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Top Eastern Conference teams hit the ice on a thrilling matchday
The KHL’s action-packed matchday features six exciting clashes, with five games in the Eastern Conference and one in the West. In the Far East, Amur hosts HC Sochi, while Admiral faces Lokomotiv. Sibir takes on Dinamo Minsk in a key battle for playoff contention, and Avtomobilist clashes with Spartak as Salavat Yulaev hosts Traktor in matchups involving the top three Eastern teams. To wrap things up, Vityaz welcomes Neftekhimik in the lone Western game of the day. Fans can expect plenty of drama and pivotal moments across the ice.
The KHL matchday will start again early in the Far East, with Amur facing HC Sochi and Admiral welcoming Lokomotiv. Sochi faced Admiral on Saturday, with the Sailors claiming the game (4:2). Thus, the Black Sea team will seek for a return to victory, although both sides are currently on a two-game losing streak. The Tigers lost to Admiral (3:5) and SKA (5:7), while Sochi also lost to Admiral (4:3) and Ak Bars (2:3 OT). Both clubs sit on the bottom of the respective Conference.
Then, in Vladivostok, the Sailors take on Lokomotiv on an interesting matchup. After a shutout loss to Dynamo Moscow (0:3), the Railwaymen bounced back and defeated Lokomotiv and today they start a Far East trip that will see them also facing Amur on Wednesday. Lokomotiv retains the leadership in the Western Conference, while Admiral is on a good sixth place in the East after three straight wins, over HC Sochi (4:3), SKA (3:2 SO), and Amur (5:3).
The battle for the playoff places in the East will get another intriguing chapter today, when Sibir faces Dinamo Minsk. The Novosibirsk side is currently the tenth seed in the Conference, but is just two points shy of the playoff line. With two wins in its last three games, against Barys (2:0) and HC Sochi (4:2), respectively, Sibir is in good shape, and the team will be looking to build on its recent success in today’s game against Dinamo Minsk. The Belarusians, conversely, are on a three-game losing streak, with losses to Traktor (3:4 OT), Avtomobilist (2:3 OT), and Dynamo Moscow (3:4). Despite two losses coming in extra time with one additional point in the standings, it was certainly a disappointing end of November for the franchise, who will be trying to bounce back as December kicks off with a five-game road trip.
In the upper side of the Eastern Conference’s table Avtomobilist faces Spartak, while Salavat Yulaev clashes with Traktor. With the top three teams in the standings hitting the ice at the same time, emotions are guaranteed. In Yekaterinburg, the Motormen will seek a return to victory after falling to Traktor on Saturday (3:5) as Avtomobilist failed to get closer to the first place. Earlier, however, the team had two straight wins, over Avangard (4:2) and Dinamo Minsk (3:2 OT). Spartak, instead, lost its last three matches, to Torpedo (0:6), Neftekhimik (3:4 OT), and Salavat Yulaev (1:5). Despite the losses, however, the Red-and-Whites retained the second spot in the West. Avtomobilist is currently the third seed in the East, with Salavat Yulaev overtaking them after its win over Spartak.
The Ufa team will face Traktor for the fourth time in the season. Salavat Yulaev climbed up to second place in the Eastern Conference’s standings with its three straight victories, while Traktor is lacking some consistency of late, with two wins and two defeats in the last four matches – including a disappointing home loss to Kunlun Red Star on Nov. 23 (1:4). Considering that Ufa took two games from three in the seasonal series, and that Traktor will definitely want not to lose ground in the standings and allow Salavat Yulaev getting closer, the fans will be treated to an exciting game with a lot on stake.
In the last game of the gameday – the only one in the Western Conference – Vityaz welcomes Neftekhimik. The Moscow Region team lost three straight matches as it starts a long, eight-game home series today. Vityaz fell to Salavat Yulaev (0:4), Spartak (4:5 OT), and Lokomotiv (1:2 OT), and has only one win in its last five matches – a commanding 7:1 triumph over Severstal on Nov. 17. With these results, Vityaz failed to overtake Dinamo Minsk in eighth place in the West, and is now at five points from its Belarusian rival. The Wolves are now sitting on a comfortable seventh place in the Eastern Conference and have three wins in their last five matches, including defeating Spartak four days ago (4:3 OT). Neftekhimik will play on the road its next couple of games.
12:00: Amur (6-22-3, 12th E) vs HC Sochi (11-16-3, 11th W)
About the game
Amur enters the second game of a six-match home series on a two-game losing streak.
HC Sochi enters the second game of an eight-match road trip also on a two-game losing streak.
Amur’s forward Alex Broadhurst had at least one assist in each of his previous four matches, totaling five helpers.
Amur’s forward Oleg Li is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
HC Sochi’s forward Sergei Popov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Amur: Igor Bobkov, Devin Brosseau, Alexander Bryntsev.
HC Sochi: Andrei Nikonov, Denis Vengryzhanovsky.
12:30: Admiral (15-13-5, 6th E) vs Lokomotiv (26-5-2, 1st W)
About the game
Admiral enters the fourth game of a five-match home series and won its previous three games.
Lokomotiv starts a two-game road trip fresh off a win over Traktor on Thursday (4:2).
Admiral’s forward Nikita Soshnikov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Admiral: Semyon Ruchkin.
Milestone alert
Admiral’s defenseman Mark Marin lines up for his 200th KHL appearance.
15:30: Sibir (12-14-3, 10th E) vs Dinamo Minsk (15-12-4, 8th W)
About the game
Sibir ends a two-game home series following a win over Barys on Wednesday (2:0).
Dinamo Minsk starts a five-game road trip on a three-match losing streak.
Sibir’s goalie Denis Kostin is on a 62:20 shutout streak.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 9 (1+8) points over that span.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Brady Lyle is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
Sibir: Ilya Morozov.
Dinamo Minsk: Danil Sotishvili.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Sergei Shirokov may reach 300 KHL assists (currently at 298), while Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov may get to 650 (currently at 648).
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Andrei Stas may record his 200th KHL point.
17:00: Avtomobilist (19-8-3, 3rd E) vs Spartak (20-8-4, 2nd W)
About the game
Avtomobilist ends a three-game home series following a loss to Traktor on Saturday (3:5).
Spartak enters the third game of a thirteen-game road trip on a three-match losing streak.
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 9 (2+7) points over that span.
Avtomobilist’s forward Brooks Macek is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Nick Ebert, Daniil Karpovich, Curtis Valk.
Spartak: Andrei Mironov.
17:00: Salavat Yulaev (20-8-2, 2nd E) vs Traktor (21-7-4, 1st E)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev is in the middle of a five-game home series and won its previous three matches.
Traktor ends a four-game road trip and defeated Avtomobilist on Saturday (5:3).
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (2:1 SO, 5:3, 2:4).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Joshua Leivo is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Nathan Todd is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Vladislav Yefremov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Traktor’s defenseman Steven Kampfer and forward Vitaly Kravtsov are an identical three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Traktor’s defenseman Ilya Nikolayev had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Samonov may record his 20th shutout in the KHL.
19:30: Vityaz (13-15-3, 9th W) vs Neftekhimik (12-13-8, 7th E)
About the game
Vityaz starts an eight-game home series on a three-match losing streak.
Neftekhimik starts a two-game road trip fresh off a win over Spartak on Wednesday (4:3 OT).
Neftekhimik’s forward Nikita Khoruzhev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Vityaz: Ivan Savchik, Vladislav Tsitsyura, Grigory Vashchenko.
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s forward Derek Barach lines up for his 100th league appearance. He has 25 goals and 36 assists in his KHL career so far.
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may record his 10th shutout in the KHL.
Neftekhimik’s head coach Vladislav Leontyev may celebrate his 100th career win.
