Metallurg faces Neftekhimik; Spartak pays a visit to the Shanghai Dragons
Only two games are on schedule on a light KHL Monday, with Metallurg facing Neftekhimik and the Shanghai Dragons welcoming Spartak. Both confrontations will be at their fourth edition in the season, with Neftekhimik and Spartak having the upper hand so far.
Metallurg enters today’s game following wins over HC Sochi (6:1) and Traktor (7:4), further cementing its spot at the top of the Eastern Conference’s standings with 57 points and three games in hand on second-placed Ak Bars, sitting at 52. The Wolves will start a new road trip after losing games to Ak Bars (1:3), Torpedo (2:5), and Avangard (0:3) – all on home ice – and will be seeking a return to victory to try climbing up to top four again in the East. On paper, Magnitka is the team to beat in this game, but Neftekhimik defeated Metallurg twice this season.
17:00: Metallurg (27-6-3, 1st E) vs Neftekhimik (18-18-1, 5th E)
About the game
Metallurg plays the lone home game of the series on a two-match winning streak.
Neftekhimik starts a three-game road trip and lost its previous three matches.
The season series between the two sides is 1-2 (9:6, 3:5, 1:2 OT).
Metallurg’s forward Roman Kantserov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points over that stretch.
Metallurg’s forward Dmitry Silantyev is also on a four-game scoring streak, but with 8 (5+3) points.
Metallurg’s defenseman Yegor Yakovlev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Metallurg: Alexander Siryatsky.
Disqualifications
Neftekhimik’s forward Bulat Shafigullin serves a one-game ban.
In the second game of the day, in the Western Conference, the Shanghai Dragons host Spartak. The Red-and-Whites have just celebrated a win in St. Petersburg, over SKA on Saturday (2:1), and will try to celebrate again. However, the Dragons are not in their best moment, with three straight defeats, to Torpedo (3:4 SO), SKA (1:4), and Lada (2:4), and just one victory in their last eight games. The Chinese franchise is now on the wrong side of the playoff line, and a win today would be critical to keep its postseason hopes alive. But it won’t be easy against a determined Spartak team, who is up 2-1 in the season series between the two sides.
19:30: Shanghai Dragons (14-13-8, 9th W) vs Spartak (19-14-4, 7th W)
About the game
The Shanghai Dragons enter the second game of an eight-match home series on a three-game losing streak.
Spartak enters the sixth game of a twelve-match road trip following a win over SKA on Saturday (2:1).
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (3:1, 0:3, 6:7 SO).
Shanghai Dragons’ forward Nick Merkley is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Shanghai Dragons: Jake Bischoff, Parker Foo, Jeremy Groleau.
Spartak: Nikita Korostelyov, Pavel Poryadin, Dmitry Vishnevsky.
Milestone alert
Shanghai Dragons’ forward Parker Foo lines up for his 300th league appearance, while Spartak’s forward Ivan Vorobyov reaches 100 KHL games.
