Big day unfolds in the Western Conference
After yesterday’s intense matchday in the East, Tuesday brings four exciting games: Lada hosts Lokomotiv in Togliatti, Metallurg faces Severstal in a reunion between coach Andrei Razin and his former team, the 61st Moscow Derby unfolds between CSKA and Spartak, and HC Sochi takes on the league’s hottest team, Torpedo, in the Western Conference. This lineup promises thrilling action across all four matchups.
Undoubtedly, today’s top match will be the Moscow Derby between CSKA and Spartak. This game will be the 61st between the teams, with the edge in victories currently favoring CSKA (39-21). However, in the last season, Spartak won the season series 4-2 — Alexei Zhamnov’s team took three home games and also won once at the CSKA Arena. The real highlight of the Moscow derby in the 2024-2025 season was the December 19 game. The teams put on a true show — a 4-4 tie in regulation and an exciting finish in extra time. The hero of that match was CSKA forward Maxim Sorkin, who scored the winning goal, but won’t be on the ice today due to injury.
The match day will start in Togliatti, with Lada facing Lokomotiv starting a five-game home series. This may be a good moment to bounce back after two straight losses, to Torpedo (3:4) and SKA (1:6), respectively. However, Lada’s last home win over Lokomotiv dates back to 2017 Christmas, when the Togliatti side celebrated a 3:1 victory. The Gagarin Cup champs will also want to bounce back after a surprising two-game losing streak, with defeats by the hand of the Shanghai Dragons (1:4) and Neftekhimik (4:5 OT).
In Severstal, Andrei Razin will face his former team as Metallurg faces the Cherepovets side with whom the coach worked for five years. Razin failed to win in Cherepovets at the helm of Magnitka, as the Magnitogorsk side celebrated its last road win on Oct. 23, 2020 (5:4). After today’s clash, Metallurg will fly back home for the next five games. Despite struggling to secure wins in Cherepovets since taking over at Metallurg, Razin will be determined to overcome the challenge and end the drought.
A showdown between HC Sochi and Torpedo will close an exciting match day in the Western Conference. The Nizhny Novgorod side is the hottest team in the league with four consecutive victories, while HC Sochi tries to return to victory after losing to Traktor in extra time on Sunday (3:4 OT). Torpedo can count on several players on active scoring streaks – it won’t be easy for Sochi to contain the opposition’s forwards.
18:00: Lada (1-2-0) vs Lokomotiv (2-1-1)
About the game
Lada starts a five-game home series following two consecutive losses.
Lokomotiv enters the third game of a four-match road trip also on a two-game losing streak.
Lada’s forward Riley Sawchuk is on a three-game scoring streak with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Lada: Nikita Mikhailov, Alexe Ozhgikhin.
Lokomotiv: Daniil Tesanov.
Disqualifications
Lada’s forward Andrei Altybarmakyan serves the first game of a five-match ban.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Artur Kayumov may reach 250 KHL points (currently at 248).
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Polunin may record his 100th league assist (currently at 99).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th league shutout.
19:00: Severstal (2-2-0) vs Metallurg (2-0-2)
About the game
Severstal is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost to CSKA on Sunday (1:2).
Metallurg ends a two-game road trip following a win over Ak Bars also on Sunday (6:3).
Milestone alert
Severstal’s forward Kirill Pilipenko may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 199), while forwards Roman Abrosimov and Nikolai Chebykin may reach 100 (both currently at 98). Moreover, Pilipenko may net his 100th league tally (currently at 98).
19:30: CSKA (3-1-0) vs Spartak (1-2-1)
About the game
CSKA starts a two-game home series fresh off a win in Cherepovets on Sunday (2:1).
Spartak starts a four-game road trip on a three-game losing streak.
Injury list
CSKA: Yegor Fateyev, Danila Moiseyev, Maxim Sorkin, Vladislav Yeryomenko.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s defenseman Nikolai Makarov may line up for his 100th league appearance.
Spartak’s goalie Dmitry Nikolayev may record his 10th league shutout.
Spartak’s goalie Artyom Zagidulin may celebrate his 50th KHL win.
19:30: HC Sochi (2-1-1) vs Torpedo (4-0-0)
About the game
HC Sochi ends a three-game home series and lost to Traktor on Sunday (3:4 OT).
Torpedo enters the second game of a five-match road trip on a four-game winning streak.
Torpedo’s forward Sergei Goncharuk is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points over that span.
Torpedo’s forward Vladislav Firstov is also on a five-game scoring streak, but with 6 (3+3) points.
Torpedo’s forward Yegor Sokolov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that stretch.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Jean-Cristophe Beaudin, Amir Garayev.
Torpedo: Maxim Letunov
Milestone alert
Torpedo’s forward Alexei Kruchinin may score his 100th league tally (currently at 99).
