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A packed matchday featuring key clashes across both Conferences!
Today's KHL matchday offers six exciting games spread across both conferences. Action in the Far East includes Amur hosting Lokomotiv and Admiral facing Dinamo Minsk, while Avangard and HC Sochi aim to snap losing streaks in Omsk. Barys will battle Spartak in a crucial clash for the Kazakhs. In the Western Conference, Vityaz takes on CSKA, and Kunlun Red Star hosts Neftekhimik to close the day. With key playoff battles unfolding and milestone opportunities on the line, this matchday promises plenty of drama across the league.
This KHL Wednesday features another couple of games in the Far East, with Amur hosting Lokomotiv and Admiral facing Dinamo Minsk. The Railwaymen won their first game in their trip shutting out Admiral (3:0), with the team reaching two straight wins after a victory over Traktor on Thursday (4:2). Amur and Lokomotiv already met this season, with the Yaroslavl team claiming a 5:0 win. The Tigers also won their last match, achieving a hard-fought, 2:1 victory against HC Sochi. However, Amur hasn’t won at home against Lokomotiv for more than five years, with the last good result for the Tigers dating back to Oct. 15, 2019 (2:1). Amur keeps on being the last team in the Eastern Conference, while Lokomotiv sits atop of the West.
Somewhat similarly, the Sailors hadn’t achieved a home win over Dinamo Minsk, tonight’s opponent, since Dec. 21, 2019 (5:1). Moreover, Admiral lost the first encounter of the season to Bisons (2:7). Admiral is currently the sixth seed in the East, after a home loss to Lokomotiv on Monday. Dinamo Minsk has instead won its previous match, achieving a 5:4 road win over Sibir. The Belarusians have several leaders on active scoring streaks, including Vadim Shipachyov, who is posed to reaching another milestone tonight. The team is currently in a good position to qualify for the postseason, with a five-point advantage over Vityaz.
Then, in Omsk, both Avangard and HC Sochi will aim to snap their losing streaks, with the Hawks dropping their last two games, and HC Sochi enduring three consecutive defeats. With that said, Avangard won its last nine straight games against the Black Sea franchise, and today, HC Sochi will have to have a great effort to properly celebrate Sergei Zubov’s 250th game. The team is currently in last place in the West, while Avangard is the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference.
In the last Eastern game of the matchday, Barys will be trying to return to victory after five games in a home clash against Spartak. The Kazakhs secured back-to-back victories on November 17 and 20 but have since suffered five consecutive losses, diminishing their chances of making the playoffs with each defeat. Things may change with a win today, but defeating Spartak won’t be easy. The Red-and-Whites just returned to victory after four straight losses, defeating Avtomobilist (5:4 SO) despite the Motormen rallied back from 1:2 and 1:4 scores. Earlier this season, in Moscow, Spartak defeated Barys 4:2. The Red-and-Whites are second in the Western Conference and have just dealt forward Shane Prince to Admiral.
The action then moves to the Western Conference for a couple of matches. Vityaz faces CSKA, and Kunlun Red Star welcomes Neftekhimik. Vityaz managed to turn the tide after three straight losses with a home win over Neftekhimik on Monday (4:3 SO), while CSKA had two straight wins, allowing just one goal. The Muscovites, who start a road trip from today’s game, defeated Dynamo Moscow in a derby (1:0) and Barys (3:1) respectively. CSKA is currently at three points from a spot in the Western top four, but they had two games in hand if compared to SKA. Vityaz is the ninth seed in the conference.
In the last game of the matchday, Kunlun Red Star clashes with Neftekhimik for the second time this season. In the first encounter, the Dragons had the best over the Wolves, achieving a 3:1 victory. However, Kunlun Red Star lost two straight games, to Lada (1:2) and Dynamo Moscow (4:5 OT), respectively, but also achieved three consecutive victories before. Neftekhimik ends a road trip today after a loss to Vityaz (3:4 SO), but the Wolves keep a spot in the Eastern Conference’s playoff zone, being currently the seventh seed in the East.
12:00: Amur (7-22-3, 12th E) vs Lokomotiv (27-5-2, 1st W)
About the game
Amur enters the third game of a six-match home series following a win over HC Sochi on Monday (2:1).
Lokomotiv, who defeated Amur earlier this season (5:0), ends a two-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev is on an 87:59 shutout streak.
Injury list
Amur: Igor Bobkov, Devin Brosseau, Alexander Bryntsev.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev may celebrate his 100th KHL win.
12:30: Admiral (15-14-5, 6th E) vs Dinamo Minsk (16-12-4, 8th W)
About the game
Admiral ends a five-game home series following a loss to Lokomotiv on Monday (3:0).
Dinamo Minsk, who defeated Admiral earlier this season (7:2), enters the second game of a five-match road trip after a win over Sibir also on Monday (5:4 SO).
Dinamo Minsk’s Vadim Shipachyov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 10 (1+9) points over that span.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Brady Lyle is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Alexander Volkov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Injury list
Admiral: Mario Grman, Dmitry Sokolov.
Dinamo Minsk: Daniil Sotishvili.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov may reach 650 KHL assists.
16:30: Avangard (13-16-2, 10th E) vs HC Sochi (11-17-3, 11th W)
About the game
Avangard is in the middle of a three-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
HC Sochi enters the third game of an eight-match road trip on a three-game losing streak.
Injury list
Avangard: Mikhaik Berdin, Sergei Bokiov, Alex Grant, Ilya Reingardt, Vladimir Tkachyov.
HC Sochi: Andrei Nikonov, Yegor Spiridonov.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s forward Emil Galimov lines up for his 600th KHL game.
HC Sochi’s head coach Sergei Zubov celebrates his 250th league game behind the bench.
17:00: Barys (9-21-3, 11th E) vs Spartak (21-8-4, 2nd W)
About the game
Barys plays the lone home game of the series and lost its previous five matches.
Spartak, who defeated Barys earlier in the season (4:2), enters the fourth game of a thirteen-game road trip following a win over Avtomobilist on Monday (5:4 SO).
Injury list
Barys: Viktor Antipin, Roman Starchenko, Damir Zhafyarov.
Spartak: Andrei Mironov.
Milestone alert
Barys’ forward Andrei Nikolishin reaches 300 league appearances, while Spartak’s defenseman Daniil Orlov reaches 100.
19:30: Vityaz (14-15-3, 9th E) vs CSKA (16-7-7, 5th W)
About the game
Vityaz enters the second game of an eight-match home series following a win over Neftekhimik on Monday (4:3 SO).
CSKA, who defeated Vityaz earlier this season (3:2), starts a three-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Injury list
Vityaz: Ivan Chekhovich, Ivan Savchik, Vladislav Tsitsyura, Grigory Vashchenko.
CSKA: Christian Jaros, Dmitry Samorukov.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
19:30: Kunlun Red Star (12-17-4, 10th W) vs Neftekhimik (12-13-9, 7th E)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star, who defeated Neftekhimik earlier in the season (3:1), is in the middle of a five-game home series and lost its previous couple of matches.
Neftekhimik ends a two-game road trip following a loss to Vityaz on Monday (3:4 SO).
Kunlun Red Star’s defenseman Yury Pautov had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Neftekhimik’s forward Nikita Khoruzhev is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Semyon Sinyatkin.
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov.
Milestone alert
Kunlun Red Star’s goalie Jeremy Smith may reach 10 league shutouts.
Neftekhimik’s head coach Oleg Leontyev may celebrate his 100th win in the league.
