High-scoring Metallurg ignites busy KHL matchday ahead of derby drama in Moscow
Five games pack tonight’s KHL schedule, headlined by Metallurg’s visit to Neftekhimik and capped off with the season’s first Moscow derby between Spartak and Dynamo. Sibir and Salavat Yulaev kick things off in Novosibirsk, Avangard face red-hot Severstal in Omsk, and Avtomobilist hosts Traktor in Yekaterinburg. With playoff races heating up and rivalries on display, fans can expect a dramatic evening from Magnitogorsk’s firepower to the high-stakes capital clash.
The KHL matchday starts again in Novosibirsk, with Sibir hosting Salavat Yulaev as the teams face off for the third time this season. Earlier, the teams traded wins (3:2 SO, 2:5). However, Sibir has five points more in the standings, despite winning only once in regulation – they’re currently leading the league with six shootout wins, and no SO losses. The Novosibirsk side has, however, two straight losses, including surrendering to Metallurg only in extra time on Tuesday (1:2 SO). Scoring has been a problem for Sibir, with only nine goals in the last five outings – as the team’s success in postgame shootouts suggests, the skills are there, but perhaps consistency and finishing are lagging behind. Salavat Yulaev is currently the last team in the Eastern Conference’s table, but has just achieved a nice win over Traktor. Blue-chip prospect Alexander Zharovsky keeps on impressing, being now on a three-game scoring streak and having eight points in his last nine matches.
15:30: Sibir (7-8-1, 10th E) vs Salavat Yulaev (4-10-2, 11th E)
About the game
Sibir enters the third game of a four-match home series on a two-game losing streak.
Salavat Yulaev starts a two-game road trip fresh off a win over Traktor on Tuesday (3:2).
The teams traded wins earlier in the season (3:2 SO, 2:5).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Alexander Zharovsky is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Injury list
Sibir: David Farrance.
Salavat Yulaev: Anton Berlyov, Pyotr Khokhryakov, Gleb Kuzmin, Alexei Pimenov, Dean Stewart, Dennis Yan.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Valentin Pyanov lines up for his 600th KHL game.
Salavat Yulaev’s defenseman Alexei Vasilevsky may reach 100 career assists (currently at 99).
In Omsk, Avangard will face a red hot Severstal, who won five straight matches and will seek a sixth win. The Steelers have hit their stride in October, showing top form in their last outings. Most recently, the club dispatched Admiral Vladivostok 4:1 on the road and edged Amur Khabarovsk in shootouts (3:2), while a 2:0 shutout of Avtomobilist capped a strong defensive showing. With a 16–6 goal ratio in these matches, Severstal have climbed into playoff contention and now eye further progress against Avangard today and the Shanghai Dragons on Sunday as the team flies back to Cherepovets. The hosts will be however also on a good form, with two wins in their last three matches, over Avtomobilist (3:2 OT) and Traktor on the road (8:5). With sixteen goals allowed in this stretch, however, the Hawks need to tighten up the defense.
16:30: Avangard (12-5-0, 3rd E) vs Severstal (11-6-0, 3rd W)
About the game
Avangard enters the second game of a five-match home series following a win over Avtomobilist on Saturday (3:2 OT).
Severstal ends a three-game road trip on a five-match winning streak.
Avangard’s forward Nikolai Prokhorkin is on a six-game scoring streak, with 7 (5+2) points over that span.
Avangard’s forward Konstantin Okulov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 8 (1+7) points.
Severstal’s forward Nikolai Chebykin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Avangard: Nail Yakupov.
Severstal: Vladimir Grudini, Adam Liska, Kirill Pilipenko, Kirill Tankov, Vladislav Tsitsyura, Grigory Vashchenko.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov may reach 250 KHL points (currently at 248).
Avangard’s goalie Nikita Serebryakov may reach 20 shutouts in the KHL.
After losing to Avangard, the Motormen returns to Yekaterinburg for one game as Traktor pays a visit to the Urals team trying to repeat its success earlier in the season, when 33 saves by Chris Driedger allowed the Black-and-Whites celebrate a 2:0 victory. Today, however, it will be a different game. Four points separate the teams in the standings, with Avtomobilist having the upper hand – albeit with one more played game. However, the Motormen have just two wins in their last five matches, despite the return of Stephane Da Costa and Brooks Macek from the Injury list. Traktor is doing slightly better, with three wins in the same stretch, but won just once in the last three matches. Both teams will be trying to bounce back and gain precious points.
17:00: Avtomobilist (11-6-2, 4th E) vs Traktor (8-6-4, 5th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist plays the lone road game of the series after losing to Avangard on Sunday (2:3 OT).
Traktor, who defeated Avtomobilist earlier in the season (2:0), is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Salavat Yulaev on Tuesday (2:3).
Traktor’s forward Joshua Leivo is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that stretch.
Traktor’s forward Mikhail Grigorenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Traktor’s forward Alexander Kadeikin had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Traktor’s defenseman Jordan Gross had an assist in each of his previous three games.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Reid Boucher, Stepan Khripunov, Maxim Osipov, Nikita Tryamkin, Sergei Zborovsky.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s forward Ilya Ovchinnikov may reach 100 league appearances.
In the last Eastern game of the day, Metallurg travels to Nizhnekamsk to face Neftekhimik for the second time in four days. Magnitka unleashed its attack, tallying four wins and a staggering 22 goals across their last five games. Highlights include a wild 9:6 win over Neftekhimik last week and a tight 2:1 road success on the road against Sibir, with only one stumble in this run, to Avangard (1:5). The team’s up-tempo game entertains and delivers results—the Foxes look like genuine title contenders as October winds down as they lead the league with 30 points. Against Sibir, Evgeny Kuznetsov remained without points for the first time this season. The Wolves had mixed success of late, with just two wins in their last five matches, including losses to Metallurg, Sibir (2:3 SO), and Amur (1:4). However, their two victories were big ones, in St. Petersburg (3:2 SO over SKA) and in Minsk (4:3 OT). Trying to improve the situation, Neftekhimik just parted ways with import forward Jean-Sebastien Dea.
19:00: Neftekhimik (9-8-1, 6th E) vs Metallurg (14-2-2, 1st E)
About the game
Neftekhimik starts a three-game home series after losing to Metallurg on Sunday (6:9).
Metallurg enters the second game of a four-match road trip on a three-game winning streak.
Neftekhimik’s forward Damir Zhafyarov had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling three helpers.
Neftekhimik’s forward Nikita Khoruzhev is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that stretch.
Metallurg’s forward Dmitry Silantyev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Metallurg’s defenseman Yegor Yakovlev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Alexander Dergachyov, Nikita Popugayev.
Metallurg: Andrei Kozlov.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Danil Yurtaikin may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
An exciting match day closes out with a Moscow derby between Spartak and Dynamo – the first this season. The Red-and-Whites enter today’s game after an exciting win over the Shanghai Dragons; with the Chinese franchise up by a whole three goals six minutes to the final hooter, Spartak rallied back and won after shootouts, even without Slovak Adam Ruzicka. It was the second straight shootout win for the Red-and-Whites, who also defeated Admiral on Friday (4:3 SO). Dynamo is currently trailing Spartak by two points, and the Blue-and-Whites will be trying to win today for a morale boost and a return to victory. However, Spartak won its last six home games against Dynamo.
19:30: Spartak (9-5-3, 6th W) vs Dynamo Moscow (8th W)
About the game
Spartak enters the second game of a four-match home series on a two-game winning streak.
Dynamo Moscow starts a three-game road trip after a loss to Lokomotiv on Monday (2:3).
Spartak’s forward Nathan Todd is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points over that span.
Dynamo Moscow forward Anton Slepyshev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Maxim Mamin, Artyom Mikheyev.
