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Metallurg and Salavat Yulaev set for another thrilling showdown!
Today’s matchday features four exciting games, headlined by the clash between Metallurg and Salavat Yulaev. The Magnitogorsk side aims for a third straight victory over their Ufa rivals this season, following wins in their first two encounters. Then, Ak Bars hosts Dynamo Minsk, looking to continue their strong run with points in six consecutive games. Avtomobilist faces Lokomotiv, hoping to snap a five-game losing skid. Severstal meets Sochi for the second time in three days after a recent 4:2 win.
In the first matchup, Metallurg welcomes Salavat Yulaev. This season, Magnitka has been a particularly tough opponent for Salavat Yulaev, winning both of their previous games (5:3, 3:2 OT). Heading into their next encounter, the Magnitogorsk side comes off a successful restart to the season with a victory over Avtomobilist in the Ural derby (4:2). Meanwhile, Ufa suffered a loss in an equally intense rivalry game against Ak Bars (2:3). Metallurg will be without defenseman Vladislav Yeryomenko, sidelined indefinitely after an injury in the previous game. The hosts currently sit in the top six of the Eastern Conference with 42 points, while Salavat Yulaev is in second place with six points more.
Then, in Yaroslavl, Avtomobilist will look to break its five-game losing streak. In their first game after the December pause, Nikolai Zavarukhin’s team fell to Metallurg in the Ural derby (2:4). Meanwhile, Lokomotiv secured a victory in St. Petersburg against SKA (3:2). The Yaroslavl team reached its 60th point of the season and continues to confidently lead the standings. Avtomobilist has 42 points and is currently in the top six of the Eastern Conference. The Urals team will aim for revenge against Lokomotiv for their home loss earlier this season on Oct. 1 (0:1 OT).
In Kazan, Ak Bars hosts Dinamo Minsk in the matchday’s last Eastern game. The Tatarstan franchise extended their point streak to six games with a victory in the Green Derby over Salavat Yulaev (3:2). Next up for the Kazan team is a matchup against Dinamo Minsk, who also started strong after the December break. Dinamo defeated Eastern Conference leaders Traktor on the road (3:1), marking their second consecutive win. With 40 points, the Bisons sit in the playoff zone of the Western Conference, while Ak Bars, with six more points, occupies third place in the East. Recently, the hosts signed forward Eric O’Dell, who previously played for Dynamo Moscow and other teams, lining up in the KHL since 2016. After this game, Dinamo Minsk will fly to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to face Spartak in the KHL World Games.
In the last game of the matchday, Severstal clashes with HC Sochi for a revenge match, with the Steelers aiming to replicate their success from two days ago (4:2). That loss marked Sochi’s sixth consecutive defeat. With 25 points, the team remains at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, while Cherepovets sits sixth with 42 points. Andrei Kozyrev’s squad is currently riding a three-game winning streak. Will they be able to extend it further and get a inch closer to a postseason qualification?
17:00: Metallurg (20-15-2, 5th E) vs Salavat Yulaev (23-9-2, 2nd E)
About the game
Metallurg is in the middle of a three-game home series and defeated Avtomobilist on Wednesday (4:2).
Salavat Yulaev ends a two-game road trip and lost to Ak Bars also on Wednesday (2:3).
The season series between the two teams is 2-0 (5:3, 3:2 OT).
Metallurg’s defenseman Robin Press is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
Metallurg’s forward Daniil Vovchenko had an assist in each of his previous four games, while Dmitry Silantyev had one in his last three matches.
Metallurg’s forward Roman Kantserov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (5+1) points.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Alexander Samonov is seeking his 20th league shutout.
19:00: Lokomotiv (29-6-2, 1st W) vs Avtomobilist (19-11-4, 4th E)
About the game
Lokomotiv, who defeated Avtomobilist earlier this season (1:0 OT), starts a two-game home series fresh off a win over SKA on Tuesday (3:2).
Avtomobilist enters the fourth game of a five-match road trip on a five-game losing streak.
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Radulov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Nick Ebert, Daniil Karpovich.
19:30: Ak Bars (22-9-2, 3rd E) vs Dinamo Minsk (18-13-4, 7th W)
About the game
Ak Bars ends a two-game road trip following a win over Salavat Yulaev on Wednesday (3:2).
Dinamo Minsk ends a five-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Mitchell Miller is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ forward Kirill Semyonov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Daniil Sotishvili.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Ilya Safonov may score his 100th KHL point (currently at 99).
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov may reach 950 league points (currently at 948).
19:30: Severstal (21-14-0, 6th W) vs HC Sochi (11-20-3, 11th W)
About the game
Severstal enters the fourth game of a six-match home series on a three-game winning streak.
HC Sochi enters the sixth game of an eight-match road trip on a six-game losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-1 (0:1. 4:2).
Severstal’s forward Kirill Pilipenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Daniil Aimurzin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Daniil Seroukh.
