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Key matchups for playoff qualification in the Eastern Conference
It’s a light KHL Saturday with just three games on tap. Admiral hosts Ak Bars, Amur welcomes Metallurg, and Lada clashes with Vityaz. The Western Conference will return tomorrow.
The matchday starts early in the Far East with Admiral hosting Ak Bars. The Kazan side has just lost in Khabarovsk (4:5) and will seek a third win over the Sailors this season. However, Admiral returned in good shape, winning two straight games, over Metallurg (4:2) at home and Torpedo (6:1) on the road. Despite the loss to the Tigers, Ak Bars keeps on holding a spot in the Eastern Conference’s top four, also due to Magnitka’s defeat in Vladivostok. The two teams will face off again on Monday.
The Magnitogorsk side will travel to Khabarovsk after its loss to Admiral. Before its visit to Vladivostok, Magnitka had a long winning streak that was interrupted by a strong performance by the Sailors. The Tigers defeated Ak Bars after a strong-willed comeback, with Alex Galchenyuk finding the back of the net for the game-winning goal with just a bit more than a minute to the final hooter, with Alex Broadhurst and Devin Brosseau also scoring in the closing frame for the hosts. With this win, Amur overtook Barys in eleventh place in the East.
Closing the matchday is a showdown between Lada and Vityaz. Both teams are looking for key points as the struggle for the playoff places heats up in both conferences. The Togliatti side is in better position, with its ninth spot and just two points behind the playoff line. Vityaz is tenth in the Western Conference’s standings and is nine points behind eighth-placed Torpedo. Earlier in the season, Lada collected a 2:1 win over the Moscow Region side.
10:00: Admiral (20-18-7, 7th E) vs Ak Bars (28-14-2, 3rd E)
About the game
Admiral is in the middle of a three-game home series and won its previous couple of matches.
Ak Bars enters the third game of a four-match road trip following a loss to Amur on Thursday (4:5).
The season series between the two sides is 0-2 (0:2, 2:4).
Admiral’s forward Yegor Petukhov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Admiral’s forward Nikita Soshnikov is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Admiral’s forward Arkady Shestakov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Admiral’s forward Shane Prince is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Ak Bars’ forward Artyom Galimov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Kirill Lyamkin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Admiral: Yegor Stepanov.
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko, Mitchell Miller.
10:30: Amur (10-31-5, 11th E) vs Metallurg (28-16-2, 5th E)
About the game
Amur ends a three-game home series following a win over Ak Bars on Thursday (5:4).
Metallurg is in the middle of a three-game road trip following a loss to Admiral also on Thursday (2:4).
The season series between the two sides is 0-2 (1:2 OT, 2:3).
Amur’s forward Alex Galchenyuk is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Amur’s forward Vladislav Barulin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Metallurg’s defenseman Alexei Maklyukov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Metallurg’s forward Danila Yurov had at least one assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
Amur: Ignat Korotkikh.
Metallurg: Troy Josephs, Makar Khabarov, Vladislav Yeryomenko.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s forward Igor Geraskin may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 198).
16:00: Lada (18-20-6, 9th E) vs Vityaz (17-22-5, 10th W)
About the game
Lada, who defeated Vityaz earlier this season (2:1), ends a five-game home series following a loss to Torpedo on Thursday (2:3).
Vityaz starts a three-game road trip fresh off a win over HC Sochi on Wednesday (2:1 OT).
Injury list
Lada: Nikolai Demidov, Pavel Koltygin, Nikita Popugayev.
Vityaz: Alexander Daryin, Sergei Kalinin, Grigory Vashchenko.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
