March kicks off with three matches
The last regular-season month starts today. Metallurg hosts Avtomobilist in a high-stakes game, Dynamo Moscow faces Kunlun Red Star, and CSKA clashes with Torpedo on a light KHL Saturday.
The first game of the matchday sees a Ural derby between Metallurg and Avtomobilist. This season, the teams have met twice, both games taking place in December, and both victories going to Magnitogorsk. The reigning champions celebrate a 4:2 home win and a 2:1 SO victory on the road. The standings add even more intrigue, as there aren’t many points separating the two teams. The battle within the top five in the East is absolutely intense. Both sides won their previous couple of matches. Metallurg defeated Severstal and Barys both times 4:1. Curiously enough, Avtomobilist also won both games with the same score, 2:1, over Vityaz and Ak Bars, respectively.
Then, the action moves to the Western Conference, where Dynamo Moscow faces Kunlun Red Star. The 0:6 loss to CSKA, coupled with Torpedo’s victory, was a tough pill to swallow for the Dragons, who are now nine points away from the playoff line. Kunlun Red Star will remain in Moscow to face the Blue-and-Whites for the fourth time this season, with Dynamo leading the season series two games to one. Moreover, the Muscovites collected two straight wins, over SKA (1:0) and Lokomotiv (2:1), respectively, overtaking Spartak for the second place in the conference’s table.
In the last game of the matchday, CSKA welcomes Torpedo for the second time this week. Earlier, the Muscovites collected a 3:2 win in Nizhny Novgorod with Kirill Dolzhenkov netting the game-winner with fewer than four minutes left on the clock. CSKA is currently riding a three-game winning streak, also defeating Kunlun Red Star and Salavat Yulaev (4:2). After its defeat to the Muscovites, Torpedo collected a 3:2 road win in Cherepovets. As for the standings, Torpedo cemented his eighth place, while CSKA is in the fourth spot.
14:30: Metallurg (36-19-4, 5th E) vs Avtomobilist (37-15-7, 2nd E)
About the game
Metallurg enters the third game of a four-match home series on a two-game winning streak.
Avtomobilist starts a three-game road trip and has also won its previous couple of matches.
The season series between the two teams is (4:2, 2:1 SO).
Metallurg’s forward Luke Johnson is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Metallurg: Vladislav Yeryomenko, Danila Yurov.
Avtomobilist: Jesse Blacker, Curtis Valk, Sergei Zborovsky.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s forward Igor Geraskin may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 199).
Avtomobilist’s goalie Vladimir Galkin may celebrate his 50th league win.
17:00: Dynamo Moscow (36-18-5, 2nd W) vs Kunlun Red Star (26-29-5, 9th W)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow starts a three-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Kunlun Red Star enters the fifth game of a ten-match road trip following a loss to CSKA on Thursday (0:6).
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (1:3, 5:4 ОТ, 4:1).
Dynamo Moscow’s goalie Maxim Motorygin is on a 60:27 shutout streak.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Artyom Ilyenko, Brennan Menell.
Kunlun Red Star: Parker Foo, Tomas Jurco.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Kirill Adamchuk lines up for his 300th KHL game.
17:00: CSKA (34-17-8, 4th W) vs Torpedo (29-22-8, 8th W)
About the game
CSKA is in the middle of a three-game home series and won its previous three matches.
Torpedo is in the middle of a three-game road trip and defeated Severstal on Thursday (3:2).
The season series between the two teams is 4-1 (3:4 ОТ, 3:1, 2:1 SO, 6:1, 3:2).
CSKA’s goalie Pavel Khomchenko is on an 86:56 shutout streak.
CSKA’s forward Maxim Sorkin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
CSKA’s forward Denis Guryanov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
CSKA’s defenseman Nikita Nesterov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
CSKA’s forward Kirill Dolzhenkov netted a goal in each of his previous three matches.
CSKA’s forward Cole Cassels had at least one assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
CSKA: Vitaly Abramov, Ivan Prosvetov, Dmitry Samorukov.
Torpedo: Mikhail Abramov, Igor Larionov.
