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Green Derby returns to Kazan after Ufa’s double
The matchday is headlined by the Green Derby as Ak Bars and Salavat Yulaev clash in Kazan, just ten days after their last meeting. Salavat claimed both earlier encounters in Ufa. Elsewhere, Traktor faces Dinamo Minsk in Chelyabinsk, aiming to retain the Eastern Conference’s top spot. Metallurg hosts Avtomobilist, with the two teams separated by just two points. Finally, Severstal takes on HC Sochi in the West, looking to extend its winning streak to three games. Four games are on tap on an exciting KHL matchday.
The highlight of the day is certainly the Green Derby between Ak Bars and Salavat Yulaev. They face off just ten days after their previous encounter. For the first time this season, one of the KHL’s iconic rivalries will take place in Kazan. The previous two games were held in Ufa, with the hosts celebrating victories on both occasions — 5:3 in September and 3:2 OT in December. Salavat Yulaev’s win in the last meeting was secured by Joshua Leivo, who scored two goals, including the game-winner in OT. The Ufa team has a good chance to climb up to first place in the Eastern Conference in case of a victory today, with table-topping Traktor also taking the ice in the matchday.
Earlier, in the first game, Traktor hosts Dinamo Minsk. Both teams were active on the transfer market during the pause. The Chelyabinsk side had two major signings, trading Ostap Safin off Lada and signing Florida-born defenseman Logan Day. The Bisons tried to fill their hole in the goaltending position trading for Vasily Demchenko from Admiral, sacrificing forward Nikita Guslistov and the rights on d-man Dmitry Deryabin. The two sides met already this season, with Traktor taking the first game (4:3 OT). Despite losing its last game before the pause, Traktor is still leading the Eastern Conference, while Dinamo Minsk is battling for the eighth spot in the West.
In the meantime, Metallurg welcomes Avtomobilist. Both sides lost before the pause, but if Metallurg only fell to Dynamo Moscow (2:3), while the Motormen lost four times in a row, to Avangard (2:4), Traktor (twice, 1:3, 3:5), and Spartak (4:5 SO). Avtomobilist has thus slipped down to fourth place in the East, with Metallurg currently in sixth spot after Admiral win in yesterday’s Far East derby. Magnitka has a chance to catch up with the Motormen at 42 points in the standings.
The action then moves to the West for the lone Western game of the season, with Severstal hosting HC Sochi. The Steelers went on pause with two straight wins, over Barys (5:3) and Traktor (2:1). HC Sochi, instead, has lost its last five matches. Despite the different situation for the two teams, HC Sochi took the game when the two sides met earlier this season (1:0). Severstal had no roster moves during the national team pause, while HC Sochi acquired forward Alexander Yaremchuk from Avangard, sent Kirill Rasskazov to Sibir, and loaned d-man Fyodor Kroshchinsky to Neftekhimik in an attempt to climb up to last place in the standings. Severstal is currently the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
17:00: Traktor (22-9-4, 1st E) vs Dinamo Minsk (17-13-4, 7th W)
About the game
Traktor, who defeated Dinamo Minsk earlier in the season (4:3 OT), starts a two-game home series following a loss to Severstal on Dec. 8 (1:2).
Dinamo Minsk enters the fourth game of a five-match road trip and defeated Amur on Dec. 6 (5:2).
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Daniil Sotishvili.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov is hunting his 950th point in the KHL (currently at 945).
17:00: Metallurg (19-15-2, 6th E) vs Avtomobilist (19-10-4, 4th E)
About the game
Metallurg starts a three-game home series following a loss to Dynamo Moscow on Dec. 7 (2:3).
Avtomobilist is in the middle of a five-game road trip and lost its previous four matches.
Metallurg’s forwards Dmitry Silantyev and Daniil Vovchenko had an assist in each of their previous three games.
Metallurg’s defenseman Robin Press is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Metallurg’s forward Denis Zernov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Avtomobilist’s forward Brooks Macek, who can reach 250 KHL points today (currently at 249), is on a six-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Nick Ebert, Daniil Karpovich, Curtis Valk.
19:30: Ak Bars (21-9-2, 3rd E) vs Salavat Yulaev (23-8-2, 2nd E)
About the game
Ak Bars starts a two-game home series following a loss to Salavat Yulaev on Dec. 8 (2:3 OT).
Salavat Yulaev starts a two-game road trip on a six-match winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 0-2 (3:5, 2:3 OT).
Ak Bars’ defenseman Mitchell Miller is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Kirill Lyamin had at least one assist in each of his previous three games, totaling five helpers.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Chmelevsky is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Ilya Safonov may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Alexander Samonov may record his 20th league shutout.
19:30: Severstal (20-14-0, 6th W) vs HC Sochi (11-19-3, 11th W)
About the game
Severstal, who defeated HC Sochi earlier this season (1:0), enters the third game of a six-match home series on a two-game winning streak.
HC Sochi enters the fifth game of an eight-match road trip on a five-game losing streak.
Injury list
Severstal: Nikolai Burenov.
HC Sochi: Andrei Nikonov, Daniil Seroukh, Yegor Spiridonov.
