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Shipachyov’s new attempt at all-time scoring record, Spartak hosts SKA
Dinamo Minsk’s veteran is now tied with Sergei Mozyakin at 928 career points. Today, the Belarusians face Vityaz and Shipachyov has another shot at breaking the record in his 1,003rd league appearance. Six games are on tap on an exciting KHL Friday, with plenty of interest in other games as well.
Dinamo Minsk will face Vityaz today in a critically important game not only for Shipachyov’s records, but also for the Western Conference’s standings. The two sides are separated by the playoffs line, and by a single point in the table, with the Belarusians having the upper hand, at least for now. Moreover, both teams lost their previous match, against Barys (1:2) and SKA (1:8), respectively, and so, both will want to return to victory. The fans at the Minsk Arena will be treated to an exciting match with a lot on stakes as the puck drops.
The KHL matchday starts earlier in the Eastern Conference, with Lada facing Traktor. The Togliatti side’s most recent home win against Traktor dates back to 2015—on Oct. 25 of that year, Lada collected a 4:2 victory. The team has now a respectable three wins in its last five games, with victories over Admiral (6:1), Amur (5:3), and Sibir (4:3 OT). Despite the positive results, Lada is still out of the playoff places with today’s game being played in front of local fans before another road trip. Traktor, instead, sits comfortably at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, with an eight-point advantage over Avtomobilist. The Chelyabinsk side has now four straight wins, against Avangard (4:3), Sibir (5:4), Salavat Yulaev (4:2), and Ak Bars (3:1). Several of its leading players have ongoing scoring streaks, and they will be looking to make it a five-win run. After today’s game, the team will fly back to Chelyabinsk for a home series.
In Kazan, Admiral will be trying to stretch its current two-game winning streak after defeating Spartak (4:3 OT) and Lada (5:3). However, the Sailors will be sailing for a five-game road trip starting today, with Kazan returning home after three away games where they only had one win, albeit a good one, in Magnitogorsk (5:0). Admiral is currently above Ak Bars – who doesn’t play for more than a week – in the Eastern Conference’s standings by a single point, and today’s game may have some impact on the table.
The action then moves to the Western Conference. Lokomotiv will host Amur as the Tigers will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to CSKA (0:7), which was just the last of four consecutive defeats. Earlier, Amur lost to Spartak (4:5), Severstal (1:2), and Lada (3:5). On its hand, Lokomotiv is doing just fine, with three consecutive wins and the lead in the Western Conference’s table.
After its huge win over Amur, CSKA starts a short road trip from the Moscow Region, with an away game against Kunlun Red Star. The Dragons lost their last four matches, and are currently the last seed in the West, with HC Sochi overtaking them earlier this week. Moreover, they suffered from a big loss to SKA in their last match, being shutout 0:8. CSKA returned to victory against Amur, and Ilya Vorobyov’s men will try to win again today. Despite some underwhelming losing streaks, the Muscovites are in fifth place in the West, with a good chance to return to the top four as Torpedo will rest today.
In the last game of the matchday, emotions are guaranteed with Spartak hosting SKA. The Red-and-Whites lost their last game to Admiral (3:4 OT) and concluded their Far Eastern tour. Alexei Zhamnov’s team has earned points in three consecutive games, but a five-game winning streak by SKA has cost them second place in the Western Conference. The St. Petersburg franchise is now up by two points, making their upcoming face-off a sort of battle for the conference’s interim second place. SKA heads to Moscow after a crushing victory over Kunlun Red Star (8:0). SKA’s goalie, Yegor Zavragin, recorded his first shutout for the team, extending his shutout streak to 67 minutes and 55 seconds. He was recently recalled from a loan spell to HC Sochi.
18:00: Lada (7-9-2, 9th E) vs Traktor (14-3-2, 1st E)
About the game
Lada plays the lone home game of the series following a loss to Admiral on Saturday (3:5).
Traktor ends a three-game road trip on a four-match winning streak.
Lada’s forward Nikita Mikhailov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points over that span.
Traktor’s defenseman Steven Kampfer is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.
Traktor’s forward Dylan Sikura had at least one assist in each of his previous four games, totaling five helpers.
Traktor’s forward Alexander Kadeikin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.
Traktor’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov scored a goal in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
Lada: Andrei Altybarmakyan.
Traktor: Danil Yurtaikin.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s goalie Zach Fucale may record his 10th KHL shutout.
19:00: Ak Bars (9-6-0, 8th E) vs Admiral (8-6-3, 6th E)
About the game
Ak Bars starts a four-game home series following a road loss to Traktor on Wednesday Oct. 16 to Traktor (1:3).
Admiral starts a five-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Admiral’s forward Nikita Soshnikov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points over that span.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Nic Petan.
Admiral: Stepan Starkov.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ defenseman Nikita Lyamkin may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
Ak Bars’ goalie Amir Miftakhov may record his 10th career shutout.
19:00: Lokomotiv (15-2-2. 1st W) vs Amur (5-11-2, 11th E)
About the game
Lokomotiv enters the third game of a four-match home series and won its previous three matches.
Amur enters the second game of a four-match road trip on a four-game losing streak.
Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Beryozkin is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 8 (2+6) points over that span.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Nikita Cherepanov.
Amur: Kirill Slepetsk.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Shalunov may score his 200th KHL goal (currently at 198).
Amur’s forward Artur Gizdatullin lines up for his 200th career appearance.
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (9-7-1, 8th W) vs Vityaz (9-9-0, 9th W)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk ends a five-game home series following a loss to Barys on Tuesday (1:2).
Vityaz starts a six-game road trip after losing to SKA on Monday (1:8).
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Pavel Denisov, Andrei Kareyev, Andrei Stas.
Vityaz: Grigory Vashchenko.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov has another shot at becoming the KHL all-time top scorer (currently tied with Sergei Mozyakin at 928 points).
Vityaz’s goalie Maxim Dorozhko may line up for his 100th league appearance. He and his colleague Dmitry Shikin may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
19:30: Spartak (11-4-3, 3rd W) vs SKA (13-5-1, 2nd W)
About the game
Spartak starts a two-game home series following a defeat to Admiral on Monday (4:3 OT).
SKA ends a three-game road trip on a five-match winning streak.
Spartak’s forward Adam Ruzicka is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points over that span.
Spartak’s forward Pavel Poryadin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points.
Spartak’s defenseman Andrei Mironov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Spartak’s forward Alexander Pashin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Spartak’s forward Nikolai Goldobin scored a goal in each of his previous three games.
SKA’s goalie Yegor Zavragin is on a 67:55 shutout streak.
SKA’s forward Evgeny Kuznetsov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 10 (3+7) points.
SKA’s forward Ivan Demidov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points.
SKA’s forward Sergei Plotnikov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points.
SKA’s forward Vasily Glotov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.
Injury list
Spartak: Alexander Belyayev, Daniil Ivanov, Shane Prince.
SKA: Artyom Zemchyonok.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s forward Ansel Galimov may record his 100th career assist (currently at 99).
19:30: Kunlun Red Star (6-12-1, 11th W) vs CSKA (8-4-7, 5th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star ends a five-game home series on a four-match losing streak.
CSKA starts a two-game road trip following a win over Amur on Wednesday (7:0).
CSKA’s goalie Ivan Prosvetov is on a 72:04 shutout streak.
CSKA’s forward Maxim Sorkin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
CSKA’s defenseman Nikita Nesterov had an assist in each of his previous three games.
CSKA’s forward Yegor Fateyev is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Ryan Merkley.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s forward Vitaly Abramov may reach 100 league points (currently at 99).
