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Playoff races and streaks heat up on a light matchday for four games
A four-game KHL matchday promises excitement in the Western Conference as playoff races intensify. Kunlun Red Star, riding a five-game winning streak, hosts CSKA, who are winless in 2025. Lokomotiv, led by the red-hot goalie Daniil Isayev, faces Spartak, fresh off a dominant victory over SKA. Dinamo Minsk, with Vasily Demchenko’s stellar form, takes on Sibir in a critical East-West clash. Meanwhile, Neftekhimik hosts Salavat Yulaev as both teams look to solidify their respective postseason aspirations.
The only Eastern game of the matchday sees Neftekhimik hosting Salavat Yulaev. The first meeting between these opponents took place on Nov. 23, with Neftekhimik emerging victorious (4:2). Heading into the upcoming clash with Salavat Yulaev, the Wolves are coming off a win against Sibir (2:1). Salavat Yulaev will aim to avoid a third consecutive loss, having previously managed just one goal each against Sibir (1:4) and Ak Bars in the Green Derby (1:5). With 56 points, they currently sit second in the Eastern Conference. Neftekhimik, meanwhile, continues its battle for a playoff spot, tied on points with Sibir (39), though Novosibirsk has a game in hand.
The action then moves to the West. In Belarus, Dinamo Minsk welcomes Sibir. The Bisons secured a confident 2:0 victory over CSKA in their previous game. Dmitry Kvartalnov’s team is on a strong run, winning five of their last six matches. Much of this success can be attributed to goalie Vasily Demchenko, acquired on the trade deadline. With 53 points, Dinamo Minsk hold seventh place in the Western Conference, just four points behind the top three. Sibir, on the other hand, will wrap up a seven-game road trip. They have suffered back-to-back losses against Neftekhimik (1:2) and Torpedo (0:2). The visitors are eighth in the East, tied on points with ninth-place Neftekhimik (39), with a game in hand.
Then, in Yaroslavl, Lokomotiv faces Spartak. Both teams delivered dominant performances in their recent games. Lokomotiv followed up a 4:1 win over CSKA with a 3:0 shutout against Vityaz. Two days earlier, Spartak produced a stellar game in St. Petersburg, scoring five unanswered goals against SKA. The Railwaymen recently hit a milestone with their 70th point of the season, maintaining their position atop the standings. Spartak trails by 13 points, sitting just behind in the Western Conference table.
A matchup between Kunlun Red Star and CSKA wraps up the matchday. The Dragons’ dominant 5:0 victory over Amur marked their fifth consecutive win. The team will now look to extend its streak against CSKA, a team still searching for its first victory in 2025. The Muscovites lost three straight games, managing just one goal combined in their last two outings against Lokomotiv (1:4) and Dinamo Minsk (0:2). CSKA may also be without defenseman Nikita Nesterov, who sustained an injury in the game against the Bisons. Kunlun currently sits ninth in the Western Conference, trailing the playoff zone by six points, while CSKA holds third place. The visitors will need to find a way past Dragons’ goaltender Jeremy Smith, in excellent shape in his last games.
19:00: Neftekhimik (14-17-11, 9th E) vs Salavat Yulaev (27-12-2, 2nd E)
About the game
Neftekhimik, who defeated Salavat Yulaev earlier this season (4:2), ends a five-game home series following a win over Sibir on Monday (2:1).
Salavat Yulaev is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov, Yegor Korbit.
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Vyacheslav Leshchenko may net his 100th KHL tally (currently at 99).
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (24-14-5, 7th W) vs Sibir (18-20-3, 8th W)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk, who defeated Sibir earlier this season (5:4), ends a three-game home series following a win over CSKA on Tuesday (2:0).
Sibir ends a seven-game road trip on a two-game losing streak.
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko is on a 75:23 shutout streak.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
Injury list
Sibir: Fyodor Gordeyev.
Disqualifications
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Timofei Kovgorenya serves the first game of a two-match ban.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Andrei Stas lines up for his 900th league appearance.
19:30: Lokomotiv (34-8-2, 1st W) vs Spartak (26-10-5, 2nd W)
About the game
Lokomotiv, who defeated Spartak earlier this season (2:0), enters the third game of a four-match home series on a two-game winning streak.
Spartak enters the twelfth game of a thirteen-match road trip following a win over Spartak on Thursday (5:0).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev is on a 112:58 shutout streak.
Spartak’s goalie Artyom Zagidulin is on a 96:37 shutout streak.
Spartak’s forward Nikolai Goldobin is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
Spartak’s forward Pavel Poryadin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Spartak’s forward Ansel Galimov is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points.
Spartak’s forward Andrei Loktionov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s forward Alexander Belyayev lines up for his 100th league appearance.
Spartak’s goalie Artyom Zagidulin may record his 10th KHL shutout.
19:30: Kunlun Red Star (18-20-4, 9th W) vs CSKA (25-10-7, 3rd W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star ends a three-game home series on a five-match winning streak.
CSKA ends a six-game road trip on a three-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 0-2 (3:4 OT, 2:3).
Kunlun Red Star’s goalie Jeremy Smith is on a 72:18 shutout streak.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Jack Chelios, Semyon Sinyatkin.
CSKA: Yegor Fateyev, Dmitry Samorukov.
