Wednesday packed with key battles across both conferences
The KHL Wednesday lineup features six games across both conferences, starting with Sibir hosting Salavat Yulaev, followed by Neftekhimik facing Avtomobilist in the East. The Western Conference hosts four matches, including Lada taking on HC Sochi, Lokomotiv vs Severstal, Dinamo Minsk vs Torpedo, and Shanghai Dragons visiting Dynamo Moscow. With teams trying to break losing streaks and rematches heating up, expect high intensity on all fronts.
The KHL Wednesday starts in Novosibirsk, with the local Sibir welcoming Salavat Yulaev. Both sides will be eager for a win, with Sibir losing to Severstal on Monday (2:4) and the Ufa team being on a four-game losing streak. A double by Scott Wilson wasn’t enough for Sibir to defeat the Cherepovets side, but this time the hosts will try to be more careful in their defensive efforts. On the other end of the rink, Salavat Yulaev had a rocky start and only collected one win this season, in Magnitogorsk, more than two weeks ago (3:2 OT). After that, Salavat Yulaev lost to Avtomobilist twice, Avangard (2:3 OT), and Ak Bars (1:3). Today’s game may become a turning point for the winning team. Moreover, yesterday Salavat Yulaev acquired defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk in exchange for leading forward Alexander Chmelevski.
In Togliatti the Western Conference will see an early match when Lada hosts HC Sochi. Lada is still seeking its first win under its new head coach Pavel Desyatkov, while the Black Sea franchise lost its last three games, failing to score in its latest couple of outings, against Torpedo (0:3) and Lokomotiv (0:5), respectively. Lada and HC Sochi sit in last and second last place in the Western Conference’s table, and both will be looking for points today in Togliatti. However, Lada’s last win over HC Sochi dates back to 2017, with a 2:1 OT victory on Sept. 26.
Then, in today’s last Eastern Conference’s game, Neftekhimik welcomes Avtomobilist. Both teams sport a 4-3-0 record, but the Wolves defeated the Motormen on Sunday in front of a Yekaterinburg crowd of more than 10,000 (4:1). The teams are now set for a rematch, with no clear favorite for today’s game.
The action then moves to the Western Conference for another four matches, starting with a showdown between Lokomotiv and Severstal. The two sides have already met this season, with Lokomotiv claiming a 4:1 win. The Railwaymen are in fine shape, with three straight wins, over Lada (6:1), CSKA (5:1), and HC Sochi (5:0), respectively. Against Sochi, veteran Alexander Radulov netted his first hat-trick with the Lokomotiv jersey – his fifth in his KHL career. The Cherepovets franchise had some up and downs this season, but is currently on a two-game winning streak.
Then, in Minsk, Dinamo welcomes Torpedo. The Bison have just had their home opener – a 1:0 win in extra time over Barys. Somewhat curiously, that was the same score in Torpedo’s latest game as the team suffered its first loss this season, by the hand of the Shanghai Dragons. Torpedo remains undefeated in regulation and is still leading the league with thirteen points in the standings. Both teams enter today’s clash in a good swing, but Torpedo has nine straight wins on the road in Minsk, with the last Bison’s victory dating back to Nov. 12, 2019. After today’s game, the Nizhny Novgorod side will fly back home.
After defeating Torpedo, the Shanghai Dragons start a road trip with a game in Moscow against Dynamo. The Blue-and-Whites had a difficult start to the season, but won two consecutive games in the Far East, significantly improving their position in the Western Conference’s table. The Shanghai Dragons were on a two-game losing streak – they instead lost in the Far East to Amur and Admiral – but handed Torpedo its first defeat of the season to return to victory. Today’s game will be an exciting match as both sides will be seeking a win.
15:30: Sibir (3-3-0) vs Salavat Yulaev (1-4-1)
About the game
Sibir ends a two-game home series following a loss to Severstal on Monday (2:4).
Salavat Yulaev ends a four-game road trip on a four-match losing streak.
Sibir’s forward Nikita Soshnikov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points over that span.
Sibir’s defenseman Chase Priskie had an assist in each of his previous three games.
Injury list
Sibir: Andrei Churkin, David Farrance, Ivan Klimovich.
Salavat Yulaev: Alexei Pimenov, Dean Stewart.
18:00: Lada (1-5-0) vs HC Sochi (2-3-1)
About the game
Lada enters the fourth game of a five-match home series on a five-game losing streak.
HC Sochi ends a two-game road trip after losing its last three matches.
Injury list
Lada: Nikita Mikhailov, Alexei Ozhgikhin.
HC Sochi: Amir Garayev.
Disqualifications
Lada’s forward Andrei Altybarmakyan serves his fourth game of a five-match ban.
19:00: Neftekhimik (4-3-0) vs Avtomobilist (4-3-0)
About the game
Neftekhimik, who defeated Avtomobilist on Sunday (4:1), plays the lone home game of the series.
Avtomobilist starts a two-game road trip after its loss to the Wolves.
Neftekhimik’s forward Evgeny Mityakin is on a six-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points over that span.
Neftekhimik’s forward Danil Yurtaikin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Nikita Khoruzhev, Maxim Sushko.
Avtomobilist: Brooks Macek, Maxim Osipov, Nikita Tryamkin, Curtis Valk, Sergei Zborovsky.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Bulat Shafigullin may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa may score his 300th assist in the league (currently at 298).
19:00: Lokomotiv (5-1-1) vs Severstal (4-3-0)
About the game
Lokomotiv, who defeated Severstal earlier this season (4:1), is in the middle of a three-game home series and won its previous three matches.
Severstal enters the second game of a six-match road trip and defeated Sibir on Monday (4:2).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev is on a 106:42 shutout streak.
Lokomotiv’s forward Yegor Surin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that stretch.
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Rushan Rafikov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Daniil Tesanov.
Severstal: Thomas Gregoire, Andrei Shchuchinov, Konstantin Shostak.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Andrei Sergeyev may score his 300th career point (currently at 297).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th league shutout.
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (3-1-2) vs Torpedo (6-0-1)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk enters the second game of a six-match home series following a win over Barys on Monday (1:0 OT).
Torpedo ends a five-game road trip following its first loss of the season, against the Shanghai Dragons, also on Monday (0:1 OT).
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Zach Fucale is on a 62:31 shutout streak.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Alex Limoges is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (5+2) points over that span.
Torpedo’s goalie Ivan Kulbakov is on a 78:01 shutout streak.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vitaly Pinchuk and Torpedo’s forward Vasily Atanasov may reach 100 KHL points (both currently at 99).
Torpedo’s forward Alexei Kruchinin may net his 100th career goal (currently at 99).
19:30: Dynamo Moscow (3-3-1) vs Shanghai Dragons (3-2-1)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow starts a three-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
The Shanghai Dragons start a three-game road trip fresh off a home win over Torpedo on Monday (1:0 OT).
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Nikita Gusev is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Maxime Comtois is also on a four-game scoring streak, but with 4 (3+1) points.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Devin Brosseau is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Shanghai Dragons’ goalie Patrik Rybar is on a 67:08 shutout streak.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Artyom Mikheyev.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Nikita Gusev may reach 700 KHL points (currently at 697).
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Maxim Mamin may reach 250 points in the league (currently at 249).
Shanghai Dragons’ forward Borna Rendulic may score his 200th KHL point (currently at 199).
