Rematch between Traktor and Lokomotiv, Shanghai Dragons and Dinamo Minsk
Two games are on tap on a light KHL Saturday with two highly-anticipated rematches. First, Traktor hosts Lokomotiv as the Black-and-White seek revenge after the Opening Cup game. Then, Dinamo Minsk travels to St. Petersburg to face the Shanghai Dragons after the Chinese franchise defeated the Belarusian with a late goal just two days ago.
After an extra time win over Traktor on Thursday (3:2 OT), Traktor will have another hot game with Lokomotiv paying a visit to Chelyabinsk. It will be the second time the two sides meet this season, with the Railwaymen claiming the Opening Cup game in a shootout on Sept. 5 (2:1 SO). To add an extra layer of difficulty to the Traktor side, the Chelyabinsk team lost its previous seven home games to Lokomotiv. After a 4:1 win over SKA on Monday, Lokomotiv is on the top of the Western Conference’s standings with 20 points. Traktor is currently the fourth seed in the East.
14:00: Traktor (6-4-4, 4th E) vs Lokomotiv (9-2-2, 1st W)
About the game
Traktor enters the second game of a four-match home series following a win over Barys on Thursday (3:2 OT).
Lokomotiv, who defeated Traktor earlier this season (2:1 SO), starts a two-game road trip fresh off a win over SKA on Monday (4:1).
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Andrei Sergeyev, Daniil Tesanov.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Andrei Svetlakov may net his 100th career tally (currently at 98).
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Polunin lines up for his 600th career appearance.
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
In the second game of the day, the Shanghai Dragons and Dinamo Minsk will play a revenge game after two day’s ago Borna Rendulic gave the Chinese franchise a last-gasp win with a late powerplay goal in the third period (3:2). That win marked the Dragons’ fourth victory in the last five matches, while Dinamo had three in the same period, also losing to Severstal on Oct. 1. With that win, Shanghai tied the Belarusians in the Western Conference’s standings at 16 points. Today’s game will thus see some changes in the standings for an exciting game in St. Petersburg. After the game, the Bison will fly back home where they will play the next two games. A new match against the Dragons is scheduled soon, on Oct. 24, this time in Minsk.
17:00: Shanghai Dragons (7-3-2, 3rd W) vs Dinamo Minsk (7-3-2, 4th W)
About the game
The Shanghai Dragons enters the second game of a four-match home series following the win over Dinamo Minsk on Thursday (3:2).
Dinamo Minsk ends a two-game road trip today.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Xavier Ouellet had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
Shanghai Dragons: Parker Foo, Jeremy Groleau, Ryley Sutter.
Dinamo Minsk: Yegor Borikov.
Milestone alert
Shanghai Dragons’ forward Alexander Burmistrov lines up for his 500th league appearance.
