KHL action resumes: Key matchups kick off 2025
The KHL returns from the New Year break with five thrilling games on the schedule. The day starts in the East as Traktor faces Amur in their second meeting of the season. Later, Ak Bars takes on Lada in a crucial playoff battle for the Togliatti side, followed by a Western Conference showdown between Severstal and Dynamo Moscow. In the Moscow Region, Kunlun Red Star hosts Vityaz in a high-stakes clash for playoff positioning. The day concludes with a marquee matchup as CSKA and SKA meet for their third showdown of the season.
The first game of the matchday sees Traktor facing Amur as the two sides meet for the second time this season. The first round went to Chelyabinsk, running away with a 4:3 road win with Andrei Svetlakov netting the game-winner with less than a minute to go in the closing stages. Traktor won its last game before the New Year pause, collecting a 6:2 win in Nizhnekamsk, while the Tigers enter today’s game on a three-match losing streak. In the standings, Traktor trails Salavat Yulaev, while Amur is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference’s table.
The action in the East goes on with Ak Bars facing Lada. The Togliatti side will need points if they want to have a chance to qualify for postseason, as Lada is currently just two points to the playoff line. However, the team lost to Ak Bars earlier in the season, and didn’t achieve a win in Kazan for almost ten years, with the last victory dating back to Feb. 13, 2015 (2:1). However, Lada won its last game in 2024, achieving a 3:2 SO win in Yekaterinburg, while Ak Bars fell to Severstal at home (2:3).
The action then moves to the Western Conference, with Severstal clashing with Dynamo Moscow. The Muscovites will try to turn the tide after three straight losses, with the Blue-and-Whites boasting ten consecutive wins over Severstal, including one earlier this season. Severstal defeated Ak Bars in 2024’s last outing, with Danil Aimurzin netting a double. He has just been named the KHL Forward of the Month. Dynamo Moscow slipped down to seventh place in the Western Conference, while Severstal grabbed a spot in the top four.
In the Moscow Region, stakes will be high with Kunlun Red Star welcoming Vityaz. The game will be key for the playoff race, with both teams seeking points to try and return to eighth place. Earlier in the season, Vityaz celebrated a win over the Dragons (7:2), but the teams are now tied at 36 points. Eighth-placed Torpedo has six more, but won’t be playing today. Kunlun Red Star is currently riding a three-game winning streak.
Today’s action will be embellished by the third showdown in the season between CSKA and SKA. Both matches have been high-scoring thrillers, with the teams trading wins so far. First, SKA prevailed in extra time (5:4 OT), while in the second game, CSKA had a strong early lead with the St. Petersburg franchise almost completing an epic comeback. CSKA won its last eleven matches, and will be on the lookout to stretch its streak, but SKA will be determined to halt the rivals’ run. CSKA’s spree sent the team to second place in the Western Conference’s standings, while SKA is currently the fifth seed in the West.
14:00: Traktor (25-12-4, 2nd E) vs Amur (8-27-5, 12th E)
About the game
Traktor, who defeated Amur earlier this season (4:3), starts a three-game home series fresh off a win over Neftekhimik on Dec. 30 (6:2).
Amur starts a four-game road trip on a three-game losing streak.
Injury list
Amur: Ivan Mishchenko.
Milestone alert
Amur’s forward Oleg Li may reach 100 assists in the KHL (currently at 99).
17:00: Ak Bars (24-12-2, 3rd E) vs Lada (15-17-5, 10th E)
About the game
Ak Bars, who defeated Lada earlier this season (4:3), enters the third game of a six-match home series following a loss to Severstal on Dec. 30 (2:3).
Lada is in the middle of a five-game road trip and defeated Avtomobilist also on Dec. 30 (3:2 SO).
Injury list
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko, Mitchell Miller.
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov, Nikita Popugayev.
Milestone alert
Lada’s forward Dmitry Kugryshev lines up for his 800th KHL game. The forward has 160 goals and 228 assists in his career.
Lada’s forward Ivan Romanov reaches 100 league appearances.
17:00: Severstal (25-15-0, 4th W) vs Dynamo Moscow (23-14-3, 7th W)
About the game
Severstal starts a three-game home series fresh off a win over Ak Bars on Dec. 30 (3:2).
Dynamo Moscow, who defeated Severstal earlier this season (3:1), is in the middle of a five-game road trip and lost its previous three matches.
Injury list
Severstal: Adam Liska.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Nikita Gusev may reach 650 KHL points (currently at 648).
17:00: Kunlun Red Star (16-20-4, 10th W) vs Vityaz (16-19-4, 9th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star starts a three-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
Vityaz, who defeated Kunlun Red Star earlier this season (7:2), starts a three-game road trip after losing its previous couple of matches.
Kunlun Red Star’s defenseman Joseph Duszak and Vityaz’s forward Ivan Chekhovich had an assist in their previous three matches.
Vityaz’s forward Dmitry Buchelnikov scored a goal in each of his previous three games.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Jack Chelios, Semyon Sinyatkin.
Vityaz: Sergei Kalinin, Grigory Vashchenko.
Milestone alert
Kunlun Red Star’s goalie Jeremy Smith may celebrate his 50th KHL win.
17:00: SKA (23-12-4, 5th W) vs CSKA (25-7-7, 2nd W)
About the game
SKA starts a three-game home series following a win over HC Sochi on Dec. 27 (5:4).
CSKA enters the third game of a six-match road trip on an eleven-game winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-1 (5:4 ОТ, 5:6).
SKA’s defenseman Anthony De Angelo is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
SKA’s forward Arseny Gritsyuk is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (4+1) points.
SKA’s forward Ivan Demidov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points.
SKA’s defenseman Alexander Nikishin is on a three-win scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
CSKA’s forward Vitaly Abramov is on an eight-game scoring streak, with 13 (8+5) points.
CSKA’s forward Maxim Sorkin is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 10 (7+3) points.
Injury list
SKA: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Artyom Zemchyonok.
CSKA: Yegor Fateyev, Dmitry Samorukov.
Milestone alert
SKA’s defenseman Nikita Zaitsev lines up for his 400th KHL game.
SKA’s forward Sergei Plotnikov may reach 300 assists in the league (currently at 299).
SKA’s head coach Roman Rotenberg may celebrate his 150th league victory.
