SKA seeking first win of the season against Traktor
The KHL matchday features five games across the Eastern and Western Conferences. In Omsk, Avangard hosts Amur after a tough-to-swallow home loss, while Dynamo Moscow visits Metallurg seeking their first win. Neftekhimik faces Dinamo Minsk, fresh off a shutout victory. In Moscow, Spartak takes on Severstal in a playoff rematch, and SKA hosts Traktor in a highly anticipated home opener likely before a sellout crowd.
The KHL matchday starts in Omsk, with Avangard facing Amur after losing its home opener to Ak Bars on Monday, with Nikolai Prokhorkin netting the lone tally for the Hawks in a 1:2 loss in the Eastern Conference’s classic matchup. The Tigers had a good start of the season instead, with a shutout win over Sibir (2:0) and a SO loss to Barys in Astana (3:4 SO). That will be a good way for Amur to try and get a third consecutive game with points as the team is aiming for a higher place this season.
Then, Dynamo Moscow will seek its first win this season when Alexei Kudashov’s team pays a visit to Magnitogorsk. The Blue-and-Whites lost to CSKA (2:6) and HC Sochi (2:3 SO), and are still hoping to get their first ‘W’ in the current campaign. Metallurg won its home opener against Ak Bars (4:3 SO), but then lost to Salavat Yulaev (2:3 OT) as both its games ended in extra time.
In the last Eastern Conference’s game of the matchday, Neftekhimik entertains Dinamo Minsk. The hosts are another team still waiting for a first win, after losing its first two games, against Severstal (0:5) and Traktor (3:4), respectively. It seems to be the start of a long season for the Wolves, who also started the 2025-2026 campaign without Nikita Khoruzhev, one of the top rookies last year. The Belarusians had just collected a nice 3:0 win in Moscow, with goalie Zach Fucale earning a shutout in his first game with his new team, against Spartak. Dinamo Minsk is likely to push for another win to set off a good start. Moreover, Neftekhimik lost to the Belarusians its last five home games, with the most recent victory dated Sept. 28, 2019 (5:4 SO).
The action then moves to the Western Conference for a couple of matches. In Moscow, Spartak faces Severstal for a revenge of last year’s first-turn playoff series, won 4-1 by the Red-and-Whites. The Muscovites had mixed success so far this season, with a 4:3 win in the home opener against HC Sochi and a 0:3 loss to Dinamo Minsk. That was pretty much the same as the Steelers, who had a strong 5:0 win in Nizhnekamsk before losing 1:4 to Gagarin Cup champs Lokomotiv. Tonight’s game will have unpredictability as key with both sides aiming for a win.
Then, in St. Petersburg, SKA will also try to win its first game in the current campaign when Igor Larionov’s squad hosts Traktor. SKA lost to the Shanghai Dragons in its first game (4:7), then forced extra time in its second game, in Nizhny Novgorod, but failed to celebrate victory (2:3 OT). The Chelyabinsk side already played three games this season, with losses against Lokomotiv in the Opening Cup game (1:2 SO) and Barys (3:4 OT), but then finally getting a win at its third attempt, in Nizhnekamsk (4:3), with Mikhail Grigorenko netting the game-winner. A sellout crowd is expected today for SKA’s home opener.
16:30: Avangard (0-1-0) vs Amur (1-0-1)
About the game
Avangard enters the second game of a five-match home series following a loss to Ak Bars on Monday (1:2).
Amur ends a three-game road trip and lost to Barys on Tuesday (3:4 SO).
Milestone alert
Avangard’s goalie Nikita Serebryakov may record his 20th league shutout.
17:00: Metallurg (1-0-1) vs Dynamo Moscow (0-1-1)
About the game
Metallurg ends a three-game home series and lost to Salavat Yulaev on Monday (2:3 OT).
Dynamo Moscow starts a five-game road trip after losing its last couple of matches.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Artyom Mikheyev.
19:30: Neftekhimik (0-2-0) vs Dinamo Minsk (1-0-0)
About the game
Neftekhimik enters the third game of a four-match home series and lost its last couple of games.
Dinamo Minsk enters the second game of a five-match road trip following a win over Spartak on Tuesday (3:0).
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Zach Fucale is on a 60:00 shutout streak.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Nikita Khoruzhev.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s defenseman Artyom Serikov lines up for his 200th league appearance.
19:30: Spartak (1-1-0) vs Severstal (1-1-0)
About the game
Spartak enters the third game of a four-match home series following a loss to Dinamo Minsk on Tuesday (0:3).
Severstal ends a three-game road trip and lost to Lokomotiv also on Tuesday (1:4).
Milestone alert
Spartak’s goalie Artyom Zagidulin may celebrate his 50th win in the KHL.
Spartak’s goalie Dmitry Nikolayev may record his 10th league shutout.
Severstal’s forward Kirill Pilipenko may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 199) and net his 100th league goal (currently at 98).
19:30: SKA (0-1-1) vs Traktor (1-0-2)
About the game
SKA starts a three-game home series after two consecutive losses.
Traktor enters the fourth game of a six-match road trip and most recently defeated Neftekhimik on Tuesday (4:3).
Traktor’s forward Pierrick Dube is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.
Injury list
SKA: Andrei Pedan, Nikita Zaitsev, Ivan Zinchenko.
Disqualifications
SKA’s forward Joseph Blandisi serves a one-game ban.
Traktor’s forward Joshua Leivo serves the second game of a two-match ban.
Milestone alert
SKA’s defenseman Trevor Murphy may score his 200th KHL point (currently at 198).
