Admiral hosts Amur, Dynamo Moscow and Lokomotiv meet at a turning point
Four games are on schedule, two for each conference. Starting off is the Far East derby between Admiral and Amur, then Traktor tries to halt its skid in a home game against the Shanghai Dragons. In the West, Dynamo Moscow meets Lokomotiv, and Severstal hosts SKA in two exciting battles.
The KHL match day starts early with a bang as Admiral and Amur collide again for the third Far East derby of the season. The two franchises traded wins earlier in the season. Admiral heads into the new matchup on a five-game point streak. In their last two outings, Leonids Tambijev’s men fell on the road to Severstal (2:3 OT) and Metallurg (3:4 SO). Amur, meanwhile, missed the chance to pick up a third straight win, losing two days earlier in Moscow to Dynamo (2:4). In the standings, the two Far Eastern clubs are direct rivals in the race for a playoff spot. The Tigers holds a two-point edge over the hosts, but the table is so tight that four teams are simultaneously battling for two spots in the top eight — meaning any result could dramatically shift the picture.
12:30: Admiral (10-11-6, 9th E) vs Amur (12-13-4, 7th E)
Admiral starts a five-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Amur ends a four-game road trip following a loss to Dynamo Moscow on Monday (2:4).
The season series between the two teams is (2:3, 5:2).
Admiral’s forward Stepan Starkov had an assist in each of his last five matches.
Admiral’s defenseman Georgy Solyannikov had an assist in each of his last three games.
Amur’s forward Alex Galchenyuk is on a six-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points over that stretch.
Amur’s forward Oleg Li had an assist in each of his previous three games.
Amur’s forward Alex Broadhurst is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
Admiral: Mario Grman, Nikita Soshnikov.
Amur: Roman Abrosimov.
In Chelyabinsk, Traktor will try to halt its skid, now at four straight games. The Chelyabinsk side is navigating a very difficult stretch following the departure of head coach Benoit Groulx. The team is currently on a four-game losing streak, the latest setback coming against Amur (4:6). In the aftermath, the hosts terminated the contract of Chris Driedger, who never managed to settle into the role of the number one goalie. With 31 points, the Ural club sits sixth in the Eastern Conference, though its cushion over the teams below is shrinking with each game. The Shanghai Dragons, meanwhile, occupy sixth place in the West with 33 points. Their last two outings both went beyond regulation — a 4:3 OT win over Lokomotiv and a 2:3 SO loss to Ak Bars. The Dragons have the upper hand in the season series between the two teams.
17:00: Traktor (13-12-5, 6th E) vs Shanghai Dragons (13-8-7, 6th W)
About the game
Traktor enters the fourth game of a five-match home series on a four-game losing streak.
The Shanghai Dragons, who defeated Traktor earlier in the season (5:4 OT), start a three-game road trip following a home loss to Ak Bars on Sunday (2:3 SO).
Injury list
Shanghai Dragons: Jake Bischoff, Parker Foo, Jeremy Groleau.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s defenseman Sergei Telegin may score his 100th KHL point (currently at 99).
The action then moves to the Western Conference for two games. Dynamo Moscow will face Lokomotiv for the second time this season in a Russian classic matchup. The first meeting between the two went to Yaroslavl (3:2 on Oct. 20). Two days ago, the Blue-and-Whites earned their first win since parting ways with Alexei Kudashov. Under interim head coach Vyacheslav Kozlov, the team defeated Amur (4:2). With 36 points, Dynamo sits fifth in the Western Conference. Forward Nikita Gusev is expected to return to the lineup soon. Lokomotiv, thanks to a 4:1 victory over Sibir — their first win in the last three games — regained the top spot in the conference. Their lead over Severstal is just one point, though Cherepovets still has a game in hand.
19:30: Dynamo Moscow (17-10-2, 5th W) vs Lokomotiv (20-8-3, 1st W)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow enters the fourth game of a five-match home series following a win over Amur on Monday (4:2).
Lokomotiv, who defeated Dynamo Moscow earlier in the season (3:2), starts a two-game road trip fresh off a win over Sibir also on Monday (4:1).
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Maxime Comtois is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Radulov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points over that stretch.
Lokomotiv’s forward Yegor Surin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Kirill Gotovets, Artyom Mikheyev.
Lokomotiv: Andrei Sergeyev, Daniil Tesanov.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Martin Gernat lines up for his 200th KHL appearance.
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Radulov may record his 500th KHL assists (currently at 499), while Maxim Beryozkin may reach 100 (currently at 99).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th league shutout.
The match day ends with a showdown between Severstal and SKA. The Steelers, riding a five-game winning streak, continue their long-distance battle with Lokomotiv for the top spot in the Western Conference. SKA’s road trip began with a 4–1 win over CSKA — St. Petersburg’s second straight victory — which lifted the team back into the playoff zone with 30 points. Three days ago, the hosts denied Lada a single goal (2:0). Severstal head coach Andrei Kozyrev is one victory away from his 100th win in the League. Will he reach that milestone against SKA — an organization where he previously worked?
19:30: Severstal (21-9-0, 2nd W) vs SKA (13-10-4, 8th W)
About the game
Severstal enters the fifth game of an eight-match home series on a five-game winning streak.
SKA enters the second game of a six-match road trip after two consecutive victories.
Severstal’s goalie Alexander Samoilov is on a 65:49 shutout streak.
Severstal’s forward Daniil Aimurzin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Severstal’s forward Ilya Ivantsov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
SKA’s defenseman Trevor Murphy had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
SKA’s forward Rocco Grimaldi is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Injury list
Severstal: Makar Fomin, Ilya Kvochko, Vladislav Tsitsyura.
SKA: Matvei Korotky, Vladislav Romanov, Nikita Zaitsev.
Milestone alert
Severstal’s goalie Alexander Samoilov may celebrate his 50th KHL win, while head coach Andrei Kozyrev may reach 100.
SKA’s forward Andrei Loktionov may record his 200th KHL assist (currently at 199).
