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SKA looking to end losing streak in a busy KHL Monday
Today’s KHL action includes five matchups across Russia. In the East, Amur aims to snap their 11-game skid against Traktor, while Admiral hosts Avtomobilist in Vladivostok. SKA St. Petersburg looks to rebound from four straight losses in an away clash with Avangard, and Neftekhimik will try to halt their five-game slump as they host Barys. Finally, in the Western Conference, Torpedo will face HC Sochi, aiming to regain momentum after two overtime losses.
The KHL matchday starts early in the Far East, with both Amur and Admiral ending home series today. The Tigers will try to return to victory after 11 straight losses, but at least they scored twice in Saturday’s losing effort to Avtomobilist (2:3). Today’s opponent, Traktor, is still leading the Eastern Conference’s table with 35 points, but the gap thinned, and the Motormen are at just three points. The struggle for the Conference’s lead continues with Avtomobilist traveling to Vladivostok. The Yekaterinburg team won four straight games, but the Sailors are also doing nicely, with two straight wins, against Traktor (4:3 OT) and Avangard (3:2 OT), and points in all the last five games, having lost only to Metallurg, once again in extra time.
Another team who is seeking a return to victory is SKA. The St. Petersburg giant had a surprising four straight losses, suffering defeats to Lokomotiv (2:3), Salavat Yulaev (2:4), Kunlun Red Star (2:1 OT), and HC Sochi (2:5). It will be the second time the two times meet this season, with SKA claiming a 4:1 home win, with four different scorers. With its recent losing streak, SKA lost to Spartak the second seed in the West. The Hawks, instead, had only two wins in the last five matches, and remain in tenth place in the Eastern Conference.
If SKA accumulated four straight losses, Neftekhimik is even in a deeper crisis, with five straight defeats. The Wolves lost some ground from their Eastern rivals, and fell in ninth position, just below the playoffs line. Today, Barys comes to town. The Kazakhs lost their last couple of matches, but overtaken Amur in the Conference’s eleventh place. It will be the third encounter between the two sides this season, with the teams trading wins in the past meetings.
In the last game of the matchday, the only one in the Western Conference, Torpedo faces HC Sochi. The Igor Larionov’s team lost two straight games in extra time, to Lokomotiv (1:2 SO) and Salavat Yulaev (2:3 OT), so that its place in standings didn’t suffer too much with the side in sixth position in the West. However, today Torpedo will try to bounce back, but Sochi is in good shape after two straight victories, against SKA (5:2), and Vityaz (3:1).
12:00: Amur (5-17-3, 12th E) vs Traktor (16-5-3, 1st E)
About the game
Amur ends a five-game home series on an eleven-game losing streak.
Traktor is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
Injury list
Amur: Devin Brosseau, Alexander Shevchenko.
Traktor : Artyom Blazhiyevsky.
Milestone alert
Amur’s forward Oleg Li lines up for his 500th league appearance, while Traktor’s forward Nikita Tertyshny may reach 200.
12:30: Admiral (12-9-4, 5th E) vs Avtomobilist (15-6-2, 2nd E)
About the game
Admiral ends a four-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Avtomobilist ends a three-game road trip on a four-match winning streak.
Admiral’s defenseman Libor Sulak had at least one assist in each of his previous four matches, totaling five helpers.
Admiral’s forward Nikita Soshnikov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Anatoly Golyshev, Daniil Karpovich, Denis Romantsev.
16:30: Avangard (8-12-2, 10th E) vs SKA (15-8-2, 3rd W)
About the game
Avangard starts a five-game home series following an away loss to Admiral (2:3 OT).
SKA, who defeated Avangard earlier this season (4:1), starts a three-game road trip on a four-match losing streak.
Injury list
Avangard: Mikhail Berdin, Vladimir Tkachyov, Dmitry Zlodeyev.
SKA: Artyom Zemchyonok.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov may reach 200 points in the league (currently at 199), while SKA’s forward Marat Khairullin may get to 250 (currently at 248).
SKA’s forward Mikhail Vorobyov may record his 100th league assist (currently at 99).
19:00: Neftekhimik (8-11-6, 9th E) vs Barys (6-15-2, 11th E)
About the game
Neftekhimik is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost its previous five matches.
Barys starts a four-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
The two teams traded wins in this season’s series so far (2:1 OT, 1:2 SO).
Neftekhimik’s forward Evgeny Mityakin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Vladimir Bryukvin, Jean-Sebastien Dea, Alexander Dergachyov.
Barys: Viktor Antipin, Damir Zhafyarov.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s defenseman Bogdan Kiselevich may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 198).
Barys’ forward Dinmukhamed Kaiyrzhan may line up for his 100th league appearance.
19:00: Torpedo (11-9-5, 8th W) vs HC Sochi (9-12-2, 10th W)
About the game
Torpedo ends a two-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
HC Sochi, who defeated Torpedo earlier this season (5:3), ends a three-game road trip following two straight victories.
HC Sochi’s forward Artur Tyanulin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Torpedo: Igor Larionov.
Milestone alert
Torpedo’s forward Kirill Voronin may record his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
Torpedo’s goalie Ivan Kulbakov may reach 50 KHL wins.
Torpedo’s goalie Ivan Bocharov may record his 30th league shutout.
