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SKA seeking a return to victory against Severstal, Metallurg eyes tenth consecutive W
Four games are on tap on a light KHL Thursday, with Amur facing Ak Bars, Admiral hosting Metallurg, Lada clashing with Torpedo on a key matchup and SKA seeking a return to victory facing off with Severstal.
Amur and Admiral will start out a four-game matchday facing two Eastern Conference contenders. In Khabarovsk, Amur will try to return to victory facing Ak Bars for the fourth time this season. The Kazan team defeated the Tigers twice and conceded a game earlier in the campaign. Moreover, Ak Bars won three straight games, against Salavat Yulaev (5:1), Barys (5:4 OT), and Amur (4:1) – the team looks to be in good shape. Amur comes from four straight defeats and keeps on sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference’s table and the overall standings. If that’s not enough, the Tigers lost their last six home games to Ak Bars.
Then, in Vladivostok, Admiral hosts Metallurg. The hosts returned to victory last Saturday, collecting a 6:1 in Nizhny Novgorod, and start a homestand today hoping to start building a new winning streak after several consecutive losses. However, Magnitka won its previous nine games and can hit ten with a victory in the Far East. The two teams have already met twice this season, with Metallurg gaining two wins, both in extra time. The Far East franchise will swap opponents next Saturday.
In Togliatti, Lada will welcome Torpedo as both sides are fighting for playoff qualification. Torpedo is in a better position, holding the eighth place in the Western Conference’s conference, while Lada sits on the ninth spot in the East. This means that today’s game will be of paramount importance for both sides. Lada has a bit more to lose, perhaps, but both teams will be focused on winning at all costs. The Togliatti side's last home win over Torpedo is dated back to Oct. 5, 2009.
Closing the matchday is SKA welcoming Severstal. The St. Petersburg side will try to return to victory after three straight defeats, to Lokomotiv (3:4 OT), Dynamo Moscow (4:5), and Spartak (0:5). After this drought, SKA slipped down to seventh place at 55 points, tied with Severstal. The St. Petersburg’s franchise will start a four-game homestand today. The Steelers also lost their last game and only won twice in the last five games, against Vityaz on Sunday (2:1) and Spartak on Jan. 6 (5:3). Severstal lost twice to Dynamo Moscow (2:3, 2:7), and Avangard (5:5 SO). Most recently, SKA dissolved its contract with import defenseman Anthony De Angelo.
12:00: Amur (9-31-5, 12th E) vs Ak Bars (28-13-2, 2nd E)
About the game
Amur is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost its previous four matches.
Ak Bars enters the second game of a four-match road trip on a three-game winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (2:3 SO, 2:1, 1:4).
Ak Bars’ forward Artyom Galimov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Barabanov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points.
Ak Bars’ defensemen Nikita Lyamkin and Kirill Knyazev are also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Amur: Ignat Korotkikh.
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko, Mitchell Miller.
12:30: Admiral (19-18-7, 7th E) vs Metallurg (28-15-2, 4th E)
About the game
Admiral starts a three-game home series fresh off a win over Torpedo on Saturday (1:6).
Metallurg starts a three-game road trip on a nine-game winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is (2:3 OT, 3:4 OT).
Admiral’s forward Nikita Petukhov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Admiral’s forward Nikita Soshnikov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Metallurg’s defenseman Robin Press had at least one assist in each of his previous six matches, totaling seven helpers.
Metallurg’s forward Dmitry Silantyev is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Metallurg’s defenseman Alexei Maklyukov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Admiral: Artyom Nikolayev, Yegor Stepanov.
Metallurg: Troy Josephs, Makar Khabarov, Vladislav Yeryomenko.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s forward Dmitry Silantyev lines up for his 100th KHL game.
Metallurg’s forward Igor Geraskin may reach 200 points in the KHL (currently at 198).
Metallurg’s goalie Ilya Nabokov may reach 100 league appearances.
18:00: Lada (18-19-6, 9th E) vs Torpedo (19-17-8, 8th W)
About the game
Lada enters the fourth game of a five-match home series following a win over Dinamo Minsk on Tuesday (6:4).
Torpedo, who defeated Lada earlier this season (3:2), plays the lone road game of the series and lost its previous couple of matches.
Torpedo’s forward Kirill Voronin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov, Nikita Popugayev.
Torpedo: Igor Larionov.
SKA (25-14-5, 7th W) vs Severstal (27-17-1, 6th W)
About the game
SKA starts a four-game home series on a three-match losing streak.
Severstal ends a three-game road trip following a loss to Dynamo Moscow on Tuesday (2:3).
The teams traded wins this season so far (8:5, 3:4).
Severstal’s forward Timur Mukhanov had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
SKA: Pavel Akolzin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Mikhail Vorobyov.
Severstal: Yaroslav Dyblenko.
Milestone alert
SKA’s defenseman Alexander Nikishin lines up for his 300th league appearance.
