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Dinamo Minsk returns with a trip to Magnitogorsk! Five games on an exciting KHL match
The Bisons face Metallurg after two weeks of pause, while Neftekhimik keeps on seeking a playoff spot in a home game against Severstal. In the West, the battle for the last playoff spot intensifies, with Torpedo visiting HC Sochi and Kunlun Red Star hosting Traktor. A showdown between SKA and Vityaz wraps up an exciting KHL Tuesday.
Dinamo Minsk returns to hockey after a two-week pause. The Bisons lost their last couple of games and will be definitely seek a return to victory, with their last win in Magnitogorsk dating back to 2018. Despite the recent losses and lack of games, Dinamo Minsk holds seventh place in the Western Conference with a solid, ten-point advantage over ninth-placed Kunlun Red Star. Metallurg also lost its last game, to Amur (2:3), and has only one regulation win in the last five games, with another extra time victory against Neftekhimik on Jan. 20 (3:2 OT). The Steelers are currently the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
In the other Eastern game, Neftekhimik welcomes Severstal. The Wolves are doing their best to return to the playoffs picture, defeating Lada in their last outing in a tight battle to reach the eighth position, yet they are seven points from the eight seed, Sibir. The Cherepovets side is riding a four-game winning streak, and is battling for a spot in the top four in the Western Conference.
The action then moves to the West. HC Sochi hosts Torpedo trying to please its fans in the last game of a four-match homestand. It has been a difficult period for the Black Sea franchise, who went close to scoring a victory on Sunday against Severstal, but ultimately losing in the postgame shootout. HC Sochi is currently at the bottom of the Western Conference’s standings, while Torpedo is in eighth place, with a good advantage over Kunlun Red Star. In the meantime, the Dragons will seek a win against Traktor trying to keep their playoff qualification hopes alive. Traktor is still the undisputed leader in the Eastern Conference with 69 points.
In the last game of a tense matchday, SKA welcomes Vityaz. The Moscow Region team is tenth in the Western Conference and has just lost a critical game against Kunlun Red Star, seeing its playoff chances getting significantly thinner. SKA, who defeated Vityaz twice this season, overtook Dinamo Minsk in the West’s standings and is currently in sixth place after a home win over Salavat Yulaev.
17:00: Metallurg (29-16-4, 5th E) vs Dinamo Minsk (25-15-6, 7th W)
About the game
Metallurg, who defeated Dinamo Minsk earlier this season (2:0), ends a two-game home series following a loss to Amur on Saturday (2:3 OT).
Dinamo Minsk enters the third game of a four-match road trip after losing its last couple of games.
Metallurg’s forward Yegor Korobkin scored a goal in his previous three matches.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Nikita Pyshkailo is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Metallurg: Makar Khabarov, Vladislav Yeryomenko.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s forward Alexander Petunin may record his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
Metallurg’s forward Igor Geraskin may reach 200 league points (currently at 198).
19:00: Neftekhimik (15-21-13, 9th E) vs Severstal (31-17-1, 3rd W)
About the game
Neftekhimik enters the fifth game of a six-match home series following a win over Lada on Sunday (4:2).
Severstal, who defeated Neftekhimik earlier in the season (4:1), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous four matches.
Neftekhimik’s forward Andrei Belozyorov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Neftekhimik’s forward Evgeny Mityakin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Severstal’s forward David Dumbadze is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (5+1) points.
Severstal’s forward Ivan Podshivalov had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov, Yegor Korbit.
Severstal: Yaroslav Dyblenko.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Vyacheslav Leshchenko may celebrate several milestones today, being at 198 points made of 99 goals and as many assists.
Neftekhimik’s forward Evgeny Mityakin may score his 100th point in the KHL (currently at 99).
19:00: HC Sochi (14-29-5, 11th W) vs Torpedo (22-18-8, 8th W)
About the game
HC Sochi ends a four-game home series on a three-match losing streak.
Torpedo starts a three-game road trip following a loss to Dynamo Moscow on Saturday (1:4).
The teams traded wins earlier this season so far (5:2, 1:7).
Torpedo’s forward Maxim Letunov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Torpedo: Mikhail Abramov, Vyacheslav Voynov.
Milestone alert
Torpedo’s forward Sergei Goncharuk lines up for his 300th KHL game.
19:30: Kunlun Red Star (21-23-4, 9th W) vs Traktor (32-14-5, 1st E)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star, who defeated Traktor earlier this season (4:1), starts an eight-game home series after defeating Vityaz on Saturday (2:1).
Traktor starts a two-game road trip fresh off a win over Admiral also on Saturday (3:2 SO).
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Jack Chelios, Parker Foo, Semyon Sinyatkin.
Traktor: Nikita Korostelyov, Ostap Safin.
19:30: SKA (27-16-5, 6th W) vs Vityaz (19-24-5, 10th W)
About the game
SKA ends a five-game home series following a win over Salavat Yulaev on Saturday (3:2).
Vityaz plays the lone road game of the series after a loss to Kunlun Red Star also on Saturday (1:2).
The season series between the two teams is 2-0 (8:1, 5:2).
SKA’s forward Arseny Gritsyuk is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
SKA’s forward Zakhar Bardakov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.
Injury list
SKA: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Alexander Nikishin, Sergei Tolchinsky.
Vityaz: Alexander Daryin, Grigory Vashchenko.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
