Coaching shakeups steal the spotlight on a busy KHL Tuesday
Seven games headline today’s packed KHL slate, starting with the heated Traktor–Metallurg showdown in Chelyabinsk and the fourth-season meeting between Avtomobilist and Neftekhimik. Lada hosts Avangard as both teams look to build on recent wins, while Ak Bars and CSKA clash again in Kazan. Severstal and Dinamo Minsk battle in a high-tempo matchup, before Dynamo Moscow and Spartak renew their derby rivalry. The day wraps up with Torpedo welcoming Admiral in Nizhny Novgorod.
The KHL matchday starts with a hot game in Chelyabinsk between Traktor and Metallurg. The regional rivalry always makes for memorable encounters, but today marks the first game in Chelyabinsk for Magnitka’s Evgeny Kuznetsov after his move to his new team. The forward enters the game in good shape, with two assists in the last couple of games and seven helpers in ten matches this season. Kuznetsov’s assist was however not enough for Metallurg to defeat SKA in the last game, which the team lost in St. Petersburg (3:4), marking the first loss in November for Magnitka after five straight wins. The Chelyabinsk side will face today’s game after partying ways with head coach Benoit Groulx. After reaching the Gagarin Cup finals in the 2024-2025 season, Traktor is now in a disappointing sixth place in the Eastern Conference’s table, and has lost its last couple of matches, to Avangard (2:3) and Avtomobilist (1:5), having only two wins in the last five games. It will be the first meeting between the two regional rivals this season.
17:00: Traktor (13-10-5, 6th E) vs Metallurg (20-5-2, 1st E)
About the game
Traktor enters the second game of a five-match home series on a two-game losing streak.
Metallurg is in the middle of a three-game road trip and loss to SKA on Sunday (3:4).
Metallurg’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 11 (4+7) points over that stretch.
Metallurg’s forward Derek Barach is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Metallurg’s forward Sergei Tolchinsky is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Metallurg: Andrei Kozlov.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s defenseman Sergei Telegin may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
Metallurg’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov may become the eleventh player in league’s history to reach 300 assists (currently at 297).
In the meantime, Avtomobilist faces Neftekhimik as the teams meet for the fourth time in the current campaign. The Wolves claimed two wins so far, and the Motormen have the chance to tie up the season series and build on their latest win – in Chelyabinsk (5:1). The Wolves have instead lost their last game, to Lada (1:2), and the teams flip flopped their spot in the standings, with Avtomobilist returning to the East’s top four. After today’s game, Neftekhimik will return home, where the team will play a long, eight-game home stand, featuring two clashes with both Ak Bars and Avangard.
17:00: Avtomobilist (15-10-3, 4th E) vs Neftekhimik (15-12-1, 5th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist starts a two-game home series following a win over Traktor on Sunday (5:1).
Neftekhimik ends a two-game road trip and lost to Lada also on Sunday (1:2).
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (1:4, 2:5, 5:2).
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Semyon Kizimov, Nikita Tryamkin, Sergei Zborovsky.
Neftekhimik: Alexander Dergachyov, Nikita Popugayev.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s forward Nikita Shashkov may line up for his 300th league appearance.
In Togliatti, Lada will also try to build on its latest win in a home game against Avangard. The Togliatti side is in good shape of late, with three wins and a shootout loss in the last five matches. The team remains in tenth place in the West, and the playoff line seven points above – it’s still a long way for Lada, despite the recent form and success. The Omsk side won its last couple of matches, over Traktor (3:2) and Torpedo (6:2), and is now the third seed in the Eastern Conference’s standings.
18:00: Lada (9-15-3, 10th W) vs Avangard (16-7-3, 3rd E)
About the game
Lada ends a two-game home series following a win over Neftekhimik on Sunday (2:1).
Avangard enters the second game of a five-match road trip on a two-game winning streak.
Lada’s goalie Alexander Trushkov is on a 60:28 shutout streak.
Lada’s forward Andrei Chivilyov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Lada’s defenseman Mac Holloway is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Lada: Alexei Ozhgikhin.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s goalie Nikita Serebryakov may record his 20th KHL shutout.
In the last Eastern game of the match day, Ak Bars faces CSKA as the teams meet for the second time this season. On Oct. 12, Ak Bars claimed a 3:2 victory in Moscow, and today the team will try to repeat the feat on home ice, also hoping to bounce back after a heavy 3:7 home loss to Dinamo Minsk. The Muscovites also are in a downward trend, with two consecutive defeats, to Neftekhimik (2:3) and Severstal (3:4 OT), respectively. CSKA is now on a disappointing ninth place in the Western Conference’s standings, while Ak Bars remains the second-best team in the East. Today’s game will be a real battle in Kazan.
19:00: Ak Bars (17-8-2, 2nd E) vs CSKA (12-12-3, 9th W)
About the game
Ak Bars, who defeated CSKA earlier in the season (3:2), ends a three-game home series following a loss to Dinamo Minsk on Sunday (3:7).
CSKA enters the third game of a four-match road trip on a two-game losing streak.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Kirill Lyamkin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (1+5) points over that stretch.
Ak Bars’ forward Dmitrij Jaskin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 8 (5+3) points.
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Chmelevsky is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 3 (1+2) points.
CSKA’s forward Daniel Sprong is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Albert Yarullin.
CSKA: Ivan Drozdov, Yegor Fateyev, Danila Moiseyev, Dmitry Samorukov, Colby Williams.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Chmelevsky may reach 100 KHL goals (currently at 99).
After defeating CSKA, Severstal faces Dinamo Minsk in a high-octane matchup today. Both teams are in excellent shape, and have an active winning streak, and both teams show interesting, offensive hockey with a stress on offensive plays. The game promises to be an exciting one, but the Steelers collected an impressive streak of eight straight home wins over the Belarusians, who will be looking to revert the trend. Only one point separates the teams in the standings, with Dinamo Minsk having the upper hand. So far. After today’s game, the Bison will return home, where they will play the next couple of matches.
19:30: Severstal (18-9-0, 4th W) vs Dinamo Minsk (17-6-3, 3rd W)
About the game
Severstal enters the second game of an eight-match home series on a two-game winning streak.
Dinamo Minsk ends a two-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Sam Anas is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that stretch.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vitaly Pinchuk is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 5 (3+2) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Yegor Borikov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Ilya Usov had at least a goal in each of his previous three games, totaling four tallies.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Daniil Lipsky is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Severstal: Vladislav Tsitsyura.
Dinamo Minsk: Xavier Ouellet.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may reach 400 KHL games and 30 league shutouts.
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Zach Fucale may record his 20th KHL shutout.
In Moscow, another team will enter today’s game after a change in the coaching lineup, with Alexei Kudashov being dismissed by Dynamo after the team had only two wins in the last five matches and is in fifth place in the Western Conference’s standings. Vyacheslav Kozlov will now be the acting head coach and will have his debut in this role in the KHL. The long-time NHL player and two-time Gagarin Cup champion was an assistant also for the Kunlun Red Star, Avangard, and Spartak – he also spent two seasons as his home club, Khimik Voskresensk’s head coach in the VHL. Today’s Moscow derby will thus be an exciting one, with the Blue-and-Whites trying to repeat their Oct. 23 success, when Dynamo scored five unanswered goals to Spartak. The Red-and-Whites lost their last couple of matches, to Lokomotiv (3:6) and Severstal (3:4), and today’s derby may be a great chance to bounce back and improve the team’s record. Spartak
19:30: Dynamo Moscow (16-9-1, 5th W) vs Spartak (13-10-3, 7th W)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow, who defeated Spartak earlier in the season (5:0), starts a five-game home series fresh off a win over Sibir on Sunday (3:2).
Spartak starts a three-game road trip on a two-match losing streak.
Spartak’s forwards Ivan Morozov and Danil Pivchulin are on an identical three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Artyom Mikheyev.
Spartak: Nikita Buruyanov, German Rubtsov, Ivan Vorobyov.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Igor Ozhiganov lines up for his 800th league appearance.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Dylan Sikura reaches 100 KHL games.
Dynamo Moscow’s goalie Maxim Motorygin may celebrate his 50th KHL win.
In the closing game of the match day, Torpedo faces Admiral. The Nizhny Novgorod franchise suffered from a loss to Avangard (2:6) after seven straight wins, failing to surpass Lokomotiv on the top of the Western standings. The team will thus be trying to bounce back in a home game against the Sailors, who lacked consistency in the first part of the season and are now in tenth place in the Eastern Conference despite two consecutive wins, including in the Far East derby over Amur on Sunday (5:2). Today’s game promises to be an exciting one for the Nizhny Novgorod fans.
19:30: Torpedo (18-9-2, 2nd W) vs Admiral (9-11-4, 10th E)
About the game
Torpedo enters the fourth game of a six-match home series following a loss to Avangard on Sunday (2:6).
Admiral enters the second game of a four-match road trip on a two-game winning streak.
Torpedo’s forward Alexei Kruchinin is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (2+5) points over that stretch.
Torpedo’s defenseman Bobby Nardella had at least an assist in each of his previous four matches, totaling five helpers.
Torpedo’s forward Anatoly Firstov tallied a goal in each of his previous three games.
Admiral’s forward Daniil Gutik, who lines up for his 200th KHL game today, is on a four-match scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
Admiral’s defenseman Libor Sulak is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Injury list
Torpedo: Mikhail Naumenkov, Nikita Rozhkov.
Admiral: Mario Grman, Alexander Shepelev, Nikita Soshnikov.
