Cherepovets side will wrap up in Sochi their five-game road trip. Andrey Kozyrev’s team traveled to the Black Sea coast from Minsk, where they broke a three-game losing streak by defeating rivals Dinamo (3:2). Meanwhile, Sochi remains stuck in a slump. In their last two games, Sergei Zubov’s squad managed to score just one goal in total against Barys (0:1) and Lokomotiv (1:3), extending their losing streak to five matches. Ahead of the game against Sochi, the visitors traded forward Dmitry Moiseyev to Metallurg.
The KHL matchday continues with another Moscow Derby. Dynamo approaches the crucial match against CSKA riding a three-game winning streak. Alexei Kudashov’s squad secured their latest victory at home in a hard-fought battle against Neftekhimik (5:4 SO). CSKA, meanwhile, will play their second consecutive Moscow derby, having faced Spartak in their previous match (2:3 OT). The hosts currently sits in the last playoff spot in the Western Conference with ten points, while CSKA has three points more, placing them in the top four. Dinamo may soon see the return of Canadian forward Maxime Comtois, who has recently been training with the non-playing group to improve his physical condition.
In the second game of the night in Moscow, Spartak will face Traktor for the second time this season and will aim to repeat the success they achieved a week ago in Chelyabinsk (3:2 SO). Since then, both teams have played two more games. The Red-Whites extended their winning streak to three matches, defeating Metallurg (4:3) and CSKA (3:2 OT). Traktor, on the other hand, lost to Salavat Yulaev (3:5) but bounced back with a win over Avangard (4:2).
17:00: Avtomobilist (7-3-1, 1st E) vs Lokomotiv (8-1-1, 1st W)
About the game
Avtomobilist enters the second game of a four-match home series following a loss to Ak Bars on Sunday (2:6).
Lokomotiv starts a two-game road trip on a three-match winning streak. However, its last win in Yekaterinburg is dated Jan. 3, 2018 (6:5 SO).
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Curtis Valk.
Lokomotiv: Denis Alexeyev.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s head coach Nikolai Zavarukhin may celebrate his 100th victory with the team.
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Jesse Blacker lines up for his 400th league appearance.
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Radulov may score his 250th KHL goal.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev may record his 20th career shutout.
Lokomotiv’s forward Artur Kayumov may reach 200 league points (currently at 198).
17:00: Salavat Yulaev (6-2-0, 5th E) vs Kunlun Red Star (4-6-0, 10th W)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev plays the lone home game of the series following a road win over Traktor on Wednesday (5:3).
Kunlun Red Star enters the second game of a six-match road trip after a win in St. Petersburg on Sunday (5:4).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Joshua Leivo is on a fourteen-game scoring streak, with 20 (8+12) points on this impressive span.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alex Chmelevsky is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Sheldon Rempal is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Nathan Todd is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Kunlun Red Star: Doyle Somerby.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Alexander Samonov may record his 100th KHL win.
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (5-3-0, 7th W) vs Admiral (5-2-1, 6th E)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk is in the middle of a three-game home series and most recently lost to Severstal on Sunday (2:3).
Admiral starts a five-game road trip following a loss to Torpedo on Thursday (2:4).
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Alexander Volkov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Xavier Ouellet had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Andrei Kareyev.
Admiral: Vyacheslav Osnovin.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Andrei Stas may score his 200th career point (currently at 198).
Admiral’s forward Pavel Shen may line up for his 200th KHL game.
19:30: HC Sochi (2-7-0, 11th W) vs Severstal (6-5-0, 6th W)
About the game
HC Sochi starts a six-game home series on a five-match losing streak.
Severstal ends a five-game road trip following a win in Minsk on Sunday (3:2).
Injury list
HC Sochi: Amir Garayev, Michal Kristof, Timur Manukhov.
Milestone alert
HC Sochi’s forward Daniil Avershin and Severstal’s defenseman Gleb Ivanov may line up for their respective 100th league appearance.
19:30: Dynamo Moscow (5-5-0, 8th W) vs CSKA (5-2-3, 5th W)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow is in the middle of a three-game home series and recorded three consecutive wins.
CSKA, who has defeated Dynamo earlier in the season (3:1), ends a four-game road trip following a loss to Spartak on Sunday (2:3 OT).
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Nikita Gusev, who is seeking his 400th KHL assist (currently at 398), is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Brennan Menell had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
CSKA’s forward Ivan Drozdov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points.
CSKA’s goalie Dmitry Gamzin is on a 62:57 shutout streak.
Injury list
CSKA: Colby Williams.
19:30: Spartak (7-1-1, 2nd W) vs Traktor (5-2-2, 4th E)
About the game
Spartak, who has defeated Traktor earlier this season (3:2 SO), enters the second game of a six-match home series on a three-game winning streak.
Traktor starts a three-game road trip fresh off a win over Avangard on Friday (4:2).
Traktor’s forward Vitaly Kravtsov and defenseman Steven Kampfer had at least an assist in their latest three matches, totaling four helpers each.
Injury list
Spartak: Daniil Ivanov.
Traktor: Semyon Der Arguchintsev, Dylan Sikura.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s forward Ansel Galimov and defenseman Dmitry Vishnevsky may reach 200 KHL points (currently both are at 199).
Spartak’s forward Nikolai Goldobin may score his 100th KHL tally (currently at 98).
Traktor’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov may score his 350th league point (currently at 349).
Traktor’s defenseman Artyom Blazhiyevsky is seeking his 100th career point (currently at 98).
