Salavat Yulaev and Dynamo Moscow clash today! Five games on the matchday
It will be an exciting matchup between the second-placed teams in the Conferences – Salavat Yulaev and Dynamo Moscow. Earlier, in the Far East, Admiral faces Barys, then Sibir continues its playoff push hosting Amur. Avtomobilist will seek its first win at the new UGMK Arena against Torpedo, while Severstal faces off with Dinamo Minsk in the lone Western game of the day.
The KHL matchday will start early again in the Far East, with Admiral facing Barys. It’s the fourth meeting between the two sides this year, with the Sailors being up 2-1 in the season series. Admiral wraps up a six-game home series after defeating Amur in the last Far East derby of the season, celebrating a 5:2 win on Tuesday on home ice, led by a double by Nikita Soshnikov. The Kazakhs enter today’s game after a 0:3 home loss to CSKA on Saturday and are at the bottom of the league’s standings. Admiral is currently the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and has an eight-point cushion over Neftekhimik.
Eighth-placed Sibir will then host Amur as the team tries to return to victory and retain its playoff place. Sibir lost its previous four matches and is now only three points ahead of Neftekhimik, who is breathing down their neck in the standings. The Tigers lost their last three games, but they have no playoff ambitions left, and less pressure.
Another team who will want to win today is Avtomobilist. The Motormen lost the first game at the brand new UGMK Arena on Monday to CSKA (3:4) and are on a four-game losing streak. But most importantly, they want to please the home crowd for a first win at their new rink. Today, the Motormen face Torpedo. The Nizhny Novgorod side clinched a playoff spot recently but lost 3:4 to Avangard on Monday. Torpedo retained its eighth spot in the West, while Avtomobilist’s skid caused the team to slip down to fifth place in the Eastern Conference’s table. Earlier this season, Torpedo defeated Avtomobilist in the teams’ lone meeting so far.
After almost a week of pause, Salavat Yulaev returns to action as the team faces Dynamo Moscow today. The Ufa team is riding a five-game winning streak, including four wins in the Far East. Despite the lack of action, Salavat Yulaev is still the second seed in the East, five points shy of Traktor but with a game in hand. The Blue-and-Whites were on a positive streak before facing Neftekhimik, but the Wolves bite them on Monday in their playoff hunt, achieving a 4:3 win. Despite the setback, Dynamo Moscow is still the second seed in the Western Conference, tied with CSKA at 83 points.
In the lone Western game of the matchday, Severstal faces Dinamo Minsk. The Steelers are up 3-2 in the season series but are trailing in the conference’s standings as the Bisons are fighting for a top four finish, while Severstal is a bit behind, in seventh place. Andrei Kozyrev’s squad lost its last couple of matches, to Traktor (1:5), and Lokomotiv (0:3), scoring only once in 120 minutes. Dinamo Minsk won nine straight games before falling to SKA on Monday.
12:30: Admiral (28-24-11, 7th E) vs Barys (13-43-7, 12th E)
About the game
Admiral ends a six-game home series following a win over Amur on Monday (5:2).
Barys starts a three-game road trip after losing to CSKA on Saturday (0:3).
The season series between the two teams is 3-0 (3:2 SO, 4:3 ОТ, 4:2).
Injury list
Admiral: Artyom Nikolayev.
Barys: Nikita Boyarkin, Andrei Shutov.
15:30: Sibir (26-27-10, 8th E) vs Amur (15-40-8, 11th E)
About the game
Sibir starts a five-game home series on a four-match losing streak.
Amur ends a two-game road trip following three straight defeats.
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (1:5, 4:3, 5:1).
Injury list
Sibir: Fyodor Gordeyev.
Amur: Devin Brosseau.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Kirill Rasskazov lines up for his 500th league appearance.
17:00: Avtomobilist (37-19-7, 5th E) vs Torpedo (31-25-8, 8th W)
About the game
Avtomobilist enters the second game of a six-match home series on a four-game losing streak.
Torpedo, who defeated Avtomobilist earlier this season, is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Avangard on Monday (3:4).
Torpedo’s forward Kirill Voronin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Jesse Blacker, Curtis Valk.
Torpedo: Mikhail Abramov, Vasily Atanasov, Igor Larionov, Bobby Lynch.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Nick Ebert and forward Nick Merkley may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
Avtomobilist’s goalie Vladimir Galkin may record his 50th KHL win.
17:00: Salavat (41-19-3, 2nd E) vs Dynamo Moscow (39-19-5, 2nd W)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev starts a two-game home series on a five-match winning streak.
Dynamo Moscow, who defeated Salavat Yulaev earlier this season (4:2), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Neftekhimik on Monday (3:4).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Joshua Leivo is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points over that span.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Sheldon Rempal is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Chmelevsky is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Anton Sizov may line up for his 300th KHL game.
19:00: Severstal (37-25-1, 6th W) vs Dinamo Minsk (37-19-7, 7th W)
About the game
Severstal plays the lone home game of the series after losing its last couple of matches.
Dinamo Minsk is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to SKA on Monday (1:3).
The season series between the two teams is 3-2 (1:3, 3:2, 3:2 SO, 5:2, 1:3).
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points over that span.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Moroz is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points.
Injury list
Severstal: Yaroslav Dyblenko, Artyom Shchuchinov.
Dinamo Minsk: Nikita Pyshkaylo, Daniil Sotishvili.
