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Eastern rivals collide: Salavat Yulaev hosts Metallurg in a thrilling showdown
A thrilling four-game KHL Monday awaits hockey fans with matchups across the league. Salavat Yulaev takes on Metallurg in a classic Eastern rivalry, with Ufa aiming to extend its winning streak and break a home losing run against Magnitka. Meanwhile, Avtomobilist faces Neftekhimik in a battle between two Eastern Conference playoff contenders, as the Motormen look to continue their dominant streak. In Moscow, Spartak hosts Admiral in an interesting clash of teams from the West and East. The day concludes in St. Petersburg, where struggling SKA takes on Amur, seeking redemption after recent setbacks.
Avtomobilist and Neftekhimik will face for the third time this season, with the Motormen grabbing all three games so far. The Wolves will try to seek their first victory and return to winning games after two straight defeats, but it won’t be easy to defeat an opponent that won its last seven matches, including two straight games against Admiral last week. All the games between the two teams so far were on a one-goal gap, so a certain level of uncertainty is to be expected. The Motormen are currently the second seed in the Eastern Conference, while Neftekhimik is now sitting in seventh place.
In Ufa, Salavat Yulaev hosts Metallurg on a highly anticipated match. Salavat Yulaev against Magnitka is always a great game and a regional rivalry, and today’s game makes no difference. The two sides already met this season, with Metallurg emerging as victorious with Alexander Petunin and Yegor Korobkin netting doubles on a 5:3 Magnitka home win. Most recently, Metallurg celebrated a 2:1, SO win in Togliatti after a heavy home defeat to Traktor (0:4). The team led by Andrei Razin has four wins in its last five games. Salavat Yulaev is now riding a three-game winning streak, having defeated Barys (4:1), Lada (3:1), and Torpedo (3:2 OT)—both teams are in excellent shape. In the standings, the Ufa team is now the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, with Metallurg following in fifth place with a four-point gap. However, Salavat Yulaev lost its previous six home games against Magnitka.
The action then moves to the Western Conference. In Moscow, Spartak faces Admiral as the Muscovites seek revenge for a 3:4 OT defeat earlier this season, with blueliner Georgy Solyannikov finding the back of the net for the Sailors. Admiral will however be trying to return to victory after losing twice in a row to Avtomobilist (3:4 SO, 0:1). Spartak has instead four wins in its last five matches, including a recent victory over a struggling Severstal side on Thursday (4:1) after a home loss to Lokomotiv (0:2). The Red-and-Whites are currently the second team in the Western Conference, while Admiral’s losses to Avtomobilist made the Sailors slip down to sixth place in the East. Spartak will be missing key defenseman Andrei Mironov.
In the last game of the matchday, SKA faces Amur as two struggling sides meet in St. Petersburg. SKA starts a short, two-game home series following a loss to Ak Bars on Friday (2:3 OT). The St. Petersburg side had a decent showing in Kazan, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win after a 1:0, SO victory in Novosibirsk and four straight losses. Amur is currently at the bottom of the league’s standings with an unenviable twelve-game losing streak. The Tigers’ performances improved of late, but not enough to finally celebrate a win. Will today be the right time? Amur’s last win in St. Petersburg dates back to 2016—perhaps today the team can turn the tide and finally savor the taste of victory once more.
17:00: Avtomobilist (17-6-2, 2nd E) vs Neftekhimik (9-11-8, 7th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist is in the middle of a three-game home series and won its previous seven matches.
Neftekhimik is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost two matches in a row.
The season series between the two teams is 3-0 (2:1, 3:2, 3:2).
Avtomobilist’s goalie Vladimir Galkin is on a 64:57 shutout streak.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Anatoly Golyshev, Daniil Karpovich, Denis Romantsev, Curtis Valk.
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov.
17:00: Salavat Yulaev (16-7-1, 4th E) vs Metallurg (14-13-1, 5th E)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev ends a three-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
Metallurg, who defeated Salavat Yulaev earlier this season (5:3), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and defeated Lada on Saturday (2:1 SO).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Sheldon Rempal is on a six-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points over that span.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Metallurg: Danila Yurov.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s goalie Ilya Nabokov may celebrate his 50th KHL win.
19:30: Spartak (17-6-3, 2nd W) vs Admiral (12-10-5, 6th E)
About the game
Spartak enters the third game of a six-match home series following a win over Severstal on Thursday (4:1).
Admiral, who defeated Spartak earlier this season (4:3 OT), enters the second game of a four-match road trip on a two-game losing streak.
Injury list
Spartak: Andrei Mironov.
19:30: SKA (16-9-3, 4th W) vs Amur (5-18-3, 12th E)
About the game
SKA starts a two-game home series following a loss to Ak Bars on Friday (2:3 OT).
Amur starts a four-game road trip on a twelve-game losing streak.
Amur’s forward Vladislav Barulin had at least one assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
SKA: Artyom Zemchyonok.
Amur: Igor Bobkov, Devin Brosseau, Alexander Shevchenko.
