Big day across both conferences!
Seven games are on tap on a busy KHL matchday, starting from the Far East, with Admiral facing Salavat Yulaev and Amur welcoming Neftekhimik. Sibir hosts Ak Bars and Traktor clashes with Barys in the Eastern Conference’s remaining games. In the West, Lokomotiv pays a visit to Sochi, Spartak faces off with Avangard, and Dinamo Minsk takes on SKA.
The KHL matchday starts in the Far East again, with Admiral facing Salavat Yulaev and Amur welcoming Neftekhimik. This will be a repeat of Feb. 28 matches, when the Sailors lost to Ufa in extra time (2:3 SO), and Amur collected a win over the Wolves, once again in extra time (5:4 OT). Salavat Yulaev is in good shape, with two consecutive wins, with Friday’s victory being the second triumph over Admiral this season. On Friday, Amur ended a seven-game skid, with Ivan Mishchenko netting the game-winner in the third minute of extra time. After Friday’s matches, Salavat Yulaev is in third place in the Eastern Conference’s standings, while Admiral is seventh. After yesterday’s Avtomobilist loss to Metallurg, the Ufa team can catch up with the Motormen in the second spot with 81 points. Amur and Neftekhimik follow below the playoff line, with the Tigers having already lost any chance for postseason qualification. Next week, the two Far East franchises will swap opponents.
The action then moves to Novosibirsk, with Sibir hosting Ak Bars for the third time today. The Kazan side is in a slump, with two consecutive losses to Traktor (2:3) and Avtomobilist (1:2) and only two victories in its last eight games. Sibir defeated Ak Bars twice this season and is seeking points to guarantee a playoff spot – they have a seven-point cushion over Neftekhimik.
In the last game in the East, conference leader Traktor faces last-placed Barys. The Kazakhs just halted a long skid with a SO win over Lada on Friday (3:2 SO) and should they celebrate a second straight victory in Chelyabinsk today, it will be the club’s 500th win in the KHL history. However, Traktor already defeated Barys three times this season, potentially aiming a fourth triumph.
The action then moves to the Western Conference. Another team with three wins over its today’s rival is Lokomotiv, who faces HC Sochi on the road. The league’s leader starts a road trip today, following a home loss to Dynamo Moscow on Tuesday (1:3). HC Sochi is instead on a two-game losing streak, with defeats in matches against Kunlun Red Star (2:5) and Torpedo (3:6). The Railwaymen retain their top spot in the league’s standings, with a good cushion over other Western Conference’s teams.
In Moscow, Spartak faces Avangard in an exciting match. The teams faced once this season, with the Red-and-Whites claiming victory in a high-scoring affair in October, with Adam Ruzicka finding the back of the net for the final 6:5 goal with six minutes to go in the closing frame, completing his first – and so far, only – hat-trick in the KHL. With that being said, the Hawks are currently on a seven-game winning streak, while Spartak just collected a road loss to Dinamo Minsk on Thursday (1:2). In the standings, Spartak is the second seed in the Western Conference, while Avangard sits in sixth place in the East.
In the closing game of the matchday, Dinamo Minsk hosts SKA. The Bison are one of the hottest teams in the league, with five consecutive wins, while the St. Petersburg franchise lost its last three games, to Dynamo Moscow (0:1), Spartak (2:7), and Kunlun Red Star (4:6), respectively. Both teams have already booked a ticket to the postseason, but Dinamo Minsk’s recent spree allowed them to overtake SKA in sixth place. The two teams are separated by two points in the standings.
10:00: Admiral (26-22-11, 7th E) vs Salavat Yulaev (38-19-3, 3rd E)
About the game
Admiral enters the second game of a six-match home series following a loss to Salavat Yulaev on Friday (2:3 SO).
Salavat Yulaev enters the second game of a four-match road trip on a two-game winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is (1:2, 4:2, 2:3 SO).
Admiral’s forward Yegor Petukhov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Admiral’s forward Arkady Shestakov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Nathan Todd is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Admiral: Artyom Chmykhov, Vyacheslav Osnovin.
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
10:30: Amur (14-38-7, 11th E) vs Neftekhimik (19-24-16, 9th E)
About the game
Amur enters the second game of a four-match home series following a win over Neftekhimik on Friday (5:4 OT).
Neftekhimik enters the second game of a six-match road trip and most recently lost to Amur.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (1:4, 3:4 SO, 5:4 OT).
Amur’s forward Devin Brosseau is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Roman Abrosimov, Alexander Dergachyov, Yegor Korbit, Mikhail Pashnin.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Vyacheslav Leshchenko is still hunting his 100th league goal (currently at 99).
13:30: Sibir (26-24-9, 8th E) vs Ak Bars (37-21-2, 4th E)
About the game
Sibir ends a three-game home series following a win over Vityaz on Friday (4:3 SO).
Ak Bars ends a three-game road trip on a two-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 2-0 (6:3, 1:0).
Injury list
Sibir: Fyodor Gordeyev.
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
14:00: Traktor (39-16-6, 1st E) vs Barys (12-41-7, 12th E)
About the game
Traktor enters the fourth game of a five-match home series following a win over Ak Bars on Friday (3:2).
Barys ends a three-game road trip and defeated Lada also on Friday (3:2 SO).
The season series between the two teams is 3-0 (4:1, 3:2, 5:3).
Injury list
Barys: Nikita Boyarkin, Maxim Mukhametov, Kirill Savitsky.
Milestone alert
Barys may celebrate its 500th win in the KHL.
Barys’ forward Anton Burdasov lines up for his 800th league appearance. He has 220 career goals and 206 assists.
17:00: HC Sochi (19-33-6, 11th W) vs Lokomotiv (43-14-3, 1st W)
About the game
HC Sochi enters the second game of a six-match home series on a two-game losing streak.
Lokomotiv starts a three-game road trip following a home defeat to Dynamo Moscow on Tuesday (1:3).
The season series between the two teams is 0-3 (1:3, 1:2, 1:3).
Lokomotiv’s forward Byron Froese is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Lokomotiv’s forward Yegor Surin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Lokomotiv’s forward Denis Alexeyev had an assist in each of his previous four matches.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Sergei Ivanov.
Lokomotiv: Maxim Shalunov.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Bogdan Kiselevich may line up for his 800th KHL game.
Lokomotiv’s forward Pavel Kraskovsky may reach 600 career appearances.
17:00: Spartak (34-17-8, 2nd W) vs Avangard (34-21-4, 6th E)
About the game
Spartak, who defeated Avangard earlier this season (6:5), starts a two-game home series following a defeat to Dinamo Minsk on Thursday (1:2).
Avangard starts a four-game road trip on a seven-match winning streak.
Avangard’s forward Reid Boucher scored a goal in each of his previous three games.
Avangard’s forward Nikolai Prokhorkin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Avangard’s forward Ivan Igumnov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Avangard: Sergei Boikov, Emil Galimov, Vladimir Tkachyov.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s goalies Dmitry Nikolayev and Artyom Zagidulin may record their respective 10th KHL shutout.
Avangard’s forward Nail Yakupov may record his 100th assist and 200th point in the KHL (currently at 99 and 199, respectively).
17:10: Dinamo Minsk (33-18-7, 6th W) vs SKA (33-22-5, 7th W)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk enters the second game of a five-match home series on a five-game winning streak.
SKA starts a two-game road trip on a three-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-1 (0:3, 4:2).
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Dillon Dube, Nikita Pyshkaylo.
SKA: Arseny Gritsyuk, Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Daniil Sotishvili lines up for his 100th league appearance.
SKA’s forward Pavel Akolzin reaches 500 KHL games, while forward Sergei Tolchinsky may play his 400th league game.
