Trade deadline shake-ups define a packed matchday in the East
A thrilling seven-game matchday awaits as teams across both conferences hit the ice following the trade deadline. In the East, Admiral seeks revenge against Sibir, Lada faces a revamped Avangard, Metallurg visits Avtomobilist, and Ak Bars hosts Traktor in Kazan. Salavat Yulaev takes on a surging Severstal in a clash of streaking teams. Over in the West, Torpedo looks to reignite its playoff push against Barys. With new faces debuting and playoff races heating up, every game promises high stakes and intense action.
Admiral and Sibir clash for the second time this season, with the Novosibirsk side claiming the first match just five days ago (4:2). The Sailors will be looking to revert the trend after three straight losses, while Sibir won two consecutive games, getting the best of Barys (2:0) after the victory over Admiral. Despite the recent setbacks, Admiral is still in sixth place in the Eastern Conference’s table, while Sibir overtook Lada at the ninth spot, just below Neftekhimik.
The Togliatti side will be busy in Omsk, facing Avangard. Lada won twice this season against the Hawks, although the situation will now be different. Avangard has almost a completely new lineup, while Lada parted ways with starting goalie Vladislav Podyapolsky and Troy Joseph – who moved to Dynamo Moscow and Metallurg, respectively. With that being said, Lada’s most recent win over Avangard was one week ago, with the team rallying back from a 1:3 deficit to win 4:3 in regulation. With regards to transfers, today Konstantin Okulov will most likely have his debut wearing the Avangard jersey.
On the Urals, Avtomobilist hosts Metallurg as the two teams face again after ten days. The Motormen have finally halted their skid with a 3:1, home win over Traktor on Thursday, while Metallurg is on a three-game winning streak, having defeated Avangard (2:1 OT), Salavat Yulaev (4:2), and Avtomobilist (4:2). Forward Troy Joseph may have his debut for Metallurg after transferring from Lada.
In the meantime, Salavat Yulaev hosts Severstal. Both teams have active winning streaks, but if the Ufa team only won its previous couple of matches, Severstal got to six straight wins. After this impressive streak, the Steelers climbed up as high as fifth place in the Western Conference, while Salavat Yulaev keeps on being the second seed in the East, but the gap with Traktor is getting thinner and thinner.
In the last game of the Eastern Conference, Ak Bars starts a six-game homestand facing Traktor. Both sides were very active on the trade deadline. The Kazan franchise swapped defensemen with SKA, sending Dmitry Yudin and receiving Belarusian international Stepan Falkovsky. Traktor had a large trade, again with SKA, acquiring productive forward Vasily Glotov and blueliner Arseny Koromyslov in exchange for d-man Ilya Karpukhin. A couple of days ago. Traktor also received forward Nikita Korostelyov and d-man Gleb Ivanov from Severstal for forward Mikhail Kotlyarevsky and blueliner Artyom Shchuchinov. Forward Eric O’Dell is also expected to debut for Ak Bars.
The action then moves to the Western Conference for a further match. Torpedo will seek a return to victory and get closer to a postseason qualification hosting Barys in Nizhny Novgorod. The Kazakhs are equally trying to turn the tide and celebrate a win after four straight losses. In the first encounter between the two teams, Torpedo established a club record for its largest win (10:1).
12:30: Admiral (18-16-6, 6th E) vs Sibir (15-18-3, 9th E)
About the game
Admiral plays the lone home game of the series following three straight defeats.
Sibir, who defeated Admiral earlier this season (4:2), enters the second game of a seven-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Admiral’s forward Daniil Gutik is on a six-game scoring streak, with 8 (6+2) points over that span.
Admiral’s defenseman Grigory Solyannikov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Sibir’s goalie Denis Kostin is on a 78:59 shutout streak.
Sibir’s forward Vladislav Kara is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.
Injury list
Admiral: Mario Grman.
Sibir: Fyodor Gordeyev.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s goalie Denis Kostin may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
Sibir’s forward Vladimir Butuzov lines up for his 600th KHL game.
16:30: Avangard (17-17-3, 7th E) vs Lada (14-16-5, 10th E)
About the game
Avangard starts a two-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Lada starts a five-game road trip following a loss to HC Sochi on Tuesday (3:4).
The season series between the two teams is 0-2 (1:3, 3:4).
Injury list
Avangard: Sergei Boikov, Daniil Chaika, Emil Galimov, Alex Grant, Vladimir Tkachyov.
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov, Pavel Koltygin, Nikita Popugayev.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s forward Nikolai Prokhorkin lines up for his 600th KHL game. The forward has 161 goals and 182 assists, other than a Gagarin Cup win in 2021.
17:00: Avtomobilist (21-12-4, 4th E) vs Metallurg (22-15-2, 5th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist is in the middle of a three-game home series and defeated Traktor on Tuesday (3:1).
Metallurg, who defeated Avtomobilist earlier this season (4:2), starts a two-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
Metallurg’s forward Roman Kantserov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 9 (7+2) points over that span.
Metallurg’s forward Dmitry Silantyev had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Nick Ebert, Daniil Karpovich.
Metallurg: Vladislav Yeryomenko.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Jesse Blacker may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
17:00: Salavat Yulaev (25-10-2, 2nd E) vs Severstal (24-14-0, 5th W)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev, who defeated Severstal earlier this season (2:0), is in the middle of a five-game home series and won its previous couple of matches.
Severstal starts a two-game road trip on a six-match winning streak.
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Semyon Vyazovoi is on an 82:31 shutout streak.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward scored six goals over the last three games.
Severstal’s forward Danil Aimurzin is on a six-game scoring streak, with 9 (5+4) points over that span.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Severstal: Adam Liska.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Alexander Samonov may record his 20th KHL shutout.
19:00: Ak Bars (23-11-2, 3rd E) vs Traktor (22-11-4, 1st E)
About the game
Ak Bars starts a six-game home series after a loss to Dinamo Minsk on Wednesday (1:5).
Traktor, who defeated Ak Bars earlier this season (3:1), enters the third game of a four-match road trip after a defeat to Avtomobilist on Thursday (1:3).
Injury list
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Charles Robinson may line up for his 100th KHL game.
Traktor’s forward Alexander Kadeikin may reach 300 KHL points (currently at 299).
19:30: Torpedo (16-14-7, 8th W) vs Barys (10-28-3, 11th E)
About the game
Torpedo, who defeated Barys earlier this season (10:1), enters the second game of a four-match home series on a three-game losing streak.
Barys starts a two-game road trip on a four-match losing streak.
Injury list
Torpedo: Mikhail Abramov, Markus Phillips.
Barys: Roman Starchenko.
