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Key matchups and struggles on an eventful KHL Wednesday
With an eventful KHL matchday ahead, fans can look forward to a variety of intriguing battles. In Kazakhstan, Barys welcomes Metallurg, eager to capitalize on its recent success in Sochi. Meanwhile, a Tatarstan derby sees Ak Bars hosting Neftekhimik in a clash of Eastern Conference rivals. Severstal and Admiral, both looking to snap losing streaks, meet in Cherepovets, while Moscow becomes a focal point with Dynamo hosting Sibir for a rematch and Spartak squaring off against a struggling Amur squad. Each game carries significant playoff implications, promising drama across the league.
Barys hosts Metallurg today as the Kazakhs just had a nice win in Sochi (6:3). Barys is having a rocky season, but they still had some good games, and today they will be trying to please the home fans as the team returns to home ice for the next three matches. The Kazakh franchise is currently the eleventh seed in the Eastern Conference, and climbing up won’t be easy. Metallurg, instead, is in fifth place, and will be looking for a win today to return to the top four. Magnitka has recently celebrated two straight wins, against Salavat Yulaev (3:2 OT) and Lada (2:1 SO), respectively.
The other Eastern game of the matchday is a Tatarstan derby between Ak Bars and Neftekhimik. It’s the second encounter between the two sides this year, with Kazan grabbing game one with a 4:1 score. After an exciting home win over SKA (3:2 OT), Ak Bars was shut down by CSKA on Sunday (0:3). Opposingly, the Wolves celebrated their first win of the season against Avtomobilist, defeating the Motormen in Yekaterinburg, courtesy of a double by young forward Grigory Seleznyov. The win helped Neftekhimik cementing his place above the playoffs line in the Eastern Conference, while Ak Bars was overtaken by Salavat Yulaev and is currently fourth in the East.
The action then moves to the Western Conference, starting with Severstal hosting Admiral. Both teams are on losing streaks and will want to bounce back, but only one will celebrate the start of what could be a new winning series. Earlier this season, Severstal defeated Admiral (6:5 OT). The Cherepovets side had an excellent start, but has recently slowed down quite a bit, and now lost four straight games, to Dinamo Minsk (1:4), Vityaz (0:2), Spartak (1:4), and Vityaz again (1:7)—the team struggled finding the back of the net and allowed more than its usual. The Sailors aren’t in a much better position, with three straight losses, two of them to Avtomobilist (3:4 SO, 0:1), and one to Spartak (1:6). Admiral will also try to turn the tide and climb up in the standings after slipping down to sixth place in the East.
In Moscow, Dynamo hosts Sibir, while Spartak faces Amur. The Blue-and-Whites won their last three matches, including a showdown against their today’s opponents on Friday – a game that Dynamo won with a 2:1 score. Other than Sibir, the Blue-and-Whites achieved road wins against Avangard (5:3) and Traktor (4:3 SO). Today, they will face the Novosibirsk squad at home for a revenge game, after climbing up to fourth place in the Western Conference thanks to those wins. Sibir starts today a four-game road trip on a four-math losing streak. Other than to Dynamo on Friday, Sibir lost to SKA (0:1 SO), Metallurg (1:4), and Salavat Yulaev (2:3 SO), falling down to ninth place in the Eastern Conference’s standings.
Another struggling side is Amur. The Khabarovsk franchise lost its previous thirteen matches, and it will be hard for the Tigers to find back the taste of victory as Spartak is in excellent shape with four wins in its last five matches. Most recently, the Red-and-Whites won two straight games with a 10:2 aggregate score, against Severstal and Admiral. Spartak is currently the second seed in the Western Conference, and defeated Amur in their previous encounter of the season.
17:00: Barys (8-17-2, 11th E) vs Metallurg (15-13-1, 5th E)
About the game
Barys starts a three-game home series fresh off a win over HC Sochi on Sunday (6:3).
Metallurg ends a three-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Barys’ forward Alikhan Omirbekov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Barys: Viktor Antipin, Roman Starchenko, Damir Zhafyarov.
Metallurg: Danila Yurov.
Milestone alert
Barys’ forward Dinmukhamed Kaiyrzhan may line up for his 100th KHL game.
Metallurg’s goalie Ilya Nabokov may reach 50 league wins.
19:30: Ak Bars (16-8-1, 4th E) vs Neftekhimik (10-11-8, 7th E)
About the game
Ak Bars, who defeated Neftekhimik earlier this season (4:1), ends a four-game home series following a loss to CSKA on Sunday (0:3).
Neftekhimik ends a three-game road trip and defeated Avtomobilist on Monday (3:1).
Ak Bars’ goalie Amir Miftakhov is on a 60:44 shutout streak.
Neftekhimik’s forward Jean-Sebastien Dea is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Dmitrij Jaskin may score his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
19:30: Severstal (15-11-0, 7th W) vs Admiral (12-11-5, 6th E)
About the game
Severstal, who defeated Admiral earlier this season (6:5 OT); enters the second game of a five-match home series on a four-game losing streak.
Admiral enters the third game of a four-match road trip on a three-game losing streak.
Injury list
Severstal: Alexei Kruchinin, Alexander Skorenov.
Admiral: Semyon Ruchkin.
Milestone alert
Severstal’s forward Yegor Stepanov may reach 100 league appearances.
19:30: Dynamo Moscow (16-8-3, 4th W) vs Sibir (10-12-3, 9th E)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow, who defeated Sibir earlier this season (2:1), plays the lone home game of the series on a three-game winning streak.
Sibir starts a three-game road trip on a four-match losing streak.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Dmitry Rashevsky is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Artyom Sergeyev and Sibir’s defenseman Roman Rukavishnikov may reach 100 KHL points (both currently at 99).
19:30: Spartak (18-6-3, 2nd W) vs Amur (5-19-3, 12th E)
About the game
Spartak, who defeated Amur earlier this season (5:4), enters the fourth game of a six-match home series on a two-game winning streak.
Amur enters the second game of a four-match road trip on a thirteen-game losing streak.
Spartak’s forward Nikolai Goldobin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Amur’s forward Alex Galchenyuk is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Injury list
Spartak: Andrei Mironov.
Amur: Igor Bobkov, Devin Brosseau, Dmitry Shevchenko.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s forward Ivan Morozov lines up for his 200th KHL appearance. He has 49 goals and 76 assists in his KHL career.
