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Lada shakes things up with coach changes as Torpedo faces Lokomotiv in key clash
It's a packed KHL matchday with four games on the schedule. Lada’s first game under interim coach Pavel Zubov will be against Metallurg, as the team begins a critical home stretch. Lokomotiv, fresh off their first loss in a month, heads to Nizhny Novgorod for a rematch with Torpedo after a thrilling SO win earlier this season. Other matchups include Admiral visiting Avtomobilist and Neftekhimik facing Avangard.
The KHL matchday starts in Omsk, where Neftekhimik will visit Avangard. The Wolves are starting a three-game road trip, while the Hawks will play their third game of a five-match home series. Prior to this, Neftekhimik split victories with Barys (4:1 and 1:2 OT). Meanwhile, Avangard followed up their win against SKA (2:1) with a loss to Dynamo Moscow (3:5). Avangard’s forward Nikolai Prokhorkin, who was injured in the game against Dynamo, is likely to miss the upcoming match. Prokhorkin has been Avangard’s top performer over the last five games, with five points (1+4). In the standings, Neftekhimik is five points ahead of the Hawks, who are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Earlier this season, Avangard defeated the Wolves 4:2 on home ice on Sept. 6.
Admiral embarks on a four-game road trip, beginning with a second consecutive match against Avtomobilist. In their last encounter in Vladivostok, the Urals team emerged victorious with a 4:3 SO win, extending their winning streak to six games. Despite the loss, Admiral earned points for the sixth game in a row. Avtomobilist remains the main challenger to Traktor in the Eastern Conference, trailing by five points with two games in hand. The Sailors, sitting fifth with 29 points, hold a solid playoff position at this stage.
Lada is undergoing a coaching reshuffle as Oleg Bratash departs from the team. Pavel Zubov, previously part of the Tolyatti club’s coaching staff and known for his tenure at Sibir in the KHL, steps in as interim head coach. Lada begins a three-game home series following two consecutive losses, scoring just two goals in total against CSKA (1:4) and Salavat Yulaev (1:3).
Meanwhile, Metallurg starts its own three-game road trip after suffering a heavy 0:4 defeat to Traktor in the Ural Derby three days ago. In the standings, Metallurg holds a four-point advantage over Lada, which currently occupies the ninth position in the Eastern Conference.
The action then moves to the Western Conference for the last game of the matchday. Ten days after their last encounter, Torpedo will get another chance to challenge table-topping Lokomotiv. The previous meeting was a closely fought battle, with Lokomotiv narrowly emerging victorious (2:1 SO). However, Lokomotiv’s impressive eleven-game winning streak came to an end in their most recent game, as they suffered a 0:2 loss to CSKA, failing to score for the first time since Oct. 7. Meanwhile, Torpedo has been on an upswing, winning back-to-back games against HC Sochi (7:1) and Dinamo Minsk (2:1 OT). The Nizhny Novgorod team is now unbeaten in regulation for five consecutive matches. Lokomotiv leads the overall standings with 48 points, while Torpedo, with 31 points, sits in sixth place in the West. This matchup promises another intense showdown between two in-form teams.
14:00: Avangard (9-13-2, 10th E) vs Neftekhimik (9-11-7, 7th E)
About the game
Avangard, who defeated Neftekhimik earlier this year (4:2), is in the middle of a five-game home series and lost to Dynamo Moscow on Wednesday (3:5).
Neftekhimik starts a three-game road trip following a loss to Barys also on Wednesday (1:2 SO).
Avangard won its previous nine home games against Neftekhimik, with the last Wolves’ win dating back to Dec. 29, 2017 (2:3 OT).
Neftekhimik’s forward Ryan Barber had an assist in each of his previous five matches.
Injury list
Avangard: Mikhail Berdin, Sergei Boikov, Vladimir Tkachyov, Dmitry Zlodeyev.
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov and Neftekhimik’s blueliner Bogdan Kiselevich may reach 200 KHL points (both are currently at 199).
14:30: Avtomobilist (16-6-2, 2nd E) vs Admiral (12-9-5, 5th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist, who defeated Admiral on Monday (4:3 OT), starts a three-game home series on a six-match winning streak.
Admiral starts a four-game road trip after its loss to the Motormen.
Avtomobilist’s forward Brooks Macek is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points over that span.
Avtomobilist’s forward Stepan Khripunov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Admiral’s defenseman Libor Sulak had at least one assist in each of his previous five games, totaling six helpers.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Anatoly Golyshev, Daniil Karpovich, Denis Romantsev, Curtis Valk.
17:00: Lada (10-11-3, 9th E) vs Metallurg (13-13-1, 6th E)
About the game
Lada starts a three-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Metallurg, who defeated Lada earlier this season (2:1), starts a three-game road trip after losing to Traktor on Wednesday (0:4).
Injury list
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov.
Milestone alert
Lada’s defenseman Denis Barantsev celebrates his 600th KHL appearance.
Lada’s goalie Vladislav Podyapolsky may reach 20 league shutouts.
Metallurg’s goalie Ilya Nabokov may record his 50th KHL career win.
17:00: Torpedo (13-9-5, 6th W) vs Lokomotiv (23-3-2, 1st W)
About the game
Torpedo plays the lone home game of the series on a two-match winning streak.
Lokomotiv, how defeated Torpedo earlier this season (2:1 SO), ends a three-game road trip after a loss to CSKA on Thursday (0:2).
Torpedo’s goalie Ivan Kulbakov is on a 64:14 shutout streak.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Pavel Kraskovsky.
Milestone alert
Torpedo’s goalie Ivan Bocharov may record his 30th KHL shutout.
