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Gatiyatulin returns to Chelyabinsk
It’s the first road game against Traktor for Ak Bars’ new head coach. Three games are on tap on a light KHL Wednesday.
The matchday starts with Barys welcoming Salavat Yulaev. The struggling Barys, who had a rough start to the season, managed to secure a shutout victory in their last game against Avangard (1:0) – marking their third win of the current season. Goalie Nikita Boyarkin recorded the shutout, extending his streak without conceding a goal to 63 minutes and 30 seconds. Despite earning seven points, Vyacheslav Butsayev’s team remains at the bottom of the standings, but the win against the Hawks offers a glimmer of positivity in the club’s current situation. Their next opponents will be visitors from Ufa, who are seven points ahead of Barys in the Eastern Conference standings. Viktor Kozlov’s team heads to Kazakhstan's capital after a three-game stretch in Moscow, where they lost two of the three, most recently falling to Dynamo (2:4).
Then, Anvar Gatiyatulin will find himself in Chelyabinsk for the first time as head coach of Ak Bars. For the specialist who previously won medals with Traktor, the upcoming game will undoubtedly hold significant personal meaning. Two days earlier, the team from Kazan confidently began their Ural road trip, leaving no chance for Metallurg with a commanding 5:0 victory. Traktor, on the other hand, suffered their first loss in seven games, falling to Avangard 1:3. In the Eastern Conference standings, the home team maintains the lead with 22 points, while the visitors are four points behind. Will they be able to close the gap?
In the last game of the matchday, the only one in the Western Conference, Kunlun Red Star hosts Lokomotiv. This season, the Railwaymen have already managed to defeat the Dragons twice (6:2, 3:2 OT), with the most recent meeting between the teams on Oct. 9 in Yaroslavl. Before returning to the Moscow region, the Dragons secured a victory against Severstal on the road. Goaltender Kyle Keyser earned the shutout, extending his streak to 65 minutes and 29 seconds. Lokomotiv has played two games since then: first defeating HC Sochi (2:1), and then losing to Vityaz by the same score. With 26 points, Igor Nikitin’s team continues to lead the standings, while the hosts, with 13 fewer points, are second to last in the Western Conference. Moreover, the Dragons haven’t defeated Lokomotiv at home since 2016, when they collected a 3:1 win in Shanghai.
17:00: Barys (3-11-1, 12th E) vs Salavat Yulaev (7-5-0, 8th E)
About the game
Barys ends a two-game home series after a win over Avangard on Thursday (1:0).
Salavat Yulaev enters the fourth game of a five-match road trip after a loss to Dynamo Moscow on Saturday (2:4).
Barys’ goalie Nikita Boyarkin is on a 63:30 shutout streak.
Injury list
Barys: Maxim Mukhametov, Kirill Savitsky, Connor Smith, Roman Stachenko.
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin, Yaroslav Tsulygin.
Milestone alert
Barys’ forward Stanislav Bocharov lines up for his 700th KHL game. He has 273 (125+148) points in 699 career appearances.
Barys’ forward Damir Zhafyarov may reach 200 KHL assists (currently at 199).
17:00: Traktor (10-3-2, 1st E) vs Ak Bars (9-5-0, 4th E)
About the game
Traktor enters the fourth game of a five-match home series following a loss to Avangard on Monday (1:3).
Ak Bars ends a three-game road trip after a win against Metallurg also on Monday (5:0).
Traktor’s forward Alexander Kadeikin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov is on a 59:51 shutout streak.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Vladimir Zharkov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
Traktor’s goalie Zach Fucale and Ak Bars’ Amir Miftakhov may record their 10th KHL shutout.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Nikita Yevseyev lines up for his 100th league appearance.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Kirill Lyamkin may score his 100th KHL point (currently at 99).
19:30: Kunlun Red Star (6-8-1, 10th W) vs Lokomotiv (12-2-2, 1st W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star starts a five-game home series fresh off a win over Severstal on Friday (3:0).
Lokomotiv, who has already defeated the Dragons twice this season (6:2, 3:2 OT), ends a three-game road trip after a loss to Vityaz on Monday (1:2).
Kunlun Red Star’s goalie Kyle Keyser is on a 65:29 shutout streak.
Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Shalunov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points over that span.
Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Beryozkin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Lokomotiv’s forward Artur Kayumov is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Ryan Merkley.
Milestone alert
Kunlun Red Star’s forward Nail Yakupov lines up for his 300th KHL game. He has 165 (85+80) points in 299 league appearances.
