Metallurg faces CSKA on an exciting KHL Wednesday featuring three games!
Only three games are on tap today, but exciting ones, with Metallurg hosting CSKA, Lada facing Spartak, and Ak Bars welcoming Traktor.
The KHL matchday starts with a showdown between Metallurg and CSKA. The Muscovites will be seeking revenge for the sensational 0:7 defeat suffered at home in October, with four goals scored with Magnitka on the man advantage. With playoffs ticket in their hands, both teams are now fighting for a better positioning in the Conference’s table. CSKA is currently the third seed in the West, while Magnitka is fourth in the East, having just overcame Avtomobilist in the top four. Both sides will be without key forwards, with Metallurg’s Danila Yurov and CSKA’s Vitaly Abramov out on long-term injuries.
In Togliatti, Lada hosts Spartak. The Red-and-Whites are currently the fifth seed in the West and will be battling for more points as the postseason approaches. A return to the top four will be welcome for Spartak, who just returned to victory after four straight losses. On Monday, a double by leading forward Ivan Morozov led the Red-and-Whites to a sweet 5:3 win in Kazan. After today’s game, Spartak will fly back to Moscow as the team wraps up a three-game road trip. Lada has most recently lost to Traktor at home (0:6) after achieving a 1:0, OT win over Sibir on Saturday – the team only scored once in its last couple of matches.
A showdown between Ak Bars and Traktor ends an exciting KHL Tuesday. The Chelyabinsk side retained its leading spot in the Eastern Conference and is riding a four-game winning streak, with victories over Lada (6:0), Severstal (5:1), Barys (8:0), and Ak Bars (3:2), demonstrating an excellent shape. Today’s opponents clashed on February’s last day, with a double by Nikita Korostelyov propelling Traktor to a victory. Ak Bars isn’t at its best moment and lost its most recent couple of games, to Spartak (3:5) and Avangard (0:2). The Kazan side slipped down to sixth place in the Eastern Conference’s standings.
17:00: Metallurg (39-20-4, 4th W) vs CSKA (37-17-9, 3rd W)
About the game
Metallurg, who defeated CSKA earlier this season (7:0), starts a four-game home series following a loss to SKA on Saturday (2:4).
CSKA ends a three-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Metallurg’s goalie Alexander Smolin is on a 75:43 shutout streak.
CSKA’s forward Maxim Sorkin is on an eight-game scoring streak, with 11 (2+9) points over that span.
Injury list
Metallurg: Vladislav Yeryomenko, Danila Yurov.
CSKA: Vitaly Abramov, Colby Williams.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s defenseman Valery Orekhov lines up for his 400th KHL match.
18:00: Lada (21-34-8, 10th E) vs Spartak (35-19-9, 5th W)
About the game
Lada enters the third game of a six-match home series following a loss to Traktor on Monday (0:6).
Spartak ends a three-game road trip after defeating Ak Bars also on Monday (5:3).
Injury list
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov, Evgeny Groshev, Artyom Ivanyuzhenkov, Pavel Koltygin.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s forward Vladislav Yefremov lines up for his 200th league appearance.
Spartak’s goalies Dmitry Nikolayev and Artyom Zagidulin may each record their 10th KHL shutout.
19:00: Ak Bars (39-23-2, 6th E) vs Traktor (42-16-6, 1st E)
About the game
Ak Bars enters the fourth game of a five-match home series on a two-game home series.
Traktor is in the middle of a three-game road trip on a four-match winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (1:3, 4:0, 2:3).
Traktor’s forward Andrei Svetlakov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (2+6) points over that span.
Traktor’s forward Maxim Shabanov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 11 (3+8) points.
Traktor’s forwards Alexander Kadeikin Nikita Korostelyov are also on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points.
Traktor’s forward Vitaly Kravtsov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Traktor’s defenseman Grigory Dronov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Traktor’s forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev scored a goal in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Vitaly Kravtsov may net his 100th league tally (currently at 99).
