Igor Nikitin returns to Yaroslavl, five games on tap today
Five games are scheduled on an exciting KHL Wednesday, starting with two confrontations in the Far East with Amur hosting Spartak and Admiral welcoming Lada. Then, in the West, all the eyes will be in Yaroslavl, here Lokomotiv hosts Igor Nikitin’s CSKA in his first road game against his former team. In the remaining games, Severstal faces Avtomobilist and SKA entertains Neftekhimik.
The KHL matchday starts in the Far East, first with Amur welcoming Spartak. The Tigers lost their last six games to the Red-and-Whites and will be trying to revert the trend to gain points to climb up in the Eastern Conference. Amur won its last couple of games – both on the road against Neftekhimik (2:1, 4:1), and will try to stretch its winning streak on home ice. Spartak has equally won its last two matches, over the Shanghai Dragons (3:0) and Salavat Yulaev (2:1), respectively, and is still seeking a top four spot in the Western Conference’s table. Alexei Zhamnov’s possible victory milestone may add a layer of motivation for the guests.
12:15: Amur (5-6-2, 8th E) vs Spartak (7-4-3, 5th W)
About the game
Amur starts a three-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Spartak starts a two-game road trip also on a two-match winning streak.
Spartak’s goalie Dmitry Nikolayev is on a 68:59 shutout streak.
Spartak’s defenseman Daniil Orlov had an assist in each of his previous four matches.
Injury list
Amur: Roman Abrosimov, Artur Gizdatullin.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s head coach Alexei Zhamnov may celebrate his 100th KHL win.
Then, in Vladivostok, Admiral hosts Lada. It’ll be the second clash between the two sides this season, on Oct. 5, with the Sailors claiming an extra time win with a goal by Nikita Tertyshny (2:1 OT). It was Admiral’s latest game, while the Togliatti side went on and played another two games, defeating HC Sochi (3:1) and Sibir (4:2) at home, before departing for the Far East. These two wins allowed Lada to surpass HC Sochi in the West’s standings in tenth place, while Admiral is now trailing Amur in the East. In two days, the Far East sides will swap opposition.
12:30: Admiral (5-4-2, 9th E) vs Lada (4-8-2, 10th W)
About the game
Admiral, who defeated Lada earlier in the season (2:1 OT), starts a three-game home series on a two-game winning streak.
Lada starts a three-game road trip also after two straight victories.
Lada’s forward Nikita Mikhailov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Admiral: Ostap Safin, Alexander Shepelev.
Lada: Danila Dyadenkin, Alexei Ozhgikhin.
The action the moves to the Western Conference for three games. In Cherepovets, Severstal will try to stretch its winning streak to three games after celebrating wins over HC Sochi (3:0) and Lokomotiv (4:3). Today’s opposition is Avtomobilist. The Motormen won their previous six matches before falling to SKA on Monday (1:2). They’re still the third seed in the Eastern Conference, being surpassed by Avangard after their win yesterday. Avtomobilist’s success is even more impressive if considering the sheer number of injured players they had throughout the whole campaign so far. After today’s game, Severstal will fly back to Cherepovets – it will be a tough road trip as the Steelers have several injured skaters as well.
19:00: Severstal (8-6-0, 7th W) vs Avtomobilist (10-5-1, 3rd E)
About the game
Severstal ends a three-game home series on a three-game winning streak.
Avtomobilist enters the second game of a four-match road trip after losing to SKA on Monday (1:2).
Severstal’s forward Mikhail Ilyin is on a six-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Daniil Aimurzin had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Avtomobilist’s goalie Vladimir Galkin is on a 116:19 shutout streak.
Injury list
Severstal: Ilya Ivantsov, Adam Liska, Kirill Pilipenko, Artyom Shchuchinov, Kirill Tankov.
Avtomobilist: Stephane Da Costa, Stepan Khripunov, Brooks Macek, Maxim Osipov, Nikita Tryamkin, Sergei Zborovsky.
The central stage, however, will be in Yaroslavl, where Lokomotiv hosts CSKA. This will be an emotionally charged return for Igor Nikitin to Yaroslavl, where he led the Railwaymen to their first Gagarin Cup championship last season. Lokomotiv has had the upper hand in recent direct encounters, with a 5:1 win in Moscow on Sept. 18, and their defensive identity—imposed and refined by Nikitin—is still a hallmark. CSKA will be motivated to spoil the reunion, but recent results put pressure on them to reverse the trend, especially facing their ex-coach’s system on the road. Moreover, the Muscovites will want to return to playoffs places. Despite a recent loss to Severstal, Lokomotiv keeps on leading the Western Conference’s standings.
19:00: Lokomotiv (9-4-2, 1st W) vs CSKA (6-6-2, 9th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv, who defeated CSKA earlier this season (5:1), plays the lone home game of the series following a loss to Severstal on Monday (3:4).
CSKA starts a two-game road trip on a two-match losing streak.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Andrei Sergeyev, Daniil Tesanov, Alexander Volkov.
CSKA: Danila Moiseyev.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th KHL shutout.
Closing out an exciting KHL Wednesday is SKA facing Neftekhimik. The two teams are in similar position, with the Wolves losing their last five matches, and SKA halting a five-game losing streak only on Monday with a 2:1 home win over Avtomobilist. That win allowed the St. Petersburg franchise to climb back to the eighth spot in the West, but they will clearly want more. Neftekhimik’s setback got the Wolves slipping down to sixth place in the Eastern Conference’s tables. Igor Grishin will need his team to end its offensive struggles and return the offensive power it was in the early season. Moreover, SKA won its previous five home game against Neftekhimik.
19:30: SKA (6-5-3, 8th W) vs Neftekhimik (7-7-1, 6th E)
About the game
SKA ends a two-game home series following a win over Avtomobilist on Monday (2:1).
Neftekhimik starts a three-game road trip on a five-match losing streak.
SKA’s forward Mikhail Vorobyov had an assist in each of his previous four matches.
Injury list
SKA: Ivan Zinchenko.
Neftekhimik: Alexander Dergachyov, Nikita Popugayev, Maxim Sushko.
