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Big KHL Thursday with seven games!
The matchday will see plenty of excitement in both Conferences, with two derbies – one in Tatarstan and one in Moscow, with Neftekhimik hosting Ak Bars and CSKA welcoming Spartak.
The matchday starts early in the Far East, with Amur trying to find victory again following nine straight losses. After establishing an unenviable KHL record for the longest goalless streak, Amur has finally found the back of the net with captain Evgeny Grachyov on Tuesday against Avangard, but nevertheless lost the game (1:2). On the same day, Metallurg returned to victory defeating Admiral in OT, with Luke Johnson netting the game-winner, after three straight losses. The Tigers were overtaken by Barys in eleventh place in the East, while Metallurg is currently sitting in sixth place.
In the second Far East match of the day, the Sailors will host Avangard to start a new home series. Seven points separate the two sides in the standings, and this will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Hawks will try to build on their recent win over Amur.
In Kazakhstan, Barys welcomes Avtomobilist. On Tuesday, goalie Nikita Boyarkin had an impressive 43 saves, but the Kazakhs suffered a SO loss to Ak Bars, that at least give them one point in the standings. With the recent changes in both the roster and the coaching staff, Barys has improved, but the results are now less important as the team turned to rebuilding mode. The Motormen start a new road trip today on a three-game winning streak, with victories over Neftekhimik (twice, both 3:2) and Traktor (5:4). Avtomobilist is in good shape, but they will have to do without leading forward Anatoly Golyshev, currently sitting on IL. It will be the third encounter between the two teams this season, with the sides trading wins earlier on.
A Tatarstan derby between Neftekhimik and Ak Bars will be the last Eastern match of the day. The Wolves lost their last four games, while Kazan most recently celebrated their win over Barys. At one point, Neftekhimik was the third seed in the East, but the recent results had the team going down to eighth place – a mere point above the playoffs line, with Lada pushing at 21 points with three fewer games played. Ak Bars has been excellent in the recent ten games or so, and climbed up to third place, just one point shy of Avtomobilist.
The action then moves to the Western Conference, with Dinamo Minsk hosting Salavat Yulaev in the Belarusian capital. The Bisons are struggling, with only two wins in their last five matches, including a key home defeat to Vityaz on Monday (1:4). Dinamo Minsk will need to rise their performances to keep themselves up the playoffs line, with Vityaz approaching.
In Moscow, CSKA returns to action after a week in a derby against Spartak—the Muscovites defeated Torpedo in Nizhny Novgorod on Oct. 29 (3:1). This season, the teams have faced off twice at Megasport, with the Red-and-Whites taking both victories — 4:2 and 3:2 in extra time. Andrei Mironov scored in both games, while Nikolai Goldobin netted a spectacular OT goal in the second. Can CSKA, rested after a week off before the derby, claim revenge? Both teams are currently on a three-game winning streak.
To finish off an exciting KHL matchday, SKA hosts Sochi. The team returns to St. Petersburg for this game on a three-game losing streak, but the Black Sea franchise is on an even worse streak, with four straight defeats. Earlier this season, SKA gained a win against Sochi (7:4), as today the team will try to return to victory after losing to Lokomotiv (2:3), Salavat Yulaev (2:4), and Kunlun Red Star (1:2 OT).
12:00: Amur (5-16-2, 12th E) vs Metallurg (11-12-1, 6th E)
About the game
Amur is in the middle of a five-game home series and lost its previous nine matches.
Metallurg is in the middle of a three-game road trip and defeated Admiral on Tuesday (3:2 OT).
Injury list
Amur: Devin Brosseau, Dmitry Shevchenko.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s defenseman Alexei Maklyukov lines up for his 500th KHL game.
Metallurg’s forwards Denis Zernov and Daniil Vovchenko may score their 250th KHL point (currently at 249 and 247, respectively).
12:30: Admiral (10-9-4, 5th E) vs Avangard (8-12-1, 10th E)
About the game
Admiral enters the second game of a four-match home series following a loss to Metallurg on Tuesday (2:3 OT).
Avangard ends a two-game road trip after defeating Amur also on Tuesday (2:1).
Admiral’s forward Jack Rodewald is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points over that span.
Admiral’s forward Dmitry Zavgorodny is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.
Injury list
Avangard: Mikhail Berdin, Vladimir Tkachyov, Dmitry Zlodeyevv.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov may score his 200th KHL point (currently at 199).
17:00: Barys (6-14-2, 11th E) vs Avtomobilist (13-6-2, 2nd E)
About the game
Barys ends a four-game home series after a loss to Ak Bars on Tuesday (1:2 SO).
Avtomobilist starts a three-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
The season series between the two sides is 1-1 (2:1 OT, 3:4).
Barys’ goalie Nikita Boyarkin is on a 62:03 shutout streak.
Avtomobilist’s forward Vladimir Kuznetsov netted a goal in each of his previous three games.
Avtomobilist’s forward Maxim Denezhkin had an assist in each of his previous three games.
Injury list
Barys: Viktor Antipin, Connor Smit, Damir Zhafyarov.
Avtomobilist: Anatoly Golyshev, Daniil Karpoich, Denis Romantsev.
Milestone alert
Barys’ forward Dinmukhamed Kaiyrzhan may line up for his 100th league appearance.
17:00: Dinamo Minsk (11-10-1, 8th W) vs Salavat Yulaev (13-7-0, 4th E)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk enters the second game of a four-match home series following a loss to Vityaz on Monday (1:4).
Salavat Yulaev is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Andrei Kareyev, Andrei Stas.
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Alexander Volkov may score his 100th league point (currently at 99).
19:30: Neftekhimik (8-10-6, 8th E) vs Ak Bars (13-6-1, 3rd E)
About the game
Neftekhimik starts a three-game home series on a four-match losing streak.
Ak Bars is in the middle of a three-game road trip and defeated Barys on Tuesday (2:1 SO).
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Vladimir Bryukvin, Jean-Sebastien Dea, Alexander Dergachyov.
Ak Bars: Nic Petan.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s defenseman Bogdan Kiselevich may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 198).
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Barabanov may record his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
Ak Bars’ goalie Amir Miftakhov may get to 10 KHL shutouts.
19:30: CSKA (10-4-7, 6th W) vs Spartak (14-5-3, 3rd W)
About the game
CSKA starts a three-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
Spartak enters the third game of a four-match road trip also on a three-game winning streak.
The Red-and-Whites collected two wins over CSKA so far this season (2:4, 2:3 OT).
CSKA’s forward Ruslan Iskhakov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Injury list
CSKA: Yegor Afanasyev.
Spartak: Daniil Ivanov.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s forward Konstantin Okulov may score his 400th career point (currently at 398).
Spartak’s forward Mikhail Maltsev lines up for his 100th game in the KHL.
Spartak’s forward Ansel Galimov may reach 100 career assists (currently at 99).
19:30: SKA (15-7-2,2nd W) vs HC Sochi (7-12-2, 10th W)
About the game
SKA, who defeated HC Sochi earlier this season (7:4), plays the lone home game of the series on a three-game losing streak.
HC Sochi starts a three-game road trip after losing four straight matches.
Injury list
SKA: Artyom Zemchyonok.
Milestone alert
SKA’s forward Mikhail Vorobyov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99)).
