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Lokomotiv clashes with Traktor, Dynamo welcomes CSKA on a packed KHL matchday
The KHL promises an action-packed day with six thrilling matchups on the schedule. The Eastern Conference takes center stage early, with Admiral hosting SKA, Avtomobilist facing Avangard, and Neftekhimik clashing with Spartak, while Salavat Yulaev battles Vityaz in Ufa. In the West, two marquee games await as Lokomotiv takes on Traktor in a top-seed showdown, while Dynamo Moscow hosts CSKA in a heated rivalry. With playoff spots on the line and momentum shifts in play, this matchday is set to deliver excitement for hockey fans across the league.
The big KHL matchday starts in the Far East, with Admiral welcoming SKA. Both teams won their last contest, with Admiral defeating Amur in the local derby (5:3), and SKA getting the best over Torpedo (4:1). However, the St. Petersburg side also won the previous match, over Amur (6:3), as it’s currently on a two-game winning streak. SKA will play two games in the Far East before flying back to St. Petersburg, with the team conceding some rest to Mikhail Grigorenko and Anthony DeAngelo. SKA is currently the fourth seed in the West, while Admiral is sailing in sixth place in the East.
Another interesting Eastern matchup is Avtomobilist hosting Avangard. The Hawks shuffled their roster and finally found some success, with three straight wins and the return to the fight for playoff places. Avangard defeated Metallurg (2:1 SO), Barys (3:2 OT), and Admiral (2:1), and has currently four wins in its last five matches as the Hawks climbed up by a couple of positions in the standings. The Motormen keep their second place in the East, and celebrated three victories in their last five matches, with a recent win in Minsk (3:2 OT). Avtomobilist starts today a new homestand, while Avangard will fly back to Omsk after today’s encounter. The game comes after the Hawks announced Guy Boucher as their new head coach, but he will get to the Siberian city only in mid-December.
In the meantime, Salavat Yulaev hosts Vityaz. The Moscow Region side lost its last couple of matches, but they actually gained points in both as they surrendered to both Spartak (4:5) and Lokomotiv (1:2) after extra time. Vityaz has a five-point gap to Dinamo Minsk in the Western Conference’s playoff struggle, but the season didn’t even reach the mid-mark point. The Ufa team started the week with a shutout win in Cherepovets (2:0), gaining two important points to stay in the Eastern Conference’s top four. The team enters today’s game just one point below Avtomobilist in the standings.
In the last Eastern game of the night, Neftekhimik welcomes Spartak. The Red-and-Whites had an impressive streak of six straight victories before a sensational home loss to Torpedo (0:6). The Muscovites will try to forget that game as soon as possible and return to victory as they travel to Tatarstan to start a long, thirteen-game road trip—a series that will also include a showdown in Tashkent against Dinamo Minsk within the KHL World Games on Dec. 22. Spartak will be playing some games in Moscow and in the Moscow Region in the period, but will play the next home game only on Jan. 15 against Avtomobilist. The Wolves have most recenty lost to Kunlun Red Star at home (1;3) and are currently the seventh seed in the East.
The action then moves to the Western Conference for two strong games. First, Lokomotiv battles out with Traktor in a fight between the two conference leaders. This is the second time the teams meet this season, following Lokomotiv’s win on Nov. 3 (5:3), with three assists from Martin Gernat and a double by Alexander Radulov. However, the Railwaymen will enter today’s game on a two-match losing streak, the first of this season. Lokomotiv will try to up its game to return to victory against a strong rival. Traktor instead started a four-game road trip win a win in Minsk (4:3 OT) and will be looking for revenge.
Then, in Moscow, Dynamo and CSKA will meet for the third time this season. In the first couple of encounters CSKA gathered two wins, once in September and once in October (3:1, 4:3 SO). The teams are in different positions, with the Blue-and-Whites riding a six-game winning streak and CSKA having suffered from two straight losses. However, in derbies, everything starts from scratch and things can easily go either way.
12:00: Admiral (13-13-5, 6th E) vs SKA (18-9-3, 4th W)
About the game
Admiral enters the second game of a five-match home series following a win over Amur on Sunday (5:3).
SKA starts a two-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
SKA’s forward Sergei Plotnikov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
SKA’s forward Marat Khairullin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Admiral: Semyon Ruchkin.
SKA: Zakhar Bardakov, Artyom Zemchyonok.
Milestone alert
Admiral’s forward Nikita Soshnikov may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 198).
17:00: Avtomobilist (18-7-3, 2nd E) vs Avangard (13-14-2, 8th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist, who defeated Avangard earlier this season (3:0), starts a three-game home series fresh off a win over Dinamo Minsk on Saturday (4:3 SO).
Avangard ends a three-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Avangard’s forward Nail Yakupov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Jesse Blacker, Nick Ebert, Anatoly Golyshev, Daniil Karpovich, Curtis Valk.
Avangard: Mikhail Berdin, Sergei Boikov, Alex Grant, Vladimir Tkachyov.
17:00: Salavat Yulaev (18-8-2, 3rd E) vs Vityaz (13-14-3, 9th W)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev starts a five-game home series fresh off a win over Severstal on Monday (2:0).
Vityaz ends a four-game road trip on a two-match losing streak.
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Alexander Samonov is on an 81:30 shutout streak.
Salavat Yulaev’s defenseman Dinar Khafizullin had at least one assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Vityaz’s forward Ivan Chekhovich is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (5+3) points over that span.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Vityaz: Ivan Savchik, Vladislav Tsitsyura, Grigory Vashchenko.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may record his 10th KHL shutout.
19:30: Neftekhimik (11-13-8, 7th E) vs Spartak (20-7-3, 2nd W)
About the game
Neftekhimik ends a three-game home series after a loss to Kunlun Red Star on Monday (1:3).
Spartak starts a thirteen-game road trip after a loss to Torpedo also on Monday (0:6).
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov.
Spartak: Andrei Mironov.
19:30: Lokomotiv (25-5-2, 1st W) vs Traktor (20-6-4, 1st E)
About the game
Lokomotiv, who defeated Traktor earlier this season (5:3), plays the lone home game of the series and lost its previous couple of matches.
Traktor enters the second game of a four-match road trip following a win over Dinamo Minsk on Tuesday (4:3 OT).
Traktor’s forward Alexander Kadeikin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points over that span.
Dynamo Moscow (19-8-3, 3rd W) vs CSKA (14-7-7, 5th W)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow ends a two-game home series on a six-match winning streak.
CSKA plays the lone road game of the trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
CSKA defeated Dynamo Moscow twice this season so far (1:3, 3:4 SO).
Dynamo Moscow’s goalie Hunter Miska is on an 87:42 shutout streak.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Maxime Comtois is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Jordan Weal is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
CSKA: Dmitry Samorukov.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s forward Konstantin Okulov may score his 400th career point (currently at 399).
