Fight for playoffs positioning. Seven games on tap today
Seven games fill today's KHL schedule, with crucial playoff implications in both conferences. In the East, Sibir and Salavat Yulaev put their winning streaks on the line, while Avtomobilist faces SKA in a high-stakes battle at the new UGMK Arena. Ak Bars looks to continue its dominance over Barys, and Lada clashes with Amur to close the action. In the West, Avangard fights for a top-four spot, Torpedo seeks to snap its losing streak, and Spartak looks to secure third place against Sochi.
The matchday starts with Sibir hosting Salavat Yulaev. Both sides are on active winning streaks, with Sibir defeating Amur (4:2), Torpedo (3:2), and Barys (3:2) on home ice, and Salavat Yulaev defeating Dinamo Minsk (4:3 SO) and Avtomobilist (4:1). The Ufa team will be seeking points to clinch the second place in the Eastern Conference, with Traktor being four points above. Sibir is currently the eighth seed in the East and has a chance to overcome Admiral.
The Motormen are another team who will be particularly willing to win today, with SKA visiting the brand-new UGMK Arena, to guarantee themselves to start the playoffs on home ice. However, there are some intricacies. Naturally, Avtomobilist has to win the game today, preferably in regulation time. If that happens, and Ak Bars doesn’t defeat Barys in regulation, then the Motormen will have a top-four finish. They still have a chance in case of an extra time win, if Ak Bars doesn’t defeat Barys and Avangard won’t win against Avangard in regulation time. SKA is on a similar spot, even if its goal is less ambitious, at least for now. The St. Petersburg side can clinch at least a seventh spot ending if Severstal defeats Torpedo later today. Both teams enter today’s game after losing their most recent outing, with Avtomobilist losing to Salavat Yulaev (1:4) and SKA falling to Eastern leader Traktor (2:4), respectively.
In Kazakhstan, Barys will face Ak Bars for the fourth time this season, with the Kazan side taking all the games so far this season. This game will have its implications for Avtomobilist’s positioning, but both sides will be seeking a win, albeit for different reasons. Barys is looking for a nice home win in front of its fans, while Ak Bars is aiming for a top-four finish. Both teams aren’t in their best shape, and uncertainty will be key in Astana.
A showdown between Lada and Amur closes a tense day in the Eastern Conference. It’ll be the fourth meeting between the two sides this season, with the Tigers being up 2-1 in the season series and collecting a win in the head-to-head match two days ago.
The action then moves to the Western Conference for three matches, starting with Vityaz hosting Avangard. The Hawks will try to return to victory after two consecutive losses to Dynamo Moscow (3:4 OT) and Traktor (4:5), respectively. Avangard currently sits in sixth place and must secure a win today if they want to have chances for a top-four qualification, but much will depend on Avtomobilist’s game.
Then, Torpedo will try to return to victory after three straight defeats in a home contest against Severstal, while Spartak will be defending its third place in the Western Conference’s standings in a home match against HC Sochi. The Black Sea franchise is however up 2-1 in the season series.
15:30: Sibir (29-27-10, 8th E) vs Salavat Yulaev (43-20-3, 2nd E)
About the game
Sibir enters the fourth game of a five-match home series on a three-game winning streak.
Salavat Yulaev is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (2:3 SO, 1:3, 4:1).
Sibir’s forward Taylor Beck is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points over that span.
Sibir’s forward Andy Andreoff is also on a four-game scoring streak, but with 4 (3+1) points.
Sibir’s forward Sergei Shirokov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.
Sibir’s forward Nikita Korotkov tallied a goal in each of his previous three matches.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Joshua Leivo is on an eight-game scoring streak, with 12 (6+6) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Sibir: Vladimir Butuzov, Fyodor Gordeyev.
Salavat Yulaev: Daniil Alalykin, Gleb Kuzmin.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Scott Wilson may score his 100th KHL point (currently at 99).
17:00: Avtomobilist (39-20-7, 2nd E) vs SKA (37-24-5, 7th W)
About the game
Avtomobilist enters the fifth game of a six-match home series following a loss to Salavat Yulaev on Tuesday (1:4).
SKA, who defeated Avtomobilist earlier this season (5:2), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Traktor also on Tuesday (2:4).
Avtomobilist’s forward Semyon Kizimov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points over that span.
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Darren Dietz had an assist in each of his previous three games.
SKA’s forward Arseny Gritsyuk is on a ten-game scoring streak, with 10 (4+6) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Jesse Blacker, Anatoly Golyshev, Curtis Valk.
SKA: Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s forward Nick Merkley and defenseman Nick Ebert may reach 100 points in the KHL (both are currently at 99).
17:30: Barys (14-45-7, 12th E) vs Ak Bars (40-23-3, 5th E)
About the game
Barys starts a two-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Ak Bars starts a two-game road trip following a home loss to Vityaz on Saturday (1:2 OT).
The season series between the two teams is 0-3 (0:5, 1:2 SO, 4:5 ОТ).
Barys’ defenseman Adil Beketayev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Barys’ forward Roman Starchenko is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Ak Bars’ forward Kirill Semyonov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Ak Bars’ forward Nic Petan had at least one assist in each of his previous three games, totaling five helpers.
Injury list
Barys: Nikita Boyarkin, Andrei Shutov.
Ak Bars: Yegor Babenko.
18:00: Lada (22-36-8, 10th E) vs Amur (17-41-8, 11th E)
About the game
Lada ends a six-game home series following a loss to Amur on Tuesday (2:3).
Amur is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (0:2, 5:3, 2:3).
Injury list
Lada: Vladislav Chervonenko, Nikolai Demidov, Maxim Groshev, Artyom Ivanyuzhenkov, Pavel Koltygin.
Amur: Alex Broadhurst, Devin Brosseau, Sergei Dubakin.
Milestone alert
Lada’s forward Alexei Ozhgikhin and Amur’s forward Ignat Korotkikh line up for their respective 100th KHL game.
19:00: Vityaz (24-32-10, 10th W) vs Avangard (39-22-5, 6th E)
About the game
Vityaz starts a two-game home series following a loss to Metallurg on Monday (2:3 SO).
Avangard, who defeated Vityaz earlier this season (4:3 OT), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost its previous couple of matches.
Vityaz’s forward Alexei Makeyev is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Avangard’s forward Nikolai Prokhorkin is also on a four-game scoring streak, and also scored 6 (2+4) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Vityaz: Ivan Chekhovich, Frederik Gauthier.
Avangard: Sergei Boikov.
Milestone alert
Vityaz’s forward Alexei Makeyev lines up for his 700th league appearance.
Vityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may record his 10th league shutout.
19:30: Torpedo (31-27-8, 8th W) vs Severstal (39-26-1, 6th W)
About the game
Torpedo starts a two-game home series on a three-game losing streak.
Severstal wraps up a three-game road trip following a win over Kunlun Red Star on Tuesday (5:4 SO).
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (0:3, 4:5, 3:2).
Injury list
Torpedo: Vasily Atanasov, Sergei Goncharuk.
Severstal: Yaroslav Dyblenko.
Milestone alert
Severstal’s forward Kirill Pilipenko may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
19:30: Spartak (37-20-9, 3rd W) vs HC Sochi (20-39-7, 11th W)
About the game
Spartak enters the third game of a four-match home series following a loss to Neftekhimik on Tuesday (2:4).
HC Sochi wraps up a four-game road trip following a win over Dinamo Minsk also on Tuesday (3:2).
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (1:2 SO, 4:0, 3:1).
Spartak’s forward Nikolai Goldobin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Spartak’s forward Pavel Poryadin had at least one assist in each of his previous four matches, totaling five helpers.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Sergei Ivanov.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s defenseman Andrei Mironov may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 198).
HC Sochi’s forward Artur Tyanulin may line up for his 200th league appearance.
