The competition for the last playoff spot in the West intensifies with key matches
Four games are on tap on a light KHL Monday, with an Eastern showdown between Metallurg and Lada, and three games in the West: Vityaz hosts Torpedo and Dinamo Minsk welcomes Kunlun Red Star as the competition for the last postseason spot in the conference intensifies, then Dynamo Moscow clashes with Avtomobilist as the Motormen try to defeat the Blue-and-Whites on the road for the first time in almost nine years.
The matchday starts in the Eastern Conference, with a showdown between Metallurg and Lada. The teams are in opposite directions, with Metallurg earning three straight victories and the Togliatti side being on a four-game losing streak. Magnitka is currently battling out with Ak Bars for the Eastern Conference’s fourth spot as the teams are tied at 78 points and had three consecutive wins in games against Avtomobilist (3:1), Barys (4:1), and Severstal (4:1). Theoretically, Lada has still a chance to qualify for the postseason, but it has a fourteen-point gap to eighth-placed Sibir. Earlier in the season, Metallurg defeated Lada three times.
The action then moves to the Western Conference, with Vityaz hosting Torpedo. The Nizhny Novgorod side is yet to win a ticket for the playoffs, while Vityaz can lose any hope in case of a loss today. Vityaz is up in the season series two games to one, with two games going to extra time and the hosts gaining a one-goal win, but lost their previous three matches. Torpedo also comes from a loss, having suffered from a 2:4 defeat to CSKA on Saturday.
Another team still looking for an eventual playoff spot is Kunlun Red Star. The Dragons are travelling to Minsk today for a critical match. The Bison have already secured a place in the postseason, while Kunlun Red Star has a nine-point gap to Torpedo. Just yesterday, Dinamo Minsk celebrated a 2:1 home win over SKA in a tight match – its sixth straight win – and back-to-back games are always difficult – Kunlun Red Star has a chance, but returning to victory after two consecutive defeats won’t be easy. Earlier in the season, the teams traded wins. With yesterday’s win, Dinamo Minsk climbed up to fifth spot in the Western Conference.
In the closing game of the matchday, Dynamo Moscow welcomes Avtomobilist on an exciting cross-conference game. The two sides met once this season, back in October, with the Muscovites celebrating a 2:1, road win. Moreover, the Motormen’s last win in Moscow against Dynamo is dated Sept. 19, 2017. The Blue-and-Whites are riding a three-game winning streak, while Avtomobilist has most recently lost 1:3 in Magnitogorsk after two straight home wins, both with a 2:1 score, over Ak Bars and Vityaz. Both sides are in second place at their respective conferences.
17:00: Metallurg (37-19-4, 5th E) vs Lada (20-32-7, 10th E)
About the game
Metallurg ends a four-game home series and won its previous three matches.
Lada starts a two-game road trip on a four-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 3-0 (2:1, 2:1 SO, 4:0).
Metallurg’s forward Alexander Petunin had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling six helpers.
Metallurg’s forward Borna Rendulic is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Lada’s forwards Nikita Mikhailov and Arkhip Nekolenko are on an identical three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Metallurg: Vladislav Yeryomenko, Danila Yurov.
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov, Maxim Groshev, Pavel Koltygin.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s forward Igor Geraskin may score his 200th KHL point (currently at 199).
19:00: Vityaz (21-30-9, 10th W) vs Torpedo (29-23-8, 8th W)
About the game
Vityaz plays the lone home game of the series on a three-match losing streak.
Torpedo ends a three-game road trip following a loss to CSKA on Saturday (2:4).
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (2:1, 6:5 SO, 1:2 SO).
Injury list
Vityaz: Ivan Chekhovich, Vladimir Galuzin.
Torpedo: Mikhail Abramov, Igor Larionov.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may record his 10th KHL shutout.
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (34-18-7, 5th W) vs Kunlun Red Star (26-30-5, 9th W)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk is in the middle of a five-game home series and won its previous six matches.
Kunlun Red Star enters its sixth game of a ten-match road trip following two straight defeats.
The season series between the two teams is 1-1 (3:1, 0:3).
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Dillon Dube, Nikita Pyshkaylo.
Kunlun Red Star: Parker Foo.
19:30: Dynamo Moscow (37-18-5, 2nd W) vs Avtomobilist (37-16-7, 2nd E)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow, who defeated Avtomobilist earlier this season (2:1), is in the middle of a three-game home series and won its previous three matches.
Avtomobilist is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Metallurg on Saturday (1:3).
Dynamo Moscow’s forwards Maxime Comtois and Dmitry Rashevsky are on an identical three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Brennan Menell.
Avtomobilist: Jesse Blacker, Curtis Valk, Sergei Zborovsky.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s goalie Vladimir Galkin may record his 50th KHL win.
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nick Ebert may reach 100 league points (currently at 99).
