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A light matchday with three games
Today’s KHL schedule features three games. Severstal concludes its home series against Neftekhimik, aiming for a sixth straight win. Lada takes on Sochi, hoping to strengthen its playoff chances as Sochi seeks to snap an eight-game skid. Earlier on, Barys and Traktor play a revenge match.
In the first game of the matchday, Barys hosts Traktor. Earlier this season, the opponents faced each other twice, with both games going in Traktor’s favor (4:1, 3:2). The most recent meeting took place on three days ago in Chelyabinsk. Now the teams move to Astana for a second consecutive head-to-head matchup. Thanks to their victory, the Urals team temporarily retained the top spot in the Eastern Conference, reaching 50 points this season. Galym Mambetaliyev’s team, on the other hand, has 23 points and remains second to last in the conference.
Then, Lada welcomes HC Sochi. The recent 1:3 loss in Yaroslavl to Lokomotiv marked Sochi’s eighth consecutive defeat. Sergei Zubov’s team will now try to revert the trend in Togliatti. In their previous game, Lada mounted a comeback from a two-goal deficit to defeat Avangard (4:3), keeping their playoff hopes alive despite the departures of Vladislav Podyapolsky (to Dynamo Moscow) and Ostap Safin (to Traktor). Lada trails eighth-placed Neftekhimik by three points but has three games in hand. The upcoming match will be the 50th KHL game for Pavel Zubov, who took over as head coach midseason. Sochi, with 25 points, remains at the bottom of the Western Conference.
Finally, Severstal welcomes Neftekhimik. The Steelers will wrap up their home series and have a chance to secure their sixth consecutive victory. In their previous outing, Andrei Kozyrev’s team edged out Avtomobilist (3:2). With 46 points, Severstal holds sixth place in the Western Conference, trailing SKA by just two points. Meanwhile, Neftekhimik has lost two straight games to Avangard (3:4 OT) and CSKA (4:7). Despite the setbacks, Oleg Leontyev’s squad remains in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of their closest rival, albeit having played three more games. This game will be meaningful for both sides’ chances to get to the postseason.
17:00: Barys (10-26-3, 11th E) vs Traktor (23-10-4, 1st E)
About the game
Barys starts a two-game home series following two straight defeats.
Traktor starts a four-game road trip fresh off a win over Barys on Saturday (3:2).
The season series between the two teams is 0-2 (1:4, 2:3).
Traktor’s defenseman Grigory Dronov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Barys: Roman Starchenko.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Ostap Safin lines up for his 100th league appearance.
Traktor’s forward Alexander Kadeikin may record his 300th career point (currently at 298).
18:00: Lada (14-15-5, 9th E) vs HC Sochi (11-22-3, 11th W)
About the game
Lada ends a two-game home series following a win over Avangard on Saturday (4:3).
HC Sochi, who defeated Lada earlier this season (3:2), ends an eight-game road trip after eight consecutive losses.
Injury list
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikita Popugayev.
Milestone alert
Lada’s head coach Pavel Zubov is at his 50th KHL game in this capacity.
19:30: Severstal (23-14-0, 6th W) vs Neftekhimik (13-14-10, 8th E)
About the game
Severstal ends a six-game home series on a five-match winning streak.
Neftekhimik ends a two-game road trip and lost its last couple of matches.
Severstal’s forward Kirill Pilipenko is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Daniil Aimurzin is also on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points.
Neftekhimik’s forward Andrei Belozyorov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (6+1) points.
Neftekhimik’s forward Riley Barber is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov.
Milestone alert
Severstal’s forward Timur Mukhanov lines up for his 100th league appearance.
Neftekhimik’s forward Vyacheslav Leshchenko may net his 100th KHL tally (currently at 99).
