Metallurg aims to extend winning streak at home against Avangard
Four games highlight the upcoming KHL match day. Neftekhimik seeks redemption against Sibir, while Metallurg’s home streak faces a serious test against Avangard. Barys and Torpedo, both eager to halt their own skids, meet in Astana for crucial playoff points. The marquee matchup features CSKA facing surging Ak Bars.
The KHL match day starts with Neftekhimik hosting Sibir. After an excellent start, the Wolves lost four games in a row, including twice to Amur, and slipped down to sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Neftekhimik also lost to Avtomobilist and Lada. Today, the Nizhnekamsk side will seek a return to victory when the team host Sibir. The guests aren’t in their best shape either, with just one win in their last five matches, over Sibir (1:0 SO). Today’s game may be a good chance for one of the team to celebrate a much-needed victory and perhaps start a winning streak to climb up in the East’s standings.
14:00: Neftekhimik (7-7-0, 6th E) vs Sibir (5-7-0, 10th E)
About the game
Neftekhimik ends a five-game home series on a four-match losing streak.
Sibir is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Lada on Friday (2:4).
Neftekhimik’s forward Damir Zhafyarov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Alexander Dergachyov, Nikita Popugayev, Maxim Sushko.
Sibir: Andrei Churkin, David Farrance, Ivan Klimovich.
Then, in Magnitogorsk, Metallurg faces Avangard in a top game in the Eastern Conference. Magnitka is on top of the Eastern Conference’s standing, with the Hawks following in third place. Both teams showed good so far in the season, but Avangard comes from two consecutive losses to Avtomobilist (1:4 at home, 0:3 on the road). Metallurg won its last five games, and Evgeny Kuznetsov’s adaptation started just fine, with the former Stanley Cup champion getting an assist in his first game as Magnitka defeated Torpedo 4:1 on Friday. Kuznetsov’s signing may be a key addition to an already strong lineup. Today’s challenge, however, will be even more serious, with Avangard coming to town in an exciting matchup. It’s the first clash between the two Eastern giants this season. It should be noted that Metallurg has only one regulation loss so far.
14:30: Metallurg (11-1-2, 1st E) vs Avangard (9-4-0, 3rd E)
About the game
Metallurg enters the second game of a four-match home series on a five-game winning streak.
Avangard enters the second game of a four-match road trip following two straight losses to Avtomobilist.
Metallurg’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov had at least an assist in each of his previous nine matches, totaling twelve helpers.
Metallurg’s forward Daniil Vovchenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Metallurg’s defenseman Yegor Yakovlev is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Metallurg’s defenseman Valery Orekhov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Avangard: Nail Yakupov.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s defenseman Yegor Yakovlev lines up for his 800th league apperance.
Avangard’s goalie Nikita Serebryakov may record his 20th KHL shutout.
In the last game in the Eastern Conference, Barys faces Torpedo. Despite showing a much better game than last season, Barys is struggling lately, with just one win in its last four matches. However, two of these four defeats came in extra time, thus still giving Barys precious points for their playoffs push. Their last three losses were all by a very narrow margin, and the Astana side remains a candidate for postseason qualification in the East. Torpedo is also struggling and is on a four-game losing streak, with defensive weakness showing (18 goals allowed in 4 losses). Since the Oct. 1 win over SKA (3:2 OT), the team has struggled at the back and failed to score more than once per game except for a high-scoring Severstal loss (3:5 on Oct. 3). Today’s game will be a real clash as both teams will be hunting for points. Despite the setback, Torpedo remains in fourth place in the Western Conference’s table.
14:30: Barys (5-6-3, 7th E) vs Torpedo (8-6-1, 4th W)
About the game
Barys starts a five-game home series on a four-match losing streak.
Torpedo is in the middle of a three-game road trip and equally lost its last four matches.
Injury list
Barys: Alikhan Asetov, Nikita Boyarkin, Tyce Thompson.
In the last game of the series, CSKA faces Ak Bars in another high-stakes matchup. The Muscovites enter today’s match in a mixed form: with two wins and three losses, they alternated success and defeats, showed defensive lapses and occasional offensive surges, but were inconsistent in close games. The Kazan side has been in much better form. Ak Bars won four of its last five matches: offense is clicking, with only one defensive setback. Recent wins were mostly against teams lower in standings, but momentum is clearly building for Kazan after a rocky start to the season. Moreover, CSKA’s last home win over Ak Bars in the Russian championship is dated Sept. 3, 2019 (3:2).
17:00: CSKA (6-5-2, 8th W) vs Ak Bars (7-5-1, 5th E)
About the game
CSKA plays the lone home game of the series following a loss to Dynamo Moscow on Friday (3:4 SO).
Ak Bars starts a four-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
Ak Bars’ forward Vladimir Alistrov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ defensemen Mitchell Miller and Ilya Karpukhin both had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Nikita Lyamkin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that stretch.
Injury list
CSKA: Yegor Fateyev, Danila Moiseyev.
Ak Bars: Albert Yarullin.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s defenseman Dmitry Samorukov lines up for his 100th league appearance.
