Metallurg and Avangard set for another classic Eastern showdown
Four games light up today’s KHL slate, with two matchups in the Eastern Conference and two more in the West. In the East, Salavat Yulaev battles Barys in a key playoff race, while Metallurg and Avangard renew their classic rivalry in Magnitogorsk. Out West, Spartak hosts Avtomobilist as both chase valuable points, and CSKA seeks to bounce back at home against Lada in another crucial showdown.
The KHL matchday starts strong with two exciting confrontations in the Eastern Conference. First, a battle for a playoff spot takes place in Ufa, where Salavat Yulaev hosts Barys. It will be the third clash between the two teams this season, with the franchises trading wins earlier on, including a 2:1 Barys win less than a week ago. Salavat Yulaev enters today’s game after defeating Neftekhimik on Sunday, the same day when the Kazakhs fell to Avangard on home ice. Barys retains a two-point advantage over Salavat Yulaev, but what matters the most is that the team is on the right side of the playoff line.
17:00: Salavat Yulaev (11-15-3, 10th E) vs Barys (11-14-5, 8th E)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev plays the lone home game of the series following a win over Neftekhimik on Sunday (2:1).
Barys starts a three-game road trip after a home loss to Avangard also on Sunday (2:5).
The teams traded wins earlier in the season (2:1, 1:2).
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Gleb Kuzmin.
Barys: Nikita Boyarkin, Kirill Savitsky, Tyler Whoterspoon.
Milestone alert
Barys’ head coach Mikhail Kravets may celebrate his 200th KHL win.
The second Eastern game promises to be no less exciting, with Metallurg hosting Avangard in a classic matchup. It will be the third meeting between the two sides, and somewhat surprisingly, none of them has been a tight match, with both Metallurg and Avangard claiming a robust win. Magnitka appears to be in great shape, with three straight wins and the undisputed lead in the Eastern Conference’s table. Moreover, Andrei Razin’s men have eight wins in their last nine matches. Avangard, however, isn’t faring much worse; even if the Hawks lost their last game to Neftekhimik (5:6) with a goal coming on the last second, they had four straight wins before. Today’s game can easily go either way. After today’s confrontation, Avangard will fly back to Omsk, where the team will play the next two games, both against Western Conference opposition.
17:00: Metallurg (23-5-2, 1st E) vs Avangard (18-8-3, 3rd E)
About the game
Metallurg is in the middle of a three-game home series and won its previous three matches.
Avangard wraps up a five-game road trip following a narrow loss to Neftekhimik on Tuesday (5:6).
The teams traded wins earlier in the season (1:5, 4:1).
Metallurg’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov is on a nine-game scoring streak, with 16 (5+11) points over that span.
Metallurg’s defenseman Robin Press is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (2+6) points.
Metallurg’s forward Roman Kantserov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Metallurg’s forward Mikhail Fyodorov is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 3 (2+1) points.
Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov had at least an assist in each of his previous five matches, totaling six helpers, while forward Konstantin Okulov is on a three-game assist streak, with four total helpers.
Injury list
Metallurg: Andrei Kozlov.
Milestone alert
Avangard’s goalie Nikita Serebryakov may record his 20th league win.
Avangard’s head coach Guy Boucher may celebrate his 50th KHL win.
The action then moves to the Western Conference. First, Spartak hosts Avtomobilist. The Muscovites returned to winning games on Tuesday, shutting out Ak Bars after losing two straight games, to Dinamo Minsk (0:6) and Torpedo (3:4), respectively. The Red-and-Whites celebrated their fifteenth win of the season, but they have an eight-point gap to the Western top four. A win today would be key to avoid losing ground from the top teams. Avtomobilist will visit the Russian capital to start a brief road trip that will also bring the team to Novosibirsk. The Motormen lost their last outing, but had two straight wins before. As for the standings, Avtomobilist is the fourth seed in the East.
19:30: Spartak (15-12-3, 6th W) vs Avtomobilist (16-11-3, 4th E)
About the game
Spartak is in the middle of a three-game home series and defeated Ak Bars on Tuesday (1:0).
Avtomobilist, who defeated Spartak earlier in the season (5:4 SO), starts a two-game road trip after losing to Metallurg on Thursday (4:5).
Spartak’s goalie Artyom Zagidulin is on a 60:25 shutout streak.
Avtomobilist’s forward Reid Boucher is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.
Avtomobilist’s forward Roman Gorbunov had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Avtomobilist’s forward Brooks Macek is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Spartak: Dmitry Vishnevsky.
Avtomobilist: Sergei Zborovsky.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Yaroslav Busygin lines up for his 200th KHL game.
In the second Moscow game of the night, CSKA will seek a return to victory in a home match against Lada. The Togliatti side broke the trend in its last outing, collecting a win in Sochi for their first time ever (3:5), and boosting the gap between those teams to four points at the foot of the Western Conference standings. CSKA has instead lost its last couple of matches, including a fight for the eighth place in the West to SKA on Monday (1:4). With that loss, Igor Nikitin’s men fell below the playoff line, but they only have one point fewer than the St. Petersburg franchise. Today, CSKA will seek a return to victory.
19:30: CSKA (13-14-3, 9th W) vs Lada (10-17-3, 10th W)
About the game
CSKA, who defeated Lada earlier in the season (7:2), enters the second game of a four-match home series following two straight defeats.
Lada enters the third game of a four-match road trip after a win in Sochi on Tuesday (5:3).
Injury list
CSKA: Yegor Fateyev, Danila Moiseyev.
Lada: Alexei Ozhgikhin.
