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CSKA aims to extend streak as rivals battle for playoff spots
Five exciting games are on the schedule as the matchday kicks off with SKA visiting Sochi, aiming to bounce back after a thrilling loss to CSKA. Vityaz hosts Lokomotiv in a crucial matchup for the Moscow Region team, while Dinamo Minsk takes on Dynamo Moscow in a clash of momentum vs. recovery. Over in the East, Neftekhimik will try to halt CSKA’s incredible nine-game winning streak, and Spartak heads to Mytishchi to face Kunlun Red Star in a special milestone game for coach Mikhail Kravets.
The matchday will start with SKA paying a visit to Sochi as the teams face off for the third time this season, with the sides trading wins earlier. The Black Sea franchise has just celebrated a victory over Lada (4:3), halting an eight-game skid, while SKA lost to CSKA in a real thriller (5:6). With 27 points, Sochi sits at the bottom of the Western Conference’s standings, while SKA slipped down to sixth.
Then, Vityaz welcomes Lokomotiv in a key matchup for the Moscow Region franchise, who lost some ground and is currently the ninth seed in the West. Yesterday, Vityaz traded with Avangard to get forward Matvei Zaseda, who may have his debut today. On the other side of the rink, table-topping Lokomotiv is on a two-game winning streak, and will try to get to three straight wins in this road game.
In Minsk, Dinamo Minsk will battle with Dynamo Moscow. The Muscovites have two wins over the Bisons this season, but they lost their last two matches, to Ak Bars (5:6) and Vityaz (0:2), respectively. Dinamo Minsk is on an excellent moment, with four wins and an OT loss (to Spartak in Tashkent) in its last five matches, a result that allowed the team to get a six-point over eighth-seeded Torpedo.
In the only Eastern game of the matchday, Neftekhimik hosts CSKA. The Blue-and-Reds have nine wins in a row, and are one of the hottest teams in the league, if not the most on fire. In this long series, they already defeated the Wolves (7:4). Neftekhimik needs points to secure its eighth spot in the Eastern Conference after yesterday’s Sibir win against Barys, while CSKA is tied with Spartak in the West’s standings with 53 points, trailing only Lokomotiv.
Finally, Kunlun Red Star welcomes Spartak. The Red-and-Whites defeated the Dragons in their first encounter this season (5:1), and today they will try to spoil Mikhail Kravets’ 350th game as a head coach.
16:30: HC Sochi (12-22-3, 11th W) vs SKA (22-14-4, 6th W)
About the game
HC Sochi starts a five-game home series fresh off a victory over Lada on Tuesday (4:3).
SKA ends a two-game road trip following a loss to CSKA on Wednesday (5:6).
The season series between the two teams is 1-1 (4:7, 5:2).
SKA’s defenseman Anthony De Angelo is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
SKA’s forward Arseny Gritsyuk netted a goal in each of his previous three games.
SKA’s forward Ivan Demidov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
SKA’s forward Vasily Glotov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
SKA: Artyom Zemchyonok.
19:00: Vityaz (16-17-4, 9th W) vs Lokomotiv (31-7-2, 1st W)
About the game
Vityaz enters the seventh game of an eight-match home series on a two-game winning streak.
Lokomotiv is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
The season series between the two teams is 1-1 (2:1, 1:2 OT).
Vityaz’s goalie Maxim Dorozhko is on a 91:38 shutout streak.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk is on an 88:01 shutout streak.
Injury list
Vityaz: Vladimir Galuzin, Sergei Kalinin, Jeremy Roy, Ivan Savchik, Dean Stewart, Grigory Vashchenko.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s forward Ilya Arkalov lines up for his 400th league appearance.
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (20-13-5, 7th W) vs Dynamo Moscow (23-13-3, 4th W)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk enters the third game of a four-match home series following a win over Ak Bars on Wednesday (5:1).
Dynamo Moscow enters the second game of a five-match road trip on a two-game losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 0-2 (3:6, 3:4).
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Daniil Sotishvili.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov is still seeking his 950th KHL point (currently at 949).
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may reach 150 KHL wins.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Nikita Gusev may score his 650th point in the league (currently at 648).
19:30: Neftekhimik (13-15-10, 8th E) vs CSKA (23-7-7, 3rd W)
About the game
Neftekhimik starts a five-game home series on a three-match losing streak.
CSKA, who defeated Neftekhimik earlier this season (7:4), starts a six-game road trip on a nine-match winning streak.
Neftekhimik’s forward Jean-Sebastien Dea is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
CSKA’s forward Vitaly Abramov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 11 (4+7) points.
CSKA’s forward Prokhor Poltapov is also on a six-game scoring streak, with 8 (1+7) points.
CSKA’s forward Maxim Sorkin is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (5+3) points.
CSKA’s forward Denis Guryanov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.
CSKA’s forward Yegor Afanasyev is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
CSKA’s defenseman Fredrik Claesson had at least one assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov.
CSKA: Yegor Fateyev, Dmitry Samorukov.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Vyacheslav Leshchenko may net his 100th KHL goal (currently at 99).
CSKA’s forward Stanislav Galiyev lines up for his 500th league appearance.
19:30: Kunlun Red Star (14-20-4, 10th W) vs Spartak (24-8-5, 2nd W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star ends a two-game home series following a win over Barys on Dec. 19 (2:0).
Spartak enters the eighth game of a thirteen-match road trip after a win over Dinamo Minsk in Tashkent on Sunday (3:2 OT).
Kunlun Red Star’s goalie Jeremy Smith is on a 60:00 shutout streak.
Spartak’s forward Ansel Galimov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Semyon Sinyatkin.
Spartak: Ansel Galimov, Andrei Mironov.
Milestone alert
Kunlun Red Star’s head coach Mikhail Kravets reaches 350 KHL games.
Spartak’s forward Nikolai Goldobin lines up for his 300th league appearance.
