Lokomotiv hosts Shanghai Dragons, HC Sochi faces Salavat Yulaev

It’s a light KHL Wednesday after yesterday’s jam-packed lineup, with only two games on tap, both in the West. In Yaroslavl, Lokomotiv hosts the Shanghai Dragons, while HC Sochi faces off with Salavat Yulaev.

After a sensational shutout home loss to Barys (0:4) that costed assistant coach Dmitry Ryabykin his position in the team’s staff, the Railwaymen returned to win defeating Salavat Yulaev in extra time (4:3 OT) with Maxim Shalunov netting the game-winner at just one second to the final horn. Lokomotiv is thus leading the Western Conference’s table, with the hosts having climbed up to sixth after their win in Novosibirsk. Earlier in the season, on Sept. 12, the Dragons celebrated a 4:1 win with two points from Will Reilly from the blue line. Gerard Gallant’s team has, however, only two wins in the last five matches.

19:00: Lokomotiv (19-7-2, 1^st W) vs Shanghai Dragons (12-8-6, 6^th W)
About the game

Lokomotiv is in the middle of a five-game home series and defeated Salavat Yulaev on Monday (4:3 OT).

The Shanghai Dragons, who defeated Lokomotiv earlier in the season, end a four-game road trip following a win over Sibir (3:0).

Shanghai Dragons’ forward Nick Merkley is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that stretch.

Injury list

Lokomotiv: Richard Panik, Andrei Sergeyev, Daniil Tesanov, Alexander Volkov.

Shanghai Dragons: Parker Foo, Jeremy Groleau.

Disqualifications

Shanghai Dragons’ forward Austin Wagner serves a one-game ban.

Milestone alert

Lokomotiv’s forwards Maxim Beryozkin and Georgy Ivanov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently both at 99).

Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10^th KHL shutout.

Shanghai Dragons’ defenseman Doyle Somerby lines up for his 200^th league appearance.

In the second game of the match day, Salavat Yulaev pays a visit to HC Sochi. The Ufa team already defeated the Black Sea franchise on Oct. 5, but both sides suffered from extra time losses in their most recent outing. With 17 points, HC Sochi remains last in the Western Conference. Salavat Yulaev, with 23 points, continues to fight for a spot in the East’s top eight. The participation of Ufa defenseman Grigory Panin in the upcoming game is in doubt, as he suffered a minor concussion while blocking a shot in the previous match against Lokomotiv – that may be a significant loss for Salavat Yulaev.

19:30: HC Sochi (6-14-5, 11^th W) vs Salavat Yulaev (13-13-3, 9^th E)
About the game

HC Sochi is in the middle of a five-game home series and lost to Barys on Monday (1:2 OT).

Salavat Yulaev, who defeated HC Sochi earlier in the season (3:1), enters the second game of a four-match road trip following a loss to Lokomotiv also on Monday (3:4 OT).

Salavat Yulaev’s forward Jake Rodewald is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.

Injury list

HC Sochi: Matvei Guskov, Noel Hoefenmayer, Ilya Samsonov.

Salavat Yulaev: Daniil Alalykin, Anton Berlyov, Dennis Yan, Nikita Zorkin.

Milestone alert

HC Sochi’s forward Sergei Popov lines up for his 200^th league appearance.

HC Sochi’s goalie Pavel Khomchenko may record his 10^th KHL shutout.