SKA faces Spartak for the fourth time this season, four games on tap today
One game in the Eastern Conference and three in the West: Salavat Yulaev seeks a return to victory while facing Lada, Torpedo hosts CSKA, Lokomotiv welcomes Dynamo Moscow and SKA takes on Spartak in the central game of the day.
Viktor Kozlov’s team lost three straight games, including a match to Lada on Feb. 19 (0:3) that started its losing streak. After that loss, Salavat Yulaev also surrendered to Vityaz (1:3) and CSKA (2:4). However, also Lada is on a losing streak, failing to win again after defeating the Ufa franchise. Following the home win, the Togliatti side lost to Traktor (1:4) and Ak Bars (1:2). Salavat Yulaev is now the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, while Lada is tenth, with a thirteen-point gap from Sibir, in eighth position.
The action then moves to the Western Conference, starting with Torpedo hosting CSKA. It will be the fifth encounter this season between the two sides, with the Muscovites currently leading the season series 3-1. Both teams won their last game, with Torpedo defeating HC Sochi (6:3) and CSKA overcoming Salavat Yulaev (4:2). In the standings, CSKA is the fifth seed in the conference, while the Nizhny Novgorod side is in eighth place.
Another exciting game is Lokomotiv welcoming Dynamo Moscow. The Railwaymen are currently leading the season series 2-1 and are currently riding a two-game winning streak, with victories coming from games against Sibir (2:1 OT) and Kunlun Red Star (4:1). The Muscovites are, instead, struggling, with three consecutive losses, to Dinamo Minsk (0:5), HC Sochi (3:5), and Spartak (2:3 OT), respectively. After this setback, the Blue-and-Whites slipped down to fourth place in the conference’s table, while Lokomotiv keeps on leading the league with 89 points. However, Dynamo Moscow will want to return to victory also to celebrate head coach Alexei Kudashov’s 600th KHL game.
The last match of the day features a battle between two capitals: SKA St. Petersburg and Spartak Moscow. One of the hottest rivalries in the West has become even more intense this season. Fans still remember the October clash, which ended with a hard-fought SKA victory (5:2), Spartak’s dominant win in Saint Petersburg in early January (5:0), and the game where SKA squandered a 3:0 lead but still managed to win in extra time (4:3 SO). Without a doubt, this new encounter will be one of the week's highlights! Both teams lost their last game, at home, with SKA losing to Kunlun Red Star (4:6) and Spartak to Dinamo Minsk (0:3), respectively. The Muscovites are the second seed in the Western Conference, while SKA is currently in seventh place.
17:00: Salavat Yulaev (36-19-3, 4th E) vs Lada (20-31-6, 10th W)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev ends a two-game home series on a three-game losing streak.
Lada ends a three-game road trip following two consecutive losses.
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (3:1, 2:1 SO, 0:3).
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov, Maxim Groshev, Pavel Koltygin.
19:00: Torpedo (28-21-8, 8th W) vs CSKA (32-17-8, 5th W)
About the game
Torpedo ends a two-game home series following a win over HC Sochi on Friday (6:3).
CSKA ends a two-game road trip and defeated Salavat Yulaev on Sunday (4:2).
The season series between the two teams is 1-3 (4:3 ОТ, 1:3, 1:2 SO, 1:6).
Injury list
Torpedo: Mikhail Abramov, Igor Larionov.
CSKA: Vitaly Abramov, Ivan Prosvetov, Dmitry Samorukov.
Milestone alert
Torpedo’s forward Bobby Lynch lines up for his 100th KHL appearance.
CSKA’s defenseman Nikita Nesterov may reach 200 assists in the league (currently at 198).
19:00: Lokomotiv (43-13-3, 1st W) vs Dynamo Moscow (34-18-5, 4th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv ends a three-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Dynamo Moscow starts a two-game road trip following three straight losses.
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (4:3 SO, 0:3, 2:1).
Lokomotiv’s forward Byron Froese is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Lokomotiv’s forward Denis Alexeyev had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Artyom Ilyenko, Brennan Menell.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Bogdan Kiselevich lines up for his 800th league appearance.
Dynamo Moscow’s head coach Alexei Kudashov reaches 600 KHL games.
19:30: SKA (33-20-5, 7th W) vs Spartak (33-16-8, 2nd W)
About the game
SKA is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost to Kunlun Red Star on Saturday (4:6).
Spartak starts a two-game road trip and lost to Dinamo Minsk on Sunday (0:3).
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (5:2, 0:5, 4:3 SO).
SKA’s forward Grigory Kuzmin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (2+5) points over that span.
SKA’s forward Matvei Korotky is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points.
Injury list
SKA: Arseny Gritsyuk.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s goalies Dmitry Nikolayev and Artyom Zagidulin may reach their respective 10th KHL shutout.
