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Key matchups for Eastern Conference’s playoff qualification! Three games on tap today
Barys hosts Sibir, with Neftekhimik facing Lada as the competition for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference nears its peak. In the West, HC Sochi welcomes Severstal in a light KHL Sunday.
Barys will try to finally achieve a victory in their last home game of the series after twelve straight losses. They were close enough last time against Admiral, being up twice, but eventually losing in the postgame shootout, with the winning attempt coming from former Barys forward Yegor Petukhov. Today, Sibir visits Astana. The Novosibirsk side won its previous couple of matches and is seeking points for its playoff push. Barys is sitting in last place on the Eastern Conference’s standings, while Sibir has the eighth spot in the table.
A key game for the Eastern playoff picture is Neftekhimik hosting Lada. Both teams lost games recently, and they fell on the wrong side of the playoff line. In particular, Neftekhimik lost six straight matches, while Lada accumulated three consecutive defeats. The winner of today’s clash will be in the best spot to eventually catch up with Sibir, although the closest opponent – Lada – has a seven-point gap. Today’s game marks the fourth encounter between the two sides, with Lada claiming two wins so far.
Closing the matchday is HC Sochi welcoming Severstal. The Cherepovets side was as high as the third seed in the West but now is fifth after yesterday’s wins by Dynamo Moscow and Spartak. However, the Steelers will start a new road trip on a three-match winning streak as they keep on competing for a spot in the top four. HC Sochi lost its previous couple of games and is the last team in the competitive Western Conference.
14:30: Barys (10-33-6, 12th E) vs Sibir (21-20-7, 8th E)
About the game
Barys ends a three-game home series on a twelve-match losing streak.
Sibir is in the middle of a five-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (3:1, 0:2, 0:2).
Sibir’s goalie Denis Kostin is on a 61:11 shutout streak.
Sibir’s forward Taylor Beck is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 13 (3+10) points over that span.
Injury list
Barys: Alikhan Asetov, Anton Burdasov, Maxim Mukhametov.
Sibir: Fyodor Gordeyev.
17:00: Neftekhimik (14-21-13, 10th E) vs Lada (18-22-6, 9th E)
About the game
Neftekhimik enters the fourth game of a six-match home series on a six-game losing streak.
Lada ends a two-game road trip following three consecutive defeats.
The season series between the two sides is 1-2 (4:5 SO, 3:2 SO, 0:3).
Neftekhimik’s forward Andrei Belozyorov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov, Yegor Korbit.
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov, Danil Yurtaikin.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Vyacheslav Leschchenko may net his 100th KHL tally (currently at 99).
17:00: HC Sochi (14-29-4, 11th W) vs Severstal (30-17-1, 5th W)
About the game
HC Sochi enters the third game of a four-match home series following two straight losses.
Severstal starts a three-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (1:0, 2:4, 1:2).
Severstal’s goalie Alexander Samoilov is on an 82:17 shutout streak.
Severstal’s forward David Dumbadze is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Nikolai Chebykin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Severstal: Yaroslav Dyblenko.
Milestone alert
HC Sochi’s defenseman Maxim Fedotov may line up for his 200th KHL game.
