Severstal and Lokomotiv battle for the Western Conference summit

Five games headline an action-packed Friday across the KHL, with battles unfolding in both conferences. Traktor hosts HC Sochi to close its home stretch, while Neftekhimik takes on the Shanghai Dragons in Nizhnekamsk. Ak Bars and SKA clash in a heavyweight matchup before the spotlight shifts West, where Torpedo meets Dinamo Minsk in a key showdown. The night ends with Severstal and Lokomotiv fighting for the Western Conference’s top spot.

After a record-breaking win over the Shanghai Dragons, Traktor returns to action with HC Sochi coming to Chelyabinsk. On Wednesday, Traktor went one better than last year’s 8:0 drubbing of Barys, and young goalie Savely Sherstnev marked his full debut with a shutout. The win over the Dragons came in right on time after Traktor suffered from four straight losses and had a turnover on the coaching staff. The team is currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference’s table. HC Sochi is on the foot of the West’s standings, and have four losses in the last five matches.

17:00: Traktor (14-12-5, 6th E) vs HC Sochi (7-16-5, 11th W)
About the game
Traktor, who defeated HC Sochi earlier in the season (4:3 OT), ends a five-game home series following a win over the Shanghai Dragons on Wednesday (9:0).
HC Sochi starts a four-game road trip on a two-match losing streak.
Traktor’s goalie Savely Sherstnev is on a 99:48 shutout streak.
Traktor’s forward Joshua Leivo is on a three-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points over that stretch.
Traktor’s forwards Mikhail Grigorenko and Vitaly Kravtsov are also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 6 (1+5) points.
Traktor’s defenseman Grigory Dronov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Matvei Guskov, Noel Hoefenmayer, Maxim Sushko, Denis Vengryzhanovsky.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Vitaly Kravtsov may record his 100th assist in the KHL (currently at 99).
Traktor can celebrate its 600th KHL win.

The Shanghai Dragons will seek revenge for that heavy defeat to Traktor in a road game against Neftekhimik. The 0:9 in Chelyabinsk marked the Dragons’ second straight loss as the teams also lost to Ak Bars at home five days ago. The Chinese franchise slipped down to seventh place in the Western Conference’s standings, just one point above SKA, who plays today in Kazan, and the playoff line. On Tuesday, a spectacular comeback from Neftekhimik turned a 2:5 deficit to Avangard into a 6:5 win in the final second of a pulsating game in Nizhnekamsk that allowed the Wolves returning to win after four straight losses. As for the standings, Neftekhimik is just one spot above the top four in the Eastern Conference.

19:00: Neftekhimik (16-15-1, 5th E) vs Shanghai Dragons (13-9-7, 7th W)
About the game
Neftekhimik enters the fourth game of an eight-match home series following a win over Avangard on Tuesday (6:5).
The Shanghai Dragons are in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost their previous two matches.
Neftekhimik’s forward Nikita Khoruzhev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Raul Yakupov.
Shanghai Dragons: Jake Bischoff, Parker Foo, Jeremy Groleau.
Milestone alert
Shanghai Dragons’ goalie Andrei Tikhomirov may line up for his 200th KHL game.

In the last Eastern game of the day, Ak Bars hosts SKA. Despite a certain lack of consistency, the Kazan side is the third team in the East and is never an easy team to deal with. However, their offense was uninspired on Tuesday, with the team failing to score on Spartak’s Artyom Zagidulin and suffering the tenth regulation loss of the season. SKA, on the other hand, has been in fine shape, with three straight wins – all in games against higher-ranked teams – over Metallurg (4:3), CSKA (4:1), and Severstal (6:4). New imports are playing a big role in the team, in particularly defenseman Trevor Murphy and forwards Rocco Grimaldi and Joseph Blandisi, all with an active scoring streak. It will be an exciting game in Kazan, with plenty of power at both ends of the ice.

19:30: Ak Bars (19-10-2, 3rd E) vs SKA (14-10-4, 8th W)
About the game
Ak Bars starts a three-game home series following a loss to Spartak on Tuesday (0:1).
SKA enters the third game of a six-match road trip on a three-game winning streak.
SKA’s defenseman Trevor Murphy had at least an assist in each of his previous four matches, totaling six helpers.
SKA’s forward Rocco Grimaldi is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points over that stretch.
SKA’s forward Joseph Blandisi is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Albert Yarullin.
SKA: Matvei Korotky, Vladislav Romanov, Nikita Zaitsev.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Chmelevsky may score his 100th KHL tally (currently at 99).
SKA’s forward Andrei Loktionov may reach 200 assists in the league (currently at 199).

The action then moves to the Western Conference for two exciting matchups. First, Torpedo and Dinamo Minsk face off in a high-octane game. The Belarusians defeated Torpedo twice this season, and the Nizhny Novgorod side will seek revenge on home ice. The teams are tied at 41 points in the West’s standings, but Dinamo Minsk has the upper hand with one regulation win more, and two games in hand. With both sides in excellent shape and showcasing an offensive style, the Nizhny Novgorod fans are expected to be treated with an entertaining game – they will also be eager to see their team back in action after a pause of more than a week. The Belarusians are most likely to see a pleasant return, with defenseman Xavier Ouellet getting out of injury list.

19:30: Torpedo (19-9-3, 4th W) vs Dinamo Minsk (19-7-3, 3rd W)
About the game
Torpedo wraps up a six-game home series following a win over Spartak on Nov. 20 (4:3).
Dinamo Minsk starts a five-game road trip following two straight victories.
The season series between the two teams is 0-2 (3:2, 7:1).
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Zach Fucale is on an 83:21 shutout streak.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Sam Anas is on a six-game scoring streak, with 9 (5+4) points over that stretch.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vitaly Pinchuk is also on a six-game scoring streak, but with 8 (4+4) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Ty Smith had an assist in each of his previous five matches.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Daniil Sotishvili is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (4+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Torpedo: Mikhail Naumenkov, Nikita Rozhkov.
Milestone alert
Torpedo’s forward Dmitry Shevchenko lines up for his 400th KHL appearance.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Xavier Ouellet may reach 100 league games.
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may record his 30th shutout in the KHL.

In the closing game of an exciting KHL Friday Severstal hosts Lokomotiv. For the fourth time this season, the two leaders of the Western Conference go head-to-head. Lokomotiv has had the upper hand in two of their previous three meetings. Both teams are coming off losses two days ago: Andrei Kozyrev’s men couldn’t overcome SKA (4:6), and the Railwaymen failed to break through Dynamo Moscow’s defense (0:1). Bob Hartley’s squad sits atop the West with 43 points, but Severstal is just one point behind with a game in hand. Who will emerge as the conference leader after this showdown? It’s also worth noting that Severstal’s head coach, Andrei Kozyrev, is just one win away from his milestone 100th KHL victory – that can be a good motivation for the Steelers.

19:30: Severstal (21-10-0, 2nd W) vs Lokomotiv (20-9-3, 1st W)
About the game
Severstal enters the sixth game of an eight-match home series following a loss to SKA on Wednesday (4:6).
Lokomotiv ends a two-game road trip after losing to Dynamo Moscow also on Wednesday (0:1).
The season series between the two sides is 1-2 (1:4, 1:2, 4:3).
Injury list
Severstal: Makar Fomin, Ilya Kvochko, Vladislav Tsitsyura.
Lokomotiv: Andrei Sergeyev, Danila Tesanov.
Milestone alert
Severstal’s goalie Alexander Samoilov may celebrate his 50th KHL win.
Severstal’s head coach Andrei Kozyrev may reach 100 wins in the league.
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Radulov may dish out his 500th KHL assist (currently at 499).
Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Beryozkin may reach 100 assists in the league (currently at 99).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th KHL shutout.