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Do or die for Kunlun Red Star, Ak Bars faces Avtomobilist!
Three games are on tap on a light KHL Wednesday, with Dinamo Minsk hosting Lada, Ak Bars facing Avtomobilist, and Spartak clashing with Kunlun Red Star on a game that may decide the final top eight in the Western Conference.
The action starts in Belarus, with Dinamo Minsk welcoming Lada. The Bison are sensationally in the top four in the West and won their previous seven games, while the guests are on a five-match losing streak. However, earlier in the season, Lada collected a 6:4 victory over Dinamo Minsk. After today’s game, the guests will fly back to Togliatti.
Then, in Kazan, Ak Bars hosts Avtomobilist as the teams clash for the fourth time this season. Kazan is currently up 2-1 in the series, but the Motormen are in third place in the Eastern Conference’ table, with Ak Bars in the fifth spot. The teams met recently, on Feb. 26, with Avtomobilist claiming a 2:1 win as Brooks Macek netted the game-winner around the midgame mark. After that game, Ak Bars lost a further game, to Traktor (2:3), then celebrated a 6:3 win in Novosibirsk. Avtomobilist has instead lost twice in a row, to Metallurg (1:3) and Dynamo Moscow (1:4). Today is the Motormen’s last away game of the regular season – the team will open its new arena on March 10 with a top game against CSKA.
In the final match of the day, Kunlun Red Star pays a visit to Spartak. It’s a do-or-die situation for the Dragons – a regulation loss today will send Torpedo to the playoffs as the Western Conference’s last team. Both teams will want to return to victory, with the Muscovites losing two straight games, to Dinamo Minsk (1:2) and Avangard (1:5), and Kunlun Red Star being on a three-game losing streak. In the previous three games between the two sides this season Spartak claimed two wins, with one game going to the Dragons.
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (35-18-7, 4th W) vs Lada (20-32-8, 10th E)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk enters the fourth game of a five-match home series on a seven-game winning streak.
Lada, who defeated Dinamo Minsk earlier this season (6:4), ends a two-game road trip on a five-match losing streak.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vitaly Pinchuk is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Nikita Pyshkaylo.
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov, Maxim Groshev, Pavel Koltygin.
19:30: Ak Bars (38-21-2, 5th E) vs Avtomobilist (37-17-7, 3rd E)
About the game
Ak Bars starts a five-game home series following a road win over Sibir on Sunday (6:3).
Avtomobilist ends a three-game road trip on a two-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (6:2, 4:1, 1:2).
Injury list
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
Avtomobilist: Jesse Blacker, Curtis Valk, Sergei Zborovsky.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Nikita Dynyak lines up for his 300th league appearance.
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nikita Tryamkin enters his 700th KHL game.
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nick Ebert may score his 100th point in the KHL (Currently at 99).
Avtomobilist’s goalie Vladimir Galkin may celebrate his 50th win in the league.
19:30: Spartak (34-18-8, 5th W) vs Kunlun Red Star (26-31-5, 9th W)
About the game
Spartak ends a two-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Kunlun Red Star enters the seventh game of a ten-match road trip following three straight defeats.
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (5:1, 2:4, 2:0).
Spartak’s forward Mikhail Maltsev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Kunlun Red Star: Parker Foo.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s goalies Dmitry Nikolayev and Artyom Zagidulin may record their respective 10th KHL shutout.
