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Top teams on display: Lokomotiv, Traktor, and Salavat Yulaev take center stage
Today’s action features five thrilling games as top teams like Lokomotiv, Traktor, and Salavat Yulaev look to continue their strong form. Traktor faces Kunlun Red Star to wrap up their homestand, while Spartak clashes with Vityaz in a key Western Conference battle. In the East, Salavat Yulaev travels to Neftekhimik, aiming to build on their solid streak. Lokomotiv seeks a third straight win in a rematch with Torpedo, and Severstal hosts Ak Bars, fresh off a shutout victory. Excitement is guaranteed across the league.
Traktor will host Kunlun Red Star to end a three-game home series as the team just achieved a 5:2 win over CSKA. Following a loss to Dynamo Moscow (3:4 SO), the victory over the Red-and-Blues was the third in the last four matches for Traktor, with other wins celebrated in road matches against Metallurg (4:0) and Amur (4:3). The Dragons are also in good shape, with two straight wins (2:1 SO over Avtomobilist and 3:0 against Dinamo Minsk) and three consecutive games with points. In the standings, Traktor keeps a comfortable lead in the Eastern Conference standings, while Kunlun Red Star overtook HC Sochi in the tenth place in the West. Moreover, Traktor won eight straight home games against the Dragons, with the last defeat dating back to 2018, Dec. 30.
In Moscow, Spartak hosts Vityaz as the teams face for the second time this season, with the Red-and-Whites taking the first game (4:3 OT). The Moscow franchise won its previous three matches and climbed up to second place in the Western Conference, while Vityaz lacked some consistency and only achieved two wins in its last five games—both against conference rivals Severstal (7:1, 2:0). The team is currently the ninth seed in the league and has a three-point gap from playoff places. For Spartak, several leading players are on active scoring streaks.
In the second and last game in the Eastern Conference for today, Neftekhimik hosts Salavat Yulaev. Despite a home loss to Ak Bars, the Wolves keep on maintaining a firm presence in the East’s top eight, while Salavat Yulaev is much higher in the standings, in the top three. After a home loss to Metallurg, Salavat Yulaev defeated Lada (2:1 SO) and has four wins in its last five matches, defeating Barys (4:1), Lada again (3:1), and Torpedo (3:2 OT).
Another team in good shape is Lokomotiv. The Railwaymen won their last couple of matches, over Torpedo (1:0) and Vityaz (2:1 OT), and they will be on the lookout for a third straight win as they face Torpedo again. Conversely, the Nizhny Novgorod franchise had two straight losses, to SKA (4:1) other than against Lokomotiv, and slipped down to eighth place in the Conference. Lokomotiv currently leads the league with 52 points – eleven more than Spartak, the second seed in the West.
On Wednesday, Severstal finally managed to turn the tide and halt a four-game skid, achieving a 2:1 win over Admiral. However, celebrating another victory won’t be easy for the Cherepovets side, with Ak Bars coming into town for today’s game. The Kazan team just celebrated a shutout win over Neftekhimik (2:0) and has three wins in its last five games, also defeating SKA (3:2 OT) and Kunlun Red Star (5:0). In the standings, Severstal is sixth in the Western Conference, while Ak Bars holds the fourth spot in the East.
14:00: Traktor (19-5-4, 1st E) vs Kunlun Red Star (10-16-3, 10th W)
About the game
Traktor ends a three-game home series after a win over CSKA on Wednesday (5:2).
Kunlun Red Star is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
Traktor’s defenseman Artyom Blazhiyevsky is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Kunlun Red Star forward Spencer Foo is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Kunlun Red Star’s goalie Jeremy Smith is on a 60:00 shutout streak.
Milestone alert
Kunlun Red Star’s goalie Jeremy Smith may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
14:00: Spartak (19-6-1, 2nd W) vs Vityaz (13-14-2, 9th W)
About the game
Spartak, who defeated Vityaz earlier this season (4:3 OT), enters the fifth game of a six-match home series on a three-game winning streak.
Vityaz enters the third game of a four-match road trip after a loss to Lokomotiv on Tuesday (1:2 OT).
Spartak’s forward Nikolai Goldobin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 8 (2+6) points over that span.
Spartak’s forward Pavel Poryadin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Spartak’s forward Ivan Morozov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (5+1) points.
Spartak’s forward Alexander Pashin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 7 (2+5) points.
Vityaz’s forward Ivan Chekhovich is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points.
Injury list
Spartak: Andrei Mironov.
Vityaz: Vladislav Tsitsyura, Grigory Vashchenko,
Milestone alert
Vladislav Valentsov lines up for his 200th KHL game.
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
17:00: Neftekhimik (10-12-8, 7th E) vs Salavat Yulaev (17-7-2, 3rd E)
About the game
Neftekhimik starts a three-game home series following a loss to Ak Bars on Wednesday (0:2).
Salavat Yulaev is in the middle of a three-game road trip and defeated Lada on Thursday (2:1 SO).
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Ruslan Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov.
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
17:00: Lokomotiv (25-3-2, 1st W) vs Torpedo (13-11-5, 8th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv ends a two-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Torpedo is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
The Railwaymen defeated Torpedo twice this season (2:1 SO, 1:0).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev is on an 81:03 shutout streak.
Lokomotiv’s forward Daniil But is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Torpedo’s goalie Ivan Bocharov is on a 65:45 shutout streak.
Milestone alert
Torpedo’s goalie Ivan Bocharov may record his 30th career shutout.
17:00: Severstal (16-11-0, 7th W) vs Ak Bars (17-8-1, 4th E)
About the game
Severstal is in the middle of a five-game home series and defeated Admiral on Wednesday (2:1).
Ak Bars starts a three-game road trip fresh off a win over Neftekhimik also on Wednesday (2:0).
Ak Bars’ goalie Amir Miftakhov is on an 89:19 shutout streak.
Injury list
Severstak: Alexei Kruchinin, Alexander Skorenov.
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ defenseman Andrei Marchenko lines up for his 500th KHL game.
Ak Bars’ forward Dmitrij Jaskin may record his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
