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SKA, Traktor looking to stretch their runs
The two sides are on long winning streaks and will try to find new victims today. The opposition will be Avtomobilist and Sibir, respectively, on a light KHL Monday with just two games on tap.
Traktor is currently sitting on the top of the Eastern Conference standings with 32 points – eight more than the Motormen, who will be visiting Chelyabinsk today for a highly-anticipated Ural Derby. It’s the second time the two sides clash this season, with Avtomobilist claiming an early win on Sept. 4, the opening game of the 2024-2025 campaign for both teams. Defenseman Nick Ebert netted the game-winner back then, just as it was on Saturday, with the defenseman finding the back of the net as Avto defeated Neftekhimik 3:2 to retain the second place in the East. In the game, Frenchman Stephane Da Costa netted his 450th KHL point with a two-assist performance. Traktor is currently riding a five-game winning streak, with victories over Lada (2:1 OT), Avangard (4:3), Sibir (5:4), Salavat Yulaev (4:2), and Ak Bars (3:1). The Black-and-Whites lost their most recent game on Oct 14 – two weeks ago – to Avangard (1:3), but having won their six previous matches. Avtomobilist is also enjoying a good season, with three wins in its last five games, including Saturday’s key victory over Neftekhimik. The Motormen will be looking to close the gap from Traktor with a strong away performance today. Moreover, veteran forward Curtis Valk has recently returned to the lineup from his injury.
In the second game of the matchday, SKA hosts Sibir. Pretty much like Traktor, SKA is also riding a long winning streak, with six straight victories, with the line of Evgeny Kuznetsov, Ivan Demidov, and Sergei Plotnikov being particularly in good shape. SKA has however lost some time in the early season, and is currently trailing Lokomotiv for the Western Conference’s lead. Most recently, the St. Petersburg side defeated Spartak 5:2 in Moscow, and scored eight goals twice in a row as SKA thumped Kunlun Red Star (8:0) and Vityaz (8:1). SKA will play its next couple of games on home ice, while Sibir starts today a road trip that will bring the team to St. Petersburg first, then on the Urals with games in Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk before returning home to face Salavat Yulaev on Nov. 5. After losing three straight games, Sibir has slipped down to seventh place in the Eastern Conference’s table, but the standings are very tight and even a one-point loss would make the team go up again.
17:00: Traktor (15-3-2, 1st E) vs Avtomobilist (11-6-2, 2nd E)
About the game
Traktor starts a three-game home series on a five-match winning streak.
Avtomobilist, who has defeated Traktor earlier this season (3:2), ends a two-game road trip following an away win over Neftekhimik on Saturday (3:2).
Traktor’s forward Maxim Shabanov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Avtomobilist’s forward Anatoly Golyshev scored a goal in each of his previous three games.
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nick Ebert is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Traktor: Danil Yurtaikin.
Avtomobilist: Daniil Karpovich, Stepan Khripunov, Denis Romantsev.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev lines up for his 100th KHL appearance.
Traktor’s goalie Zach Fucale may record his 10th league shutout.
Avtomobilist’s goalie Evgeny Alikin may reach 100 KHL wins.
19:30: SKA (14-5-1, 2nd W) vs Sibir (9-8-1, 7th E)
About the game
SKA starts a two-game home series on a six-match winning streak.
Sibir starts a three-game road trip following three consecutive defeats.
SKA’s forward Evgeny Kuznetsov is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 11 (4+7) points over that span.
SKA’s forward Ivan Demidov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (1+7) points.
SKA’s forward Sergei Plotnikov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 8 (5+3) points.
SKA’s forward Vasily Glotov is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points.
SKA’s forward Mikhail Grigorenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.
SKA’s forward Zakhar Bardakov is equally on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Sibir’s forward Vladislav Kara is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
SKA: Artyom Zemchyonok.
Sibir: Yegor Martynov.
