Rivalries take center stage on a three-game KHL matchday
Three games are on the slate as the KHL matchday delivers a full menu of rivalries and heavyweight clashes. The action opens in Ufa with the fifth Green Derby of the season between Salavat Yulaev and Ak Bars, before shifting to St. Petersburg where SKA hosts Spartak in a West showdown. The day concludes in Yaroslavl with a classic encounter, as conference leader Lokomotiv welcomes Avangard in a potential playoff preview.
The matchday starts with an exciting encounter as Salavat Yulaev hosts Ak Bars in the fifth Green Derby of the season. For now, Ak Bars hold the upper hand in the season series, leading 3–1. The two rivals last met on Dec. 16 in Kazan, with the hosts claiming victory (6:3). Since then, each team has played one game. Viktor Kozlov’s side defeated Severstal on the road (2:1), while Anvar Gatiyatulin’s team fell to SKA in St. Petersburg (2:3). Now Salavat Yulaev will open a lengthy eight-game home stand, while Ak Bars will return home after today’s confrontation – the Kazan side is also expected to a long home series, with six consecutive matches on home ice. With 33 points, the Ufa club sits ninth in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind Barys with a game in hand. Kazan, meanwhile, have 17 more points and is currently in second place, trailing only Metallurg.
14:30: Salavat Yulaev (15-18-3, 9th E) vs Ak Bars (24-12-2, 2nd E)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev kicks off an eight-game home series fresh off a win over Severstal on Thursday (2:1).
Ak Bars ends a two-game road trip after losing to SKA also on Thursday (2:3).
The season series between the two sides is 1-3 (1:3, 1:4, 4:1, 3:6).
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Chmelevsky is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Mitchel Miller is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Daniil Alalykin, Gleb Kuzmin.
Ak Bars: Albert Yarullin.
Then, in St. Petersburg, another rivalry renews as SKA hosts Spartak with the two teams clashing for the second time this season. Heading into this new showdown, SKA has five victories in their last six games. Two days earlier, SKA overcame Ak Bars at home (3:2). The visitors are currently on a three-game losing streak, with the most recent defeat coming in the derby against Dynamo Moscow (0:1). With 43 points, the hosts have provisionally climbed to sixth place in the Western Conference, pushing aside, among others, Spartak, who have dropped to eighth, three points behind. In the last two games, SKA head coach Igor Larionov has been absent from the bench due to illness, with his duties continuing to be handled by Yury Babenko.
17:00: SKA (19-11-5, 6th W) vs Spartak (18-14-4, 8th W)
About the game
SKA wraps up a four-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Spartak, who defeated SKA earlier in the season (3:1), enters the fifth game of a twelve-match road trip on a three-game losing streak.
SKA’s forward Sergei Plotnikov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 9 (3+6) points over that stretch.
SKA’s forward Nikolai Goldobin is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points.
SKA’s forward Marat Khairullin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.
SKA’s defenseman Yegor Savikov had an assist in each of his last four matches.
Spartak’s forward Pavel Poryadin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that span.
Injury list
SKA: Matvei Korotky, Trevor Murphy, Vladislav Romanov, Nikita Zaitsev.
Spartak: Nikita Korostelyov, Pavel Poryadin, Dmitry Vishnevsky.
Milestone alert
SKA’s forward Andrei Loktionov may reach 200 KHL assists (currently at 199).
In the closing game of the matchday, Lokomotiv faces Avangard in a classic matchup. Lokomotiv enters the game riding a four-game winning streak. Their two most recent victories came beyond regulation, edging Dinamo Minsk (3:2 SO) and CSKA (2:1 SO). With 52 points, the Railwaymen are on top of the Western Conference standings. Avangard sit third in the East with 47 points, trailing second-placed Ak Bars by just three points while holding four games in hand. Guy Boucher’s team traveled to Yaroslavl from Nizhnekamsk, where they left no chances to Neftekhimik in a 3:0 shutout. The upcoming game will be the final stop of a three-game road trip for the Omsk side, while Lokomotiv will play the third of six games in their homestand. The teams have already met once this season: on Oct. 3 in Omsk, Avangard defeated the reigning Gagarin Cup holders 4:1. Will the Railwaymen be able to exact revenge?
17:00: Lokomotiv (24-10-4, 1st W) vs Avangard (22-9-3, 3rd E)
About the game
Lokomotiv enters the third game of a six-match home series on a four-game winning streak.
Avangard, who defeated Lokomotiv earlier in the season (4:1), wraps up a three-game road trip following a win over Neftekhimik on Thursday (3:0).
Avangard’s goalie Nikita Serebryakov is on an 84:30 shutout streak.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Andrei Sergeyev.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Radulov may reach 500 KHL assists (currently at 499).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev may record his 30th career shutout, while Alexei Melnichuk may reach 10.
