KHL press office
exclusive for khl.ru
Traktor hosts Dynamo Moscow as Ak Bars clashes with CSKA in a thrilling KHL Matchday
An exciting KHL matchday features five games, starting with Traktor hosting Dynamo Moscow in a top-tier clash. The action continues with Ak Bars taking on CSKA in a rematch steeped in playoff history, while HC Sochi welcomes Barys in a battle for crucial points near the playoff threshold. Severstal faces Vityaz in Cherepovets, where the hosts look to end a losing streak. Finally, Kunlun Red Star hosts Dinamo Minsk, as the Dragons aim to snap their slump against a rising Bisons squad.
Traktor faces Dynamo Moscow as the Eastern Conference’s leader and starts a new home series. Before flying back home, Traktor defeated Amur (4:3) and Metallurg (4:0), after two straight losses to Admiral (3:4 OT) and Lokomotiv (3:5). The last wins gave the Black-and-Whites a significant gap over Avtomobilist, who has, however, one game in hand. Today’s opponent is Dynamo Moscow. Just like Traktor, the Muscovites enter into today’s match on a two-game winning streak, with victories against Avangard (5:3) and Sibir (2:1). After today’s clash against Traktor, the Blue-and-Whites, who are currently the fourth seed in the West, will return home.
The matchup between Ak Bars and CSKA can be viewed through the lens of their clash in the 2023 finals—a thrilling seven-game series that left a lasting impression. However, both teams are now under new leadership. Current head coaches Anvar Gatiyatulin of Ak Bars and Ilya Vorobyov of CSKA share an intriguing history of playoff encounters. Notably, in the 2022 Gagarin Cup semifinals, Gatiyatulin, then with Traktor, faced Vorobyov, who was leading Metallurg. That time, victory smiled to Vorobyov. What will happen this time? Both teams enter today’s game on a two-game winning streak. Ak Bars defeated SKA (3:2 OT) and Kunlun Red Star (5:0), while the Muscovites showcased defensive prowess against Lada (2:1) and Lokomotiv (2:0). Moreover, both teams have four wins in their last five matches. With regard to the standings, Ak Bars holds a solid spot in the Conference’s top four, while CSKA is currently the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
The action then moves to the West, with HC Sochi hosting Barys. The Kazakhs achieved only seven wins this season, and one of them was against the Black Sea franchise (1:0). The Astana team will thus aim to replicate their victory over Sochi achieved at home on Sept. 26. Heading into the upcoming match, Barys has earned points in only two of their last five games. The team remains second-to-last in the Eastern Conference, holding a three-point lead over Amur but trailing the playoff zone by seven points. The situation is similar for Sochi, who edged out Kunlun Red Star in a thrilling 6:5 OT victory in their last outing. Sergei Zubov’s squad is three points ahead of the Dragons but sits eight points away from the coveted playoff spots.
In Cherepovets, Severtal takes on Vityaz. For the home head coach Andrei Kozyrev, the upcoming game will mark his 100th in the KHL. Severstal will look to snap a three-game losing streak and seek revenge against Vityaz for a road defeat five days ago (0:2). Following that loss, the hosts were bested by Spartak (1:4), while the Moscow Region team fell in a high-scoring battle to Dinamo Minsk (4:6). With 25 points, the visitors remain ninth in the Western Conference, five points behind the playoff zone and their opponents from Cherepovets, who will start a five-game home series today.
In the last game of an eventful matchday, Kunlun Red Star host Dinamo Minsk. The Dragons returned from the Black Sea coast, where they suffered a high-scoring, OT defeat to HC Sochi (5:6), extending their losing streak to four games. Mikhail Kravets’ team sits at the bottom of the Western Conference, trailing Sochi by three points. Dinamo Minsk, currently eighth in the standings, leads the Dragons by eleven points. In their latest game, the Bisons defeated Vityaz (6:4), stretching their point streak to four matches. The season’s first meeting between the two teams also took place in Mytishchi, where Dinamo emerged victorious (3:1).
14:00: Traktor (18-5-3, 1st E) vs Dynamo Moscow (15-8-3, 4th W)
About the game
Traktor, who defeated Dynamo Moscow earlier this season (4:1), starts a three-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Dynamo Moscow ends a three-game road trip and also won its last couple of matches.
Traktor’s forward Andrei Svetlakov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points over that span.
Traktor’s forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Nikita Gusev is on a five-game scoring streak, with 9 (3+6) points.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Dmitry Rashevsky is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Jordan Weal is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Traktor: Artyom Blazhiyevsky.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s defenseman Grigory Dronov lines up for his 400th league appearance.
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Artyom Sergeyev may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
17:00: Ak Bars (16-7-1, 3rd E) vs CSKA (12-5-7, 5th W)
About the game
Ak Bars enters the third game of a four-match home series on a two-game winning streak.
CSKA starts a three-game road trip and also won its last couple of matches.
Ak Bars’ goalie Amir Miftakhov is on a 60:44 shutout streak.
Ak Bars’ forward Yegor Korshkov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
CSKA’s goalie Ivan Prosvetov is on an 84:39 shutout streak.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
CSKA: Yegor Afanasyev.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Semyon Koshelev may reach 200 league points (currently at 198).
Ak Bars’ forward Dmitrij Jaskin may record his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
CSKA’s defenseman Christian Jaros lines up for his 100th league appearance.
CSKA’s forward Konstantin Okulov may reach 400 career points (currently at 398).
17:00: HC Sochi (10-13-2, 10th W) vs Barys (7-17-2, 11th E)
About the game
HC Sochi enters the second game of a five-match home series following a win over Kunlun Red Star on Friday (6:5 OT).
Barys, who defeated HC Sochi this season (1:0), ends a four-game road trip after a loss to Salavat Yulaev on Friday (1:4).
HC Sochi’s forward Pavel Koryagin had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
HC Sochi’s forward Artur Tyanulin is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Denis Vengryzhanovsky.
Barys: Viktor Antipin, Roman Starchenko, Damir Zhafyarov.
Milestone alert
Barys’ forward Dinmukhamed Kaiyrzhan may lineup for his 100th KHL game.
17:00: Severstal (15-10-0, 7th W) vs Vityaz (12-14-1, 9th W)
About the game
Severstal starts a five-game home series on a three-match losing streak.
Vityaz, who defeated Severstal earlier this season (2:0), starts a four-game road trip after a home loss to Dinamo Minsk on Friday (4:6).
Injury list
Severstal: Alexander Skorenov.
Vityaz: Grigory Vashchenko.
Milestone alert
Severstal’s bench boss Andrei Kozyrev celebrates his 100th game in the league as a head coach.
Severstal’s forward Yegor Stepanov also reaches 100 league appearances.
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may record his 10th league shutout.
17:00: Kunlun Red Star (8-16-3, 11th W) vs Dinamo Minsk (14-10-2, 8th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star plays the lone home game of the series on a four-match losing streak.
Dinamo Minsk, who defeated Kunlun Red Star earlier this season (3:1), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and defeated Vityaz on Friday (6:4).
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Andrei Stas may score his 200th career point (currently at 199).
