Ural Derby renews: Avtomobilist and Traktor battle for regional supremacy
Five exciting games headline today’s KHL action, starting with Amur hosting Sibir in the Far East after their earlier-season duel and Sibir’s recent offensive struggles. Admiral faces the Shanghai Dragons, hoping to capitalize on Adam Huska’s hot streak, before the Dragons travel west. Avangard and Salavat Yulaev meet in Omsk for a classic rivalry, Traktor visits Avtomobilist for the Ural Derby, and Ak Bars welcomes Neftekhimik in the Tatarstan showdown.
The matchday starts in the Far East again with Amur taking on Sibir. After defeating the Shanghai Dragons, the Tigers will now play a double header with the Novosibirsk side as the teams already faced earlier this season. Amur then won 2:0 on the road, and today the team will have another chance to improve its record. Sibir will seek a return to scoring after being blanked by Admiral in Vladivostok on Monday (0:2).
The Sailors will host the Shanghai Dragons, who faced Amur on Monday as they started a trip in the Far East. After today’s game, the Dragons will fly back to St. Petersburg. Earlier this season, Admiral defeated the Chinese franchise (4:3 SO), and the team will try to build a new scoring streak also taking advantage of Adam Huska’s great form after he shut out Sibir on Monday. With several Dragons’ players on scoring streaks, it won’t be an easy fit.
In Omsk, Avangard faces Salavat Yulaev in a classic matchup. The Hawks end a five-game home trip with an encouraging three wins and only one defeat, while Salavat Yulaev only won once in four matches. The Ufa side just lost to Avtomobilist twice in a row, while Avangard defeated Dynamo Moscow (7:4) and Dinamo Minsk (5:4 SO), other than grabbing its first win of the season against Amur (2:1). With Salavat Yulaev willing to bounce back, this game won’t be a walk in the park for Avangard despite the gap in the standings.
Then, the Ural Derby between Avtomobilist and Traktor will take place. The neighboring regional rivals played six games against each other last season, with each team earning three victories—two at home and one away. Overall, their history in the KHL has been tightly contested: out of 66 matches, Avtomobilist has won 32 and Traktor 34. The Motormen’s top scorer in matches against Traktor is Stephane Da Costa, with the Frenchman recording 24 points (5 goals, 19 assists) in the Ural derby. Recently, he reached the 500-point mark in the league as he has shown no signs of cooling down – he has six points in his last three games. Traktor is in nice shape as well, and it will be an exciting matchup in Yekaterinburg. After today’s game, Traktor will fly back to Chelyabinsk for its home opener against Neftekhimik on Friday.
Closing an exciting match day is a Tatarstan derby between Ak Bars and Neftekhimik. The Kazan side won seven straight home games against the Wolves, but this year, Ak Bars only won once so far as the team had a slow start. Neftekhimik will start today a three-game road trip after a surprising win over Lokomotiv in extra time (5:4 OT) and a victory against Dinamo Minsk (4:3). Both times, Neftekhimik accomplished a comeback in the third period – a clear sign of a strong character. And character is often what is more needed in local rivalries, will Neftekhimik be able to snag a third consecutive win? Or will Ak Bars bounce back with its more stacked lineup?
12:15: Amur (2-1-1) vs Sibir (1-2-0)
About the game
Amur, who defeated Sibir earlier this season (2:0), enters the second game of a five-match home series following a win over the Shanghai Dragons on Monday (5:4).
Sibir is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Sibir also on Monday (0:2).
Amur’s forward Oleg Li is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Amur’s defenseman Ivan Mishchenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Amur’s defenseman Nikita Yevseyev is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Amur: Evgeny Svechnikov.
Sibir: Andrei Churkin.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Ivan Klimovich lines up for his 100th league appearance.
12:30: Admiral (2-1-1) vs Shanghai Dragons (2-1-1)
About the game
Admiral, who defeated the Shanghai Dragons earlier in the season (4:3 SO), enters the second game of a four-match home series and defeated Sibir on Monday (2:0).
The Shanghai Dragons ends a two-game road trip after a loss to Amur also on Monday (4:5).
Admiral’s goalie Adam Huska is on a 78:25 shutout streak.
The Shanghai Dragons’ forward Max Ellis scored a goal in each of his previous four matches.
The Shanghai Dragons’ forward Ryan Merkley is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
The Shanghai Dragons’ forward Joseph Duszak had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
16:30: Avangard (3-1-0) vs Salavat Yulaev (1-3-0)
About the game
Avangard ends a five-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
Salavat Yulaev enters the second game of a four-match road trip after two straight losses to Avtomobilist.
Avangard’s forward Konstantin Okulov is on an eight-game scoring streak, with 9 (2+7) points over that span.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Denis Yan is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Alexei Pimenov.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s forward Konstantin Okulov may reach 450 league points (currently at 446).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Jake Rodewald lines up for his 200th league appearance.
17:00: Avtomobilist (3-1-0) vs Traktor (2-1-2)
About the game
Avtomobilist enters the second game of a four-match home series on a three-game winning streak.
Traktor ends a six-game road trip after a win over HC Sochi on Sunday (4:3 OT).
Avtomobilist’s forwards Reid Boucher and Stephane Da Costa are on an identical three-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that span.
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Jesse Blacker had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four helpers.
Avtomobilist’s forward Maxim Denezhkin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Traktor’s forward Pierrick Dube is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points over that stretch.
Traktor’s forward Joshua Leivo is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points.
Traktor’s forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four helpers.
Traktor’s forward Alexander Kadeikin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Curtis Valk, Sergei Zborovsky.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s forward Alexander Sharov may reach 300 KHL points (currently at 297).
Traktor’s defenseman Grigory Dronov may record his 100th assist in the league (currently at 99).
19:00: Ak Bars (1-2-1) vs Neftekhimik (2-2-0)
About the game
Ak Bars is in the middle of a five-game home series and lost its previous couple of matches.
Neftekhimik starts a three-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Ak Bars’ forward Kirill Semyonov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ forward Grigory Denisenko is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 3 (1+2) points.
Ak Bars’ forward Dmitrij Jaskin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Mitchell Miller is on a nine-game scoring streak, with 11 (6+5) points.
Neftekhimik’s forwards Evgeny Mityakin and Alexei Belozyorov are on an identical three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that stretch.
Neftekhimik’s forward Alexander Dergachyov had an assist in each of his previous three games.
Neftekhimik’s forward Damir Zhafyarov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Neftekhimik’s forward Bulat Shafigullin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Nikita Khoruzhev, Maxim Sushko.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Bulat Shafigulin may score his 100th career point (currently at 99).
