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Farewell to 2024: KHL’s final matchday brings key clashes across conferences
The final matchday of 2024 features seven thrilling games, spanning both conferences. Amur hosts Sibir in a key Eastern clash, while Torpedo faces Kunlun Red Star in the West. Avangard takes on Metallurg in a classic rivalry, as Salavat Yulaev looks to retain the top spot against Barys. Avtomobilist meets Lada, and Neftekhimik battles Traktor in crucial playoff races. The action wraps up with Ak Bars hosting Severstal in a high-stakes showdown to end the year.
The busy matchday, the last in 2024, starts in the Far East, with Amur facing Sibir for the second time in less than ten days. Amur defeated Sibir in the first encounter (5:1), and today will try to halt the Novosibirsk side’s winning streak, set at three matches, with goalie Denis Kostin earning two consecutive shutouts, against Admiral (1:0) and Barys (2:0). Amur, instead, lost twice to Salavat Yulaev (0:3, 4:5 OT). In case of a win, Sibir may catch up with Neftekhimik in eighth place at 39 points. Amur is still sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference’s standings.
The action goes on with a crucial matchup in the Western Conference, with Torpedo facing Kunlun Red Star. The Dragons had a busy trade deadline, shuffling their rosters and acquiring some interesting players like goalie Pavel Rybar and forward Kyle Rau, and won their previous couple of matches, against Barys (2:0) and Spartak (4:2), respectively. Torpedo has also defeated Barys most recently (3:1), following a three-game skid. This season, Torpedo defeated Kunlun Red Star twice. Moreover, then won their last fourteen games over the Dragons.
In a classic Eastern Conference matchup, Avangard hosts Metallurg. It’s the fifth time the two sides met this season, with the teams trading wins. After a high-scoring win over Lada in Guy Boucher’s debut, the Hawks will seek another win today, but Metallurg is riding a four-win streak and won’t be an easy client to deal with. However, goalie Nikita Serebryakov will be determined to reach 100 KHL wins right before the New Year, getting a further reason to celebrate. The Hawks are currently the seventh seed in the East, while Magnitka just surpassed Avtomobilist, and is now in fifth place.
Salavat Yulaev has just surpassed Traktor at the top of the Eastern Conference’s standings and will try to retain its status when they host Barys. The Ufa team has already defeated the Kazakhs twice this season, and will seek a third win. Moreover, Salavat Yulaev is currently on a three-game winning streak, while Barys lost five consecutive matches.
Once the second seed in the East with a good chance to get to first place, Avtomobilist slipped down to fifth place and also lost its most recent game, at home to Metallurg (1:2 SO). The Motormen will seek a return to victory today against Lada. The Togliatti side lost two key players at the trade deadline, but nevertheless gave Avangard a good battle, losing 6:7 in a high-scoring game. The Togliatti side is in tenth place in the East, but they still have chances to make it to the postseason.
Right above Lada and Sibir is Neftekhimik. The Wolves keep on being the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and, at the moment, the favorite for a playoff spot. Today’s opponent, however, will be Traktor. The Black-and-Whites have already defeated Neftekhimik this season. Both sides will be seeking a return to victory, with Neftekhimik losing four straight games, and Traktor two. The Nizhnekamsk team is just two points ahead of Sibir, having played two more games, and holds a four-point advantage over Lada, who have three games in hand. Goalie Igor Bobkov, who previously played for Amur, may soon make his debut for the Wolves, providing much-needed reinforcement between the pipes.
Closing the matchday is Ak Bars facing Severstal. The first meeting between them took place on Nov. 23 and turned into a high-scoring affair, with Severstal coming out on top (7:5). In their previous game, the Steelmen failed to find the back of the net in Ufa, losing to Salavat Yulaev (0:2). Ak Bars, on the other hand, bounced back from a road defeat to Dinamo Minsk (1:5) with a confident win over Traktor (4:0). Goaltender Amir Miftakhov recorded his fourth shutout of the season in that game, extending his current shutout streak to 85:46. Miftakhov also leads the league in save percentage (94.9%) and goals-against average (1.57) over 19 games. With 50 points, the hosts sit in third place in the Eastern Conference, while Severstal, with 48 points, holds a spot among the top seven in the West.
10:30: Amur (8-26-5, 12th E) vs Sibir (16-18-3, 9th E)
About the game
Amur, who defeated Sibir earlier this season (5:1), plays the lone home game of the series on a two-match losing streak.
Sibir enters the third game of a seven-match road trip on a three-game winning streak.
Sibir’s goalie Denis Kostin is on a 138:59 shutout streak.
Sibir’s forward Kirill Rasskazov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Sibir: Fyodor Gordeyev.
Milestone alert
Amur’s forward Oleg Li may record his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
Sibir’s defenseman Ilya Morozov lines up for his 400th league appearance.
13:00: Torpedo (17-14-7, 8th W) vs Kunlun Red Star (15-20-4, 10th W)
About the game
Torpedo enters the third game of a four-match home series following a win over Barys on Saturday (3:1).
The season series between the two teams is 2-0 (4:2, 4:0).
Injury list
Torpedo: Mikhail Abramov, Markus Phillips.
Kunlun Red Star: Semyon Sinyatkin.
14:00: Avangard (18-17-3, 7th E) vs Metallurg (23-15-2, 4th E)
About the game
Avangard ends a two-game home series following a win over Lada on Saturday (7:6).
Metallurg ends a two-game road trip on a four-match winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 2-2 (2:4, 3:2 OT, 2:1 SO, 1:2 OT).
Metallurg’s forward Roman Kantserov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 10 (8+2) points over that span.
Metallurg’s forward Dmitry Silantyev had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
Avangard: Sergei Boikov, Daniil Chaika, Emil Galimov, Alex Grant, Vladimir Tkachyov.
Metallurg: Vladislav Yeryomenko.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s goalie Nikita Serebryakov may celebrate his 100th KHL win.
14:30: Salavat Yulaev (26-10-2, 1st E) vs Barys (10-29-3, 11th E)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev enters the fourth game of a five-match home series on a three-game winning streak.
Barys ends a two-game road trip on a five-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 2-0 (3:2, 4:1).
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie are both on active shutout streaks; Semyon Vyazovoi is at 82:31, while Alexander Samonov is at 77:21.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Daniil Alalykin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Barys: Maxim Mukhametov, Roman Starchenko.
Milestone alert
Barys’ defenseman Samat Daniyar lines up for his 200th league appearance.
15:00: Avtomobilist (21-12-5, 5th E) vs Lada (14-17-5,10th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist, who defeated Lada earlier this season (1:0), ends a three-game home series following a loss to Metallurg on Saturday (1:2 SO).
Lada enters the second game of a five-match road trip on a two-game losing streak.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Nick Ebert, Daniil Karpovich, Curtis Valk.
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov, Nikita Popugayev.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Jesse Blacker may record his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
17:00: Neftekhimik (13-15-11, 8th E) vs Traktor (24-12-4, 2nd E)
About the game
Neftekhimik enters the second game of a five-match home series on a four-game losing streak.
Traktor, who defeated Neftekhimik earlier this season (3:2), ends a four-game road trip following two straight defeats.
Neftekhimik’s forward Jean-Sebastien Dea is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Vyacheslav Leshchenko may score his 100th KHL tally (currently at 99).
Traktor’s forward Alexander Kadeikin may record his 300th league point (currently at 299).
17:00: Ak Bars (24-11-2, 3rd E) vs Severstal (24-15-0, 7th W)
About the game
Ak Bars enters the second game of a six-match home series following a win over Traktor on Saturday (4:0).
Severstal, who defeated Ak Bars earlier this season (7:5), ends a two-game road trip after a loss to Salavat Yulaev also on Saturday (0:2).
Ak Bars’ goalie Amir Miftakhov is on an 85:46 shutout streak.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko, Mitchell Miller.
Severstal: Adam Liska.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ defenseman Kirill Lyamkin may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
