Salavat Yulaev hosts Metallurg in today’s lone game

It’s the fourth meeting between the two sides this season, with Metallurg so far undefeated in the series.

After yesterday’s big matchday, it’s a light one today in the league, with just Salavat Yulaev hosting Metallurg. Tomorrow, another huge day is to be expected, with nine games across both Conferences. Both teams are running high in the Eastern Conference’s standings, but the table is incredibly tight, with four teams condensed in a handful of points, that with each game the positioning will inevitably change. Both Salavat Yulaev and Metallurg are fighting to keep a spot in the top four, with the Ufa team currently having one point more than its opponent of today.

Most recently, Salavat Yulaev collected a nice win in Omsk (4:2), playing without top sniper Joshua Leivo, injured during a losing effort in the Green Derby against Ak Bars on Jan. 27. In that game, the team also lost its captain, Grigory Panin, after a collision with Avangard’s Giovanni Fiore. The top-scoring forward is expected to return today as the Ufa team kicks off a short homestand. Conversely, Metallurg has just started a long road trip, and won its previous two matches, against Dinamo Minsk at home (4:1), and Lokomotiv in Yaroslavl (3:2). Earlier in the season, the two sides met three times, with Metallurg sweeping the series so far in this Eastern Conference classic matchup. Moreover, Salavat Yulaev lost its last seven consecutive home games to Magnitka, with the last home win dating back to Dec. 28, 2020 (4:2) – more than four years ago. Goals, drama and excitation are to be expected today at the Ufa Arena, as well as a packed crowd.

17:00: Salavat Yulaev (32-15-3, 3^rd E) vs Metallurg (31-16-4, 5^th E)
About the game

Salavat Yulaev starts a two-game home series fresh off a win over Avangard on Jan. 29 (4:2).

Metallurg enters the second game of a seven-match road trip after two straight victories.

The season series between the two teams is 0-3 (3:5, 2:3 OT, 2:4).

Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Semyon Vyazovoi is on a 65:13 shutout streak.

Salavat Yulaev’s forward Nathan Todd is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 9 (1+8) points over that span.

Salavat Yulaev’s forward Sheldon Rempal is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (5+1) points.

Injury list

Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin, Grigory Panin.

Metallurg: Makar Khabarov, Vladislav Yeryomenko.

Milestone alert
Metallurg’s forward Igor Geraskin may score his 200^th career point (currently at 198).