Traktor vs Barys kicks off four-game match day
Four games light up today’s KHL slate, with Traktor taking on Barys to open the action in Chelyabinsk—both teams desperate to halt extended losing streaks. In the East, Neftekhimik aims to recover as they face Amur, seeking revenge after Tuesday’s defeat. Over in the West, Severstal returns home to challenge struggling HC Sochi, before the Shanghai Dragons meet third-seeded Dinamo Minsk in a tightly contested nightcap.
The match day starts with a showdown between Traktor and Barys in Chelyabinsk. The two sides already met this season, with the Kazakhs claiming an extra time win (4:3 OT). However, Barys will enter today’s match on a three-game losing streak, following defeats to Lokomotiv (1:5), Sibir (0:1 SO), and Ak Bars (3:4). Following today’s game in Chelyabinsk, the Kazakhs will fly back home for a new home stand. The home side is also on a bad swing, with four straight defeats. However, Traktor can count on the start of a new home series, and the team will play on home ice then next four matches. Today’s winner can count on a good morale boost perhaps to start a new winning streak and earn precious points in the Eastern Conference’s table.
17:00: Traktor (5-4-4, 6th E) vs Barys (5-6-2, 8th E)
About the game
Traktor starts a four-game home series on a four-match losing streak.
Barys, who defeated Traktor earlier this season (4:3 OT), ends a three-game road trip on a three-match losing streak.
Barys’ goalie Andrei Shutov is on a 66:57 shutout streak.
Injury list
Barys: Alikhan Asetov, Nikita Boyarkin, Tyce Thompson.
In the second Eastern game of the day, Neftekhimik faces Amur for the second time in three days after the teams clashed on Thusday. That game ended with the Tigers claiming a 2:1 road win as Amur landed a one-two punch in the second period with two goals in sixty seconds. Thus, Amur handed the Wolves a third successive defeat, and in the process, the Tigers ended their own three-game skid and cut the gap to the Eastern top eight to just two points. Today, Neftekhimik will try to halt their losing streak – the Wolves lost all the home games of the series – while Amur will try to gain other points to climb up in the table.
19:00: Neftekhimik (7-6-0, 5th E) vs Amur (4-6-2, 9th E)
About the game
Neftekhimik enters the fourth game of a five-match home series on a three-game losing streak.
Amur ends a five-game road trip and defeated Neftekhimik on Tuesday (2:1).
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Alexander Dergachyov, Nikita Popugayev, Maxim Sushko.
Amur: Roman Abrosimov, Evgeny Svechnikov.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Danil Yurtaikin may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 98).
Neftekhimik’s forward Grigory Seleznyov lines up for his 100th league appearance.
Amur’s forward Kirill Slepets may reach 200 KHL games.
The action then moves to the Western Conference for further two games. Severstal returns home after collecting just two wins (4:2 over Dinamo Minsk and 5:3 against Torpedo) in five away games and today will be looking to bounce back after a 2:3 losses to CSKA. After this series, the Steelers – now nominally out of the playoffs zone – faces a struggling HC Sochi side. The Black Sea franchise lost three games in a row and are in penultimate place in the Western Conference’s table. It will be the first clash between the two sides this season. After the game, HC Sochi will fly back home.
19:00: Severstal (6-6-0, 9th W) vs HC Sochi (4-7-1, 10th W)
About the game
Severstal starts a three-game home series following a loss to CSKA on Sunday (3:5).
HC Sochi ends a three-game road trip on a three-match losing streak.
Severstal’s forward Mikhail Ilyin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Vladislav Tsitsyura is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Severstal: Ilya Ivantsov, Adam Liska, Kirill Pilipenko, Artyom Shchuchinov, Konstantin Shostak, Kirill Tankov.
HC Sochi: Yegor Babenko, Danil Mokrushev, Igor Shvyryov.
Milestone alert
Severstal’s forward Nikolai Chebykin may score his 100th KHL point (currently at 99).
HC Sochi’s goalie Pavel Khomchenko may reach 10 league shutouts.
Closing the match day is an exciting showdown between the Shanghai Dragons and Dinamo Minsk. Both sides are in good form, with Dinamo Minsk being the third seed of the Western Conference and the Shanghai Dragons chasing just two points behind. Recently, the Chinese franchise had an interesting signing, inking American-Slovakian forward Kevin Labanc to a one-year contract. The 29-years-old has 542 games in the NHL, with 251 (89+162) points. He also skated at the 2021 World Championship with Team USA. The Shanghai Dragons and Dinamo Minsk will meet again on Saturday.
19:30: Shanghai Dragons (6-3-2, 5th W) Vs Dinamo Minsk (7-2-2, 3rd W)
About the game
The Shanghai Dragons start a four-game home series following a loss to Spartak on Tuesday (0:3).
Dinamo Minsk starts a two-game road trip fresh off a win over Traktor on Monday (4:1).
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Yegor Borikov.
