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An intense matchday before the December pause with eight games!
Eight games will light up the KHL’s final matchday before the pause for the Channel One Cup. The action kicks off with the third Far East derby of the season, where Amur seeks its first win over Admiral. Key matchups include Lokomotiv hosting CSKA in their 80th clash, Salavat Yulaev facing Ak Bars in the 99th Green Derby, and Spartak meeting Vityaz for the third time this season. Other games feature Torpedo vs. Lada, Severstal vs. Traktor, Kunlun Red Star vs. Sibir, and SKA hosting Barys to close the day.
The tense KHL matchday starts in the Far East with the third local derby of the season. The first two editions went to Admiral, and today Amur will seek a first victory. The Tigers lost their last couple of matches, to Lokomotiv (3:4 OT) and Dinamo Minsk (2:5), and will be on the lookout for a return to victory, as they only won once in the last five games. (2:1 over HC Sochi). The Sailors are faring much better, with four wins in their last five encounters. Other than Amur on Nov. 24 (5:3), Admiral also defeated SKA (3:2 SO), HC Sochi (4:3), and Dinamo Minsk (4:0), losing only to Lokomotiv (0:3). The Sailors are the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, while Amur is sitting on the bottom of the table.
In the game between Torpedo and Lada, both teams will be seeking to end this first part of the season on a positive note. Both lost their last match, and Torpedo is on a two-game losing streak, and lost some ground in the Western Conference’s standings. Igor Larionov’s team lost to CSKA (1:2 SO) and Metallurg (3:5) at home as they end a home stand today and will restart playing after the pause on the road. Lada won three games in a row before falling to Metallurg on Thursday (0:4), and they will be seeking points to protect their chance to qualify for the postseason.
Vityaz is in a similar situation. The team lost its last couple of matches, to CSKA (1:2 SO) and Ak Bars (3:5), respectively, and will face Spartak today as the sides meet for the third time this season. Spartak won both previous encounters, and is in a good shape, turning the tide with two straight wins over Avtomobilist (5:4 SO) and Barys (4:2) after a three-game losing streak. Spartak will enter today’s game in second place in the West, while Vityaz is on the ninth spot, with a four-point gap from the playoff places. The Red-and-Whites won both clashes between the two sides this season so far, both in extra time.
This tense KHL matchday started with a derby and will have another one, with the second Green Derby of the season taking place in Ufa. Salavat Yulaev won the first edition, back in September in Kazan (5:3), with Alexander Chmelevsky netting the game-winner with less than five minutes to play in the closing frame. Today’s game promises to be just as dramatic, with both teams showcasing excellent shape of late, with Salavat Yulaev taking home their last five matches, and Ak Bars riding a four-game winning streak. It will be the 99th such derby in the league’s history, with the Kazan side enjoying its lead with 51 wins.
Another exciting game is table-topping Lokomotiv clashing with CSKA. In their 80th official KHL meeting, Lokomotiv will look to avenge the away loss they suffered on Nov. 14 (0:2). Back then, the Muscovites secured the win thanks to a shutout by Ivan Prosvetov and goals from Christian Jaros and Ruslan Iskhakov. Both teams are riding winning streaks, with the Railwaymen having won their last three games, and CSKA accumulating four consecutive wins. Home goalie Daniil Isayev may celebrate his 100th win today – it may be a good stimulus for the extremely consistent goalie.
Severstal and Traktor also promise excitation and drama. Both teams won their last game, and enter today’s game with a chance to win and gain points for the standings as the December pause approaches. The same can be said for the game between Kunlun Red Star and Sibir. The Novosibirsk side has already defeated the Dragons this season, and both teams will be seeking points to keep their postseason qualification chances alive.
Closing the last matchday before the December pause is SKA hosting Barys. The Kazakhs lost their last seven matches, while SKA most recently fell to Dynamo Moscow (2:4). The St. Petersburg franchise enter the game in fifth place in the West, while Barys is currently the tenth seed in the East. The KHL action will return on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
10:30: Amur (7-23-4, 12th E) vs Admiral (16-14-5, 6th E)
About the game
Amur enters the fourth game of a five-match home series on a two-game losing streak.
Admiral starts a five-game road trip fresh off a win over Dinamo Minsk on Wednesday (4:0).
The season series between the two teams is 0-2 (0:5, 3:5).
Amur’s forward Vladislav Barulin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
Injury list
Amur: Alexander Bryntsev.
Admirak: Mario Grman, Dmitry Sokolov.
Milestone alert
Admiral’s forward Kirill Petkov lines up for his 200th KHL game.
13:00: Torpedo (15-12-6, 8th W) vs Lada (13-14-5, 9th E)
About the game
Torpedo ends a three-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Lada plays the lone road game of the series and lost to Metallurg on Thursday (0:4).
Injury list
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov, Nikita Popugayev.
Milestone alert
Torpedo’s defenseman Vyacheslav Voynov lines up for his 400th league appearance.
14:00: Vityaz (14-16-4, 9th W) vs Spartak (22-8-4, 2nd W)
About the game
Vityaz enters the fourth game of an eight-match home series following two straight losses.
Spartak enters the fifth game of a thirteen-match road trip on a two-game winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 0-2 (3:4 OT, 4:5 OT).
Injury list
Vityaz: Ivan Chekhovich, Jeremy Roy, Ivan Savchik, Vladislav Tsitsyura, Grigory Vashchenko.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may record his 10th KHL shutout.
14:30: Salavat Yulaev (22-8-2, 2nd E) vs Ak Bars (21-9-1, 3rd E)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev, who defeated Ak Bars earlier this season (5:3), ends a five-game home series on a five-match winning streak.
Ak Bars ends a two-game road trip and won its previous four matches.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Dennis Yan is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ goalie Amir Miftakhov is on a 141:42 shutout streak.
Ak Bars’ forward Ilya Safonov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 9 (3+6) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ forward Artyom Galimov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (5+2) points.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Mitch Miller is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin, Nikita Zorkin.
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Alexander Samonov may record his 20th KHL shutout.
Ak Bars’ forward Ilya Safonov may record his 100th league point (currently at 99).
17:00: Lokomotiv (28-5-2, 1st W) vs CSKA (18-7-7, 5th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv plays the lone home game of the series and won its previous three matches.
CSKA, who defeated Lokomotiv earlier this season (2:0), ends a three-game road trip on a four-match winning streak.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev is on an 87:59 shutout streak. He can celebrate his 100th KHL win today.
Injury list
CSKA: Dmitry Samorukov.
17:00: Severstal (19-14-0, 6th W) vs Traktor (22-8-4, 1st E)
About the game
Severstal enters the second game of a six-match home series following a win over Barys on Friday (5:3).
Traktor plays the lone road game of the series after defeating Avtomobilist on Thursday (3:1).
Injury list
Severstal: Nikolai Burenov.
17:00: Kunlun Red Star (13-18-4, 10th W) vs Sibir (12-16-3, 10th E)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star ends a five-game home series and defeated HC Sochi on Friday (5:3).
Sibir, who defeated Kunlun Red Star earlier this season (3:1), ends a two-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Kunlun Red Star’s forward Cory Lockhart is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Sibir’s forward Vladimir Butuzov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Semyon Sinyatkin.
Sibir: Ilya Morozov.
Milestone alert
Kunlun Red Star’s goalie Jeremy Smith may record his 10th league shutout.
Sibir’s forward Sergei Shirokov may record his 300th KHL assist (currently at 299).
17:00: SKA (19-10-4, 5th W) vs Barys (9-23-3, 10th E)
About the game
SKA enters the second game of a five-match home series following a loss to Dynamo Moscow on Thursday (2:4).
Barys enters the second game of a five-match road trip on a seven-game losing streak.
SKA’s forward Marat Khairullin is on a six-game scoring streak, with 12 (6+6) points over that span.
SKA’s forward Grigory Kuzmin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Barys’ forward Anton Burdasov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (4+1) points.
Injury list
SKA: Zakhar Bardakov, Artyom Zemchyonok.
Barys: Viktor Antipin, Roman Starchenko, Damir Zhafyarov.
