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CSKA seeking again a return to victory
The Muscovites lost their previous four matches, and today they host Amur. Five games are on tap on an exciting KHL Wednesday, with three games in the East and two in the West.
In Novosibirsk, Sibir will host Barys. The Kazakhs have shuffled their roster, parting ways with most of the import players and changed head coach for the second time this season. The move had its result, as on Monday, Barys collected its fourth win of the season with a 2:1 victory in Minsk. Sibir will want to return to victory after two straight losses and will end a three-game home series. The Novosibirsk side needs a win also to remain in the top four in the Eastern Conference. Sibir is currently on a two-game losing streak and on Monday, Taylor Beck’s first hat-trick of the season wasn’t enough to defeat Traktor as the team suffered a 4:5 home loss.
Then, Avangard hosts the Chelyabinsk side. The Hawks’ season has been full of ups and downs and as a result the team is lying in a disappointing tenth place in the East, while Traktor is leading the conference with a six-point advantage over the second-placed side, Avtomobilist. The Chelyabinsk franchise is on a three-win run and will seek its fourth straight victory. In the seasonal series, the teams swapped wins—always with a two-goal advantage.
The Motormen will try to recover their gap from Traktor hosting Dynamo Moscow. The Blue-and-Whites recovered some terrain lately, and climbed up to seventh place in the West. However, they suffered a loss in their most recent game, with a 3:4, SO defeat to Lokomotiv after three straight victories. After this game, Dynamo will return to Moscow.
The action will then move to the Western Conference for two games. In the Russian capital, CSKA hosts Amur. The Muscovites have already collected a win against the Tigers this season, but lost their previous four matches. Amur is also seeking a return to victory after three straight defeats, to Spartak (4:5), Severstal (1:2), and Lada (3:5).
In the Moscow Region, Kunlun Red Star will host SKA. The St. Petersburg side is in excellent shape, with four straight wins, including an 8:1 away thumping of Vityaz most recently. However, the Dragons have sensationally defeated SKA in the only matchup of the season (5:4).
15:30: Sibir (9-7-1, 3rd E) vs Barys (4-13-1, 12th E)
About the game
Sibir ends a three-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Barys ends a three-game road trip and defeated Dinamo Minsk on Monday (2:1).
Sibir’s forward Valentin Pyanov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
Sibir’s forward Sergei Shirokov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Barys’ forward Alikhan Asetov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Sibir: Yegor Martynov.
Barys: Wade Allison, Maxim Mukhametov, Kirill Savitsky, Connor Smith, Roman Starchenko.
Milestone alert
Barys’ forward Mikhail Rakhmanov lines up for his 200th league appearance, while forward Dinmukhamed Kayirzhan reaches 100.
16:30: Avangard (6-10-1, 10th E) vs Traktor (13-3-2, 1st E)
About the game
Avangard enters the second game of a four-match home series and lost to Spartak on Thursday (5:6).
Traktor is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous three matches.
The teams swapped wins this season so far (3:1, 2:4).
Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Traktor’s forward Dylan Sikura had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Traktor’s forward Mikhail Kotlyarevsky is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Traktor’s defenseman Steven Kampfer is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
Avangard: Mikhail Berdin, Stanislav Galiyev, Vladimir Tkachyov.
Traktor: Daniil Yurtaikin.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 198).
Traktor’s goalie Zach Fucale may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
17:00: Avtomobilist (10-5-2, 2nd E) vs Dynamo Moscow (9-7-2, 7th W)
About the game
Avtomobilist plays the lone home game of the series following a win over Vityaz on Thursday (3:1).
Dynamo Moscow ends a three-game road trip and lost to Lokomotiv on Monday (4:3 SO).
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points over that span. He may reach 450 league points (currently at 448).
Avtomobilist’s forward Brooks Macek is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Nikita Gusev is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Brennan Menell had at least one assist in each of his previous four matches, totaling six helpers.
Injury list
Avtomobist: Daniil Karpovich, Stepan Khripunov, Denis Romantsev, Curtis Valk.
Dynamo Moscow: Maxime Comtois.
19:30: CSKA (7-4-7, 6th W) vs Amur (5-10-2, 11th E)
About the game
CSKA, who already defeated Amur earlier this season (3:0), ends a two-game home series on a four-match losing streak.
Amur starts a four-game road trip on a three-match losing streak.
CSKA’s forward Maxim Sorkin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Amur: Kirill Slepets.
19:30: Kunlun Red Star (6-11-1, 11th W) vs SKA (12-5-1, 2nd W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star, who defeated SKA earlier this season (5:4), enters the fourth game of a five-match home series on a three-game losing streak.
SKA is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous four straight matches.
SKA’s defenseman Anthony De Angelo is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 11 (3+8) points over that span.
SKA’s forward Evgeny Kuznetsov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points.
SKA’s forward Ivan Demidov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Ryan Merkley.
SKA: Artyom Zemchyonok.
Milestone alert
SKA’s forward Evgeny Kuznetsov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 98).
