Playoff races and a Moscow derby on a busy KHL Sunday
Five games headline a packed KHL Sunday, stretching from Siberia to Western Conference derbies. The action opens in Novosibirsk with Sibir hosting Amur, followed by Barys welcoming HC Sochi in Astana. Avtomobilist and Admiral clash in Yekaterinburg before attention shifts west to Moscow for the latest CSKA–Dynamo derby. The day concludes in Minsk, where Dinamo face Lada as both sides look to gain ground in the standings.
A game in Novosibirsk will kick off a busy KHL Sunday, with Sibir taking on Amur as the teams line up for the fourth time this season, with the hosts taking two wins so far. The Tigers enter today’s confrontation on a two-game winning streak, defeating SKA (4:3 SO) and Admiral (3:1), and retained their spot in the playoff places. After three wins in four matches, with the only loss coming in extra time (to Spartak, 6:7 OT), Sibir lost in regulation to Admiral on Friday (2:3), and returned to the bottom of the Eastern Conference’s standings. Today, Sibir will seek a return to victory to get closer to the playoffs line. The two teams will meet again on Dec. 30 for their last 2025 match.
13:30: Sibir (12-20-4, 11th E) vs Amur (14-16-6, 7th E)
About the game
Sibir enters the third game of a four-match home series following a loss to Admiral on Friday (2:3).
Amur starts a four-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
The season series between the two sides is 2-1 (0:2, 4:3 SO, 1:0).
Sibir’s forward Arkhip Nekolenko had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Amur’s forward Yaroslav Likhachyov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that span.
Injury list
Sibir: Ivan Chekhovich, Alexander Pershakov, Valentin Pyanov.
Milestone alert
Amur’s forward Alex Galchenyuk may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
Then, in Astana, Barys hosts HC Sochi after two straight wins. The Kazakhs are in good shape and accumulated two straight wins, over Avtomobilist (4:1) and Dynamo Moscow (4:2), respectively, and they have a good chance today to make it a three-game streak with HC Sochi coming to the Capital. HC Sochi failed to improve its record, with losses to Avangard (2:5) before the break and Metallurg (1:6) on Wednesday, and remains at the foot of the Western Conference’s table, with 23 points. Barys is fighting for a playoff spot, and the standings in the East are very tight, with the teams switching places almost every day. A win will be of paramount importance for both sides.
15:00: Barys (14-17-6, 8th E) vs HC Sochi (9-19-5, 11th W)
About the game
Barys, who defeated HC Sochi earlier in the season (2:1 OT), starts a four-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
HC Sochi starts a three-game road trip on a two-match losing streak.
Barys’ forward Mason Morelli is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that span.
HC Sochi’s forward Matvei Guskov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
Barys: Adam Scheel, Tyler Wotherspoon.
HC Sochi: Igor Shvyryov, Ilya Samsonov.
Milestone alert
HC Sochi’s goalie Pavel Khomchenko may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
In the last Eastern game of the night, Avtomobilist faces Admiral. The Sailors finally returned to win on Friday in Novosibirsk after five straight losses, getting an inch closer to the playoff line but remaining on the tenth spot in the conference standings. With Ilnur Gizatullin on the bench and Mario Grman returned to action after missing time due to an injury, Admiral still has chances to qualify in the postseason in a tight Eastern Conference. Avtomobilist is much higher in the standings. At 41 points, the Motormen are in fourth place and have three wins in the last five matches. After wrapping up its current home stand, Avtomobilist will then have a short, two-game road trip next week.
15:30: Avtomobilist (19-14-3, 4th E) vs Admiral (12-16-6, 10th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist wraps up a five-game home series following a win over Dinamo Minsk on Thursday (3:2 SO).
Admiral, who defeated Avtomobilist earlier in the season (4:2), enters the third game of a four-match road trip after a win over Sibir on Friday (3:2).
Avtomobilist’s forward Brooks Macek is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Maxim Denezhkin.
Admiral: Alexander Darying, Maxim Maltsev, Ruslan Pedan.
Milestone alert
Admiral’s defenseman Pavel Koledov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
The action then moves to the Western Conference. In Moscow, CSKA and Dynamo will face for the fourth derby of the season, with the Blue-and-Whites being now up in the series. The Blue-and-Whites won seven straight matches before falling to Barys on home ice on Thursday. With 48 points, Dynamo sit fourth in the Western Conference. CSKA are on the edge of the playoff zone, eight points back. The team picked up points in seven straight games, though in their previous outing they fell on the road to reigning Gagarin Cup holders Lokomotiv (1:2 SO). Dynamo, meanwhile, were involved in a trade with Traktor on the eve of the game, which saw forward Maxim Dzhioshvili leave the team, while forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev headed to the capital.
15:30: CSKA (17-14-6, 8th W) vs Dynamo Moscow (23-11-2, 4th W)
About the game
CSKA plays the lone home game of the series and lost to Lokomotiv on Thursday (1:2 SO).
Dynamo Moscow starts a seven-game road trip and lost to Barys also on Thursday (2:4).
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (6:2, 3:4 SO, 2:3).
CSKA’s forward Maxim Sorkin is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that stretch.
CSKA’s forward Prokhor Poltapov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points.
Dynamo Moscow’s goalie Vladislav Podyapolsky is on a 90:58 shutout streak.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Nikita Gusev is on a six-game scoring streak, with 13 (5+8) points over that span.
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Daniil Pylenkov had at least an assist in each of his previous six matches, totaling eight helpers.
Injury list
CSKA: Dmitry Buchelnikov, Yegor Fateyev, Danila Moiseyev.
Dynamo Moscow: Kirill Gotovets, Artyom Mikheyev.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Ansel Galimov lines up for his 700th KHL appearance.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Anton Slepyshev may score his 300th point in the league (currently at 299).
Then, in Minsk, Dinamo will try to return to victory in a home game against Lada. Despite losing the last couple of matches, the Bison head into the upcoming game on a seven-game point streak. Each of the last three contests was decided beyond regulation. Before the break in the regular season, Dinamo edged Amur (3:2 SO), and afterward fell to Lokomotiv and Avtomobilist (both 2:3 SO). With 49 points, Dmitry Kvartalnov’s side sits third in the Western Conference, level on points with Severstal one place above, while the Bisons hold three games in hand. Lada remain second from bottom, two points ahead of HC Sochi. Pavel Desyatkov’s team, for whom the next game will mark his 100th KHL appearance as head coach, traveled to Minsk from St. Petersburg, where they defeated the Shanghai Dragons (4:2).
17:10: Dinamo Minsk (22-7-5, 3rd W) vs Lada (11-22-3, 10th W)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk starts a four-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Lada ends a two-game road trip following a win over the Shanghai Dragons on Friday (4:2).
The teams traded wins earlier in the season (4:0, 0:1).
Injury list
Lada: Alexei Ozhgikhin.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may reach 30 KHL shutouts.
Lada’s head coach Pavel Desyatkov celebrates 100 league games.
