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CSKA seeking to revert the trend, SKA hosts Neftekhimik
Four games are on tap today, two for each conference. CSKA will seek to avoid another loss after only one win in four matches.
The KHL matchday starts early in the Far East, with Amur hosting Lada. The Togliatti side has not won in Khabarovsk for over 15 years – since Jan. 19, 2009 (4:1). Lada couldn’t break this trend in its first game against Amur, as the home team secured a shutout victory (2:0). Now, Oleg Bratash’s squad will have another chance, followed by two consecutive games in Vladivostok. Amur’s goalie Igor Bobkov played a flawless game, extending his shutout streak to 89 minutes and 52 seconds. In the standings, the teams are now tied with 12 points, but both remain outside the playoff zone in the Eastern Conference.
The action in the Far East continues in Vladivostok, with Admiral welcoming Severstal. The Sailors will kick off a four-game home series and will try to end their scoring drought – in their previous game, the Far Eastern team failed to score against Traktor in Chelyabinsk (0:2). Notably, Severstal also failed to score in their last game – Andrey Kozyrev’s team lost 0:3 at home to Kunlun Red Star. Admiral remains in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 14 points, while Severstal has two more points and holds a playoff spot in the West.
In Belarus, Dinamo Minsk hosts CSKA. The hosts will begin a five-game home series after an important away victory over SKA (4:2). In the Western Conference standings, the Bisons are three points behind CSKA and will aim to close the gap. CSKA, on the other hand, continues to show inconsistent form, with only one win in their last four games. In their most recent match, Ilya Vorobyov’s team suffered from a home loss to Avtomobilist (3:4 SO).
In St. Petersburg, SKA will continue its home series after a comeback victory over Avtomobilist (5:2). Next up for the team is a derby against CSKA, but first, they will face visitors from Nizhnekamsk. Despite losing its last game to Sibir (1:2), Neftekhimik has secured three wins in its last five matches and is doing well in the Eastern Conference standings with 17 points. SKA has just two points more and remains in the leading group of the Western Conference.
12:00: Amur (5-7-2, 11th E) vs Amur (5-7-2, 10th E)
About the game
Amur, who defeated Lada on Sunday (2:0), enters the second game of a four-match home series.
Lada also enters its second game of a four-match road trip and most recently lost to the Tigers.
Amur’s goalie Igor Bobkov is on an 89:52 shutout streak.
Injury list
Amur: Kirill Slepets.
Lada: Andrei Altybarmakyan.
Milestone alert
Amur’s forward Evgeny Grachyov lines up for his 600th KHL game.
12:30: Admiral (6-5-2, 8th E) vs Severstal (6th W)
About the game
Admiral starts a four-game home series following a loss to Traktor on Wednesday (0:2).
Severstal starts a three-game road trip and most recently lost to Kunlun Red Star (0:3).
Injury list
Admiral: Stepan Starkov.
Severstal: Makar Fomin, Ioannis Kaldis.
Milestone alert
Severstal’s defenseman Daniil Davydov lines up for his 100th league appearance.
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (7-5-1, 7th W) vs CSKA (7-4-4, 5th W)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk starts a five-game home series fresh off a win over SKA on Thursday (4:2).
CSKA starts a two-game road trip following a loss to Avtomobilist (3:4 SO) also on Thursday.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Roman Gorbunov.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov lines up for his 1,000th KHL game, while forward Andrei Stas may reach 200 league points (currently at 199).
19:30: SKA (9-5-1, 3rd W) vs Neftekhimik (7-5-3, 5th E)
About the game
SKA enters the third game of a four-game home series and defeated Avtomobilist on Saturday (5:2).
Neftekhimik starts a three-game road trip following a loss to Sibir on Friday (1:2).
SKA’s defenseman Anthony De Angelo is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points over that span.
SKA’s defenseman Alexander Nikishin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
SKA’s forward Mikhail Grigorenko had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
SKA: Artyom Zemchyonok.
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Vladimir Bryukvin.
