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Five games, Moscow derby included!
The week starts with all the emotions of the Moscow Derby, with CSKA and Spartak facing off for the fifth time this season. Another four games are on tap, with Sibir welcoming Neftekhimik and Metallurg hosting HC Sochi in the East, and Torpedo clashing with Traktor and Lokomotiv facing SKA in the West. It will be an intense matchday with important games across both Conferences.
The first game is Sibir hosting Neftekhimik for the second time in one week. After a good period, the Novosibirsk side lost three straight games, to Dinamo Minsk (2:3 OT), Torpedo (0:2), and the Wolves (2:1). After winning against Sibir, Neftekhimik lost to Salavat Yulaev. The game will be critical for the Eastern Conference’s playoff qualification, with the Novosibirsk team having a one-point advantage over Neftekhimik, with the Wolves sitting in tenth place against Sibir’s eighth. So far, Sibir defeated the Wolves twice, with Neftekhimik claiming last week’s game, and has also won its previous nine home games against the Wolves.
Then, in Magnitogorsk, Metallurg celebrates its 1,200th game in the league facing HC Sochi. The Urals’ team won its previous seven matches and is one of the hottest teams in the East. Moreover, HC Sochi will start a new road trip without two strong forwards in Amir Garayev and captain Timur Khafizov. Most recently, the Black Sea franchise defeated Amur (5:2) but hasn’t won in Magnitogorsk since January 2017.
The action then moves to the Western Conference. Torpedo hosts Traktor as the team will seek rehabilitation after a disappointing 1:6 home loss to Admiral. The Black-and-Whites will also try to return to victory after losing to Metallurg also on Saturday (3:5). Traktor defeated Torpedo earlier this season and will try to repeat the feat at home. After yesterday’s Salavat Yulaev defeat in Omsk, Traktor still keeps the lead in the Eastern Conference’s table and will try to maintain its top spot with a strong performance in Nizhny Novgorod. The hosts are currently the eighth seed in the West.
Then, in Yaroslavl, Lokomotiv faces SKA in an anticipated matchup. The two sides met for the last time less than a month ago, with the Railwaymen claiming a 3:2 win with Maxim Beryozkin netting the game-winner in the closing stages. In the season, Lokomotiv leads the series 3-1 and will seek to stretch its winning streak as they took their last three games, against Spartak (5:4), Vityaz (3:0), and CSKA (4:1) – the team is yet to lose in 2025. SKA has lost two straight games to Moscow rivals (0:5 to Spartak and 4:5 to Dynamo) and will equally seek a win today to turn the tide and try to return to the West’s top four.
Closing an exciting matchday is a Moscow Derby between CSKA and Spartak. The Red-and-Whites are up 3-1 in the season series between the two sides. The three Moscow teams are currently tied at 57 points in the standings, and the winner will have a chance to climb up to second place. Most recently, Spartak lost to Lokomotiv (4:5 on Friday), while CSKA is on a four-match losing streak. The Red-and-Whites play their last game of a long, thirteen-match road trip.
15:30: Sibir (18-20-2, 8th E) vs Neftekhimik (14-18-11, 10th E)
About the game
Sibir starts a four-game home series on a three-match losing streak.
Neftekhimik starts a two-game road trip following a loss to Salavat Yulaev on Friday (4:7).
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (5:2, 2:1, 1:2).
Injury list
Sibir: Fyodor Gordeyev.
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov, Yegor Korbit.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Vyacheslav Leshchenko may net his 100th KHL tally (currently at 99).
17:00: Metallurg (27-15-2, 4th E) vs HC Sochi (13-26-3, 11th W)
About the game
Metallurg ends a four-game home series on a seven-match winning streak.
HC Sochi starts a three-game road trip fresh off a victory over Amur on Thursday (5:2).
Metallurg’s defenseman Robin Press had at least one assist in each of his previous six matches, totaling six helpers.
Metallurg’s forward Dmitry Silantyev is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Metallurg’s forward Roman Kantserov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
Metallurg: Makar Khabarov, Vladislav Yeryomenko.
HC Sochi: Amir Garayev, Timur Khafizov.
Milestone alert
Today’s game marks Metallurg’s 1,200th match in the KHL.
Metallurg’s goalie Ilya Nabokov may celebrate his 100th league appearance.
Metallurg’s forward Igor Geraskin may score his 200th point in the league (currently at 198).
19:00: Torpedo (19-16-8, 8th W) vs Traktor (27-13-5, 1st E)
About the game
Torpedo ends a three-game home series following a loss to Admiral on Saturday (1:6).
Traktor enters the second game of a four-match road trip after losing to Metallurg also on Saturday (3:5).
Traktor’s forward Charles Robinson is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Torpedo: Mikhail Abramov.
Traktor: Nikita Korostelyov, Ostap Safin.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s goalie Zach Fucale may celebrate his 50th KHL win.
19:30: Lokomotiv (35-8-2, 1st W) vs SKA (25-14-4, 6th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv ends a four-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
SKA ends a two-game road trip on a two-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 3-1 (2:0, 3:4 OT, 3:2, 3:2).
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Daniil Isayev.
SKA: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Mikhail Vorobyov.
Milestone alert
SKA’s forward Mikhail Grigorenko may reach 350 points in the league (currently at 349).
19:30: CSKA (25-11-7, 4th W) vs Spartak (26-11-5, 2nd W)
About the game
CSKA plays the lone home game of the series on a four-match losing streak.
Spartak ends a thirteen-game road trip following a loss to Lokomotiv on Friday (4:5).
The season series between the two teams is 1-3 (2:4, 2:3 ОТ, 1:2, 5:4 OT)
Spartak’s forward Nikolai Goldobin is on a six-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points over that span.
Spartak’s forward Ansel Galimov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points.
Spartak’s forward Andrei Loktionov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Injury list
CSKA: Dmitry Samorukov.
Spartak: Michal Cajkovsky.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s goalie Artyom Zagidulin may record his 10th KHL shutout.
