Metallurg seeks yet another win in Novosibirsk; another three games on tap today
Another exciting match day rolls out starting in the Far East, with Admiral facing Severstal. Metallurg pays a visit to Sibir and Salavat Yulaev hosts Traktor in the remaining Eastern games. In the West, Spartak faces off with the Shanghai Dragons.
The KHL Tuesday starts in Vladivostok, with Admiral seeking a return to victory when the Sailors host Severstal. After falling to Spartak on Friday on extra time (3:4 SO), Admiral won three games in a row, defeating Lada twice (2:1 OT on the road and 6:1 at home) and HC Sochi (5:4). With their renewed form, Admiral have climbed up in the East, remaining in playoff contention despite a significant gap to the conference leaders. The Sailors are currently the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, but they played, for example, five games fewer than eighth-placed Barys. The Cherepovets side has won seven and lost three over the last ten matches, posting 31 goals for and 21 against, averaging just above three goals scored per outing. The team is currently on a four-win run. Severstal also had two shutouts recently, defeating without allowing goals Avtomobilist on Wednesday (2:0) and HC Sochi on Oct. 9 (3:0). Today’s game can easily go either side. Yesterday, Admiral parted ways with Czech-born forward Ostap Safin, who joined the team this summer.
12:30: Admiral (6-4-3, 9th E) vs Severstal (10-6-0, 6th W)
About the game
Admiral ends a three-game home series and lost to Spartak on Friday (3:4 SO).
Severstal is in the middle of a three-game road trip and won its previous four matches.
Injury list
Admiral: Mario Grman, Alexander Shepelev.
Severstal: Vladimir Grudinin, Adam Liska, Kirill Pilipenko, Kirill Tankov, Vladislav Tsitsyura, Grigory Vashchenko.
Milestone alert
Admiral may celebrate its 300th KHL win.
In Novosibirsk, Sibir will host Metallurg as the teams have their second meeting today, with Magnitka claiming the first match (3:2). The Magnitogorsk side have won four of their last five, including an explosive offensive showing in the most recent game, a strong 9:6 victory over Neftekhimik, with Vladimir Tkachyov scoring an impressive 5 (1+4) points. The team’s form is defined by high scoring and dominant attacking play, making them a key threat in the league right now as they lead the league’s standings with 28 points and eleven regulation wins. Metallurg also won its last five matches in Novosibirsk. Sibir will however try to fight back as they are in decent shape lately, with three wins in five games – all after postgame shootouts. The Novosibirsk side is currently the tenth seed in a tight Eastern Conference table.
15:30: Sibir (7-8-0, 10th E) vs Metallurg (13-2-2, 1st E)
About the game
Sibir enters the second game of a four-match home series following a loss to Ak Bars on Thursday (1:4).
Metallurg, who defeated Sibir earlier in the season (3:2), starts a four-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
Sibir’s defenseman Yegor Alanov had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Metallurg’s forward Evgeny Kuznetsov had at least an assist in each of his previous four games, totaling five helpers.
Metallurg’s forward Yegor Korobkin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Sibir: David Farrance.
Metallurg: Andrei Kozlov.
In the last today’s game of the Eastern Conference, Salavat Yulaev hosts Traktor for a rematch. The two teams faced on Thursday in Chelyabinsk, with usual suspect Joshua Leivo netting the game-winner with fewer than two minutes and a half to the final hooter. Today, the forward will play his first game in Ufa after moving from Salavat Yulaev to Traktor this summer. The Chelyabinsk side won three games out of its last five, also defeating Lokomotiv (3:1) and Barys (3:2 OT), with setbacks in games against Avangard (5:8) and Dinamo Minsk (1:4). Traktor is currently sitting in fifth place in the East, with Salavat Yulaev at the bottom with just eight points. The Ufa team lost its previous five games, but also won nine straight home games against Traktor. Trying to improve the situations, they just acquired forward Devin Brosseau from Dynamo Moscow.
17:00: Salavat Yulaev (3-10-2, 11th E) vs Traktor (8-5-4, 5th E)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev plays the lone road game of the series on a five-match losing streak.
Traktor starts a three-game road trip fresh off a win over Salavat Yulaev on Thursday (2:1).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Maxim Kuznetsov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Traktor’s forward Joshua Leivo is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.
Traktor’s forward Yegor Korshkov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Pyotr Khokhryakov, Oleg Kuzmin, Dean Stewart.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s defenseman Alexei Vasilevsky may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
Traktor’s forward Andrei Svetlakov may score his 100th league tally (currently at 99).
The action then moves to the Western Conference for an exciting showdown between Spartak and the Shanghai Dragons. It will be the third clash between the two sides, with the teams trading wins so far in the regular season. Spartak won three of its last five games, including a 3:0 shutout over the Dragons and a 4:3 SO win at Admiral, but conceded fourteen goals in this stretch. The Shanghai Dragons grabbed three victories themselves, each by one-goal margins, pushed Dynamo and others to the wire, and kept all but one game (against Spartak) within a single goal. Both teams remain unpredictable, trading big efforts and tight matches. The Dragons have so far the upper hand in the standings.
19:30: Spartak (8-5-3, 7th W) vs Shanghai Dragons (9-3-3, 3rd W)
About the game
Spartak starts a four-game home series fresh off a win over Admiral on Friday (4:3 SO).
The Shanghai Dragons start a three-game road trip following a loss to Dynamo Moscow on Thursday (2:3 SO).
The teams traded wins so far this season (1:3, 3:0).
Spartak’s forward Adam Ruzicka is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that stretch.
Spartak’s forward Nathan Todd and Shanghai Dragons’ forward Gage Quinney are also on a four-game scoring streak, but with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
Shanghai Dragons: Parker Foo, Spencer Foo, Jeremy Groleau, Riley Sutter.
Milestone alert
The Shanghai Dragons may celebrate their 200th KHL win.
