Avangard hosts Ak Bars, Salavat Yulaev faces Lokomotiv

Two high-profile games are scheduled today, with an Eastern Conference’s classic and a battle between two strong sides in Ufa.

Avangard is currently riding a three-game winning streak, compiling victories over Amur (7:1), Admiral (5:2), and Lada (1:2). The Hawks are currently on a six-game point streak, with also an extra time loss to CSKA (1:2 SO) and two further wins, against Dinamo Minsk and Barys, respectively. Avangard returns home for a four-game homestand, with Ak Bars being the first opponent in the series. The Kazan side just lost the Green Derby to Salavat Yulaev (0:3) and another game to Torpedo (1:5) and will be seeking a return to victory after slipping down to fourth place in the Eastern Conference’s standings, also due to yesterday’s Avtomobilist win in Khabarovsk. The Hawks retained their sixth spot in the table. Earlier this season, Avangard collected a pair of wins over Ak Bars.

In Ufa, Salavat Yulaev will face Lokomotiv. The team has just collected a nice win over Ak Bars in the Green Derby, with young goalie Semyon Vyazovoi collecting another shutout. Before the Green Derby, Salavat Yulaev lost to Kunlun Red Star (2:4), but won three matches in a row against Neftekhimik (4:1), Metallurg (6:4), and Avangard on the road (4:2). It wasn’t the best period for Lokomotiv. The Railwaymen only won twice in the last five games, including their last outing against Severstal on Friday (5:1). Salavat Yulaev won the only meeting between today’s opponents in the season, with Alexander Chmelevsky netting the OT game winner on Sep. 21 (3:2 OT), when Lokomotiv was up by two by the mid-game mark. The Railwaymen moved goalie Daniil Isayev off the injury list, but his participation in today’s game is uncertain.

14:00: Avangard (30-21-4, 6^th E) vs Ak Bars (35-17-2, 4^th E)
About the game

Avangard starts a four-game home series on a three-match winning streak.

Ak Bars is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.

The season series between the two teams is 2-0 (4:1, 3:1).

Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.

Avangard’s forward Ryan Spooner is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points.

Injury list

Avangard: Sergei Boikov, Reid Boucher, Alex Grant, Nikita Kholodilin, Michael McLeod, Vladimir Tkachyov.

Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko, Mitchell Miller, Ilya Safonov.

14:30: Salavat Yulaev (35-16-3, 2^nd E) vs Lokomotiv (41-13-2, 1^st W)
About the game

Salavat Yulaev, who defeated Lokomotiv earlier this season (3:2 OT), ends a two-game home series following a win over Ak Bars on Friday (3:0).

Lokomotiv ends a three-game road trip after defeating Severstal also on Friday (5:1).

Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Semyon Vyazovoi is on a 125:13 shutout streak.

Salavat Yulaev’s forward Joshua Leivo is on a nine-game scoring streak, with 17 (13+4) points over that span.

Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Chmelevsky is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points.

Lokomotiv’s forward Artur Kayumov is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.

Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Shalunov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.

Injury list

Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin, Grigory Panin.

Lokomotiv: Mark Ulyev.

Milestone alert

Lokomotiv’s defenseman Alexei Bereglazov lines up for his 700^th KHL game. The veteran defenseman won two Gagarin Cups in his tenure, with Metallurg (2016) and Avangard (2021).