Rivalries take center stage with Siberian Derby and CSKA vs Lokomotiv

An exciting matchday starts with another edition of the Siberian Derby between Sibir and Avangard. A packed schedule follows, with Traktor hosting West co-leaders Dinamo Minsk, Torpedo looking to snap a scoring drought against Spartak, and an in-form Avtomobilist visiting Ak Bars in Kazan. The spotlight, however, is firmly on Moscow, where CSKA and Lokomotiv meet for the fourth time this season.

The matchday kicks off with another edition of the Siberian Derby between Sibir and Avangard. In the first confrontation, the Novosibirsk side scooped up a 4:2 win and will try today to ride its three-game winning streak to achieve a fourth one to please its home crowd in a critical rivalry match. After losing at home to Barys in their last 2025 match, the Hawks will try to return to victory as they were surpassed by Ak Bars in the second place of the Eastern Conference’s standings – but Avangard has two games in hand on the Kazan side. A packed arena in Novosibirsk is to be expected for the first game of 2026 to push the home heroes in their playoff push.
 
13.30: Sibir (16-21-4, 10th E) vs Avangard (26-10-3, 3rd E)
About the game
Sibir, who defeated Avangard earlier in the season (4:2), starts a three-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
Avangard kicks off a three-game road trip after losing to Barys on Dec. 30 (2:4).
Sibir’s defenseman Yegor Alanov had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s forward Ivan Chekhovich may reach 300 league appearances.
Sibir’s forward Sergei Shirokov may score his 250th KHL goal (currently at 248).
 
In Chelyabinsk, Traktor hosts Dinamo Minsk in a hot confrontation. The home side will be trying to start the new year on a positive note after two consecutive losses to close out 2025, to Ak Bars (2:3), and Metallurg (4:5 OT), respectively. Traktor is in a disappointing sixth place, only four points clear of ninth place. The Belarusians are in the opposite direction, with two straight wins, over Dynamo Moscow (5:3) and Salavat Yulaev (2:3 OT), and a shared leadership in the Western Conference’s standings with Severstal at 57 points. In the last game, Vadim Shipachyov netted the game-winner, getting closer to the 1,000th point milestone.
 
14:00: Traktor (17-18-6, 6th E) vs Dinamo Minsk (26-8-5, 2nd W)
About the game
Traktor kicks off a four-game home series following two straight defeats.
Dinamo Minsk, who defeated Traktor earlier in the season (4:1), is in the middle of a five-game road trip and won its previous couple of matches.
Traktor’s forward Joshua Leivo is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that stretch.
Traktor’s forward Mikhail Grigorenko had an assist in each of his previous four matches, while forward Vasily Glotov in each of his previous three games.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Sam Anas is on a five-game scoring streak, with 10 (5+5) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vasily Pinchuk is also on a five-game scoring streak, but with 8 (4+4) points.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Stanislav Galiyev.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Brady Lyle lines up for his 100th league appearance.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov may reach 1,000 KHL points (currently at 998).
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may record his 30th league shutout.
 
Then, in Nizhny Novgorod, Torpedo hosts Spartak as the team meet for the third time this season. Both previous meetings between the sides this season went Torpedo’s way. However, the Nizhny Novgorod club now faces the task of snapping its scoring drought. In their last two games, Alexei Isakov’s men failed to find the net against Neftekhimik (0:5) and Lokomotiv (0:1). With 50 points, Torpedo sits fifth in the Western Conference, three points clear of sixth-placed CSKA. Their advantage over Spartak stands at five points, with the Red-and-Whites holding the final playoff spot, six points ahead of the Shanghai Dragons.
Spartak, coached by Alexei Zhamnov, are also on a two-game losing streak, having fallen to the Chinese franchise (3:4 SO) and CSKA (1:2).
 
17:00: Torpedo (23-13-4, 5th W) vs Spartak (20-15-5, 8th W)
About the game
Torpedo starts a two-game home series on a three-match losing streak.
Spartak enters the ninth game of a twelve-match road trip following two straight losses.
The season series between the two sides is 2-0 (4:3 ОТ, 4:3).
Spartak’s forward Pavel Poryadin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Torpedo: Alexei Kruchinin.
Spartak: Daniel Usmanov.
 
Then, in Kazan, Ak Bars hosts Avtomobilist in an exciting Eastern Conference matchup with both sides in excellent form. Earlier this season, the Motormen won both head-to-head meetings with Ak Bars. The Ural side comes into the new matchup riding a five-game winning streak, having closed out 2025 with a solid performance, culminating with a win against Lada (4:3). The hosts boast three straight wins, over Salavat Yulaev (2:1), Traktor (3:2) and Severstal (4:3 SO), respectively. With 56 points, Anvar Gatiyatulin’s team sits second in the Eastern Conference, narrowly ahead of Avangard, who have two games in hand. Avtomobilist has collected 49 points so far and rounds out the conference’s top four.
 
17:00: Ak Bars (27-12-2, 2nd E) vs Avtomobilist (23-14-3, 4th E)
About the game
Ak Bars enters the third game of a six-match home series on a three-game winning streak.
Avtomobilist starts a three-game road trip on a five-match winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 0-2 (3:6, 1:4).
Ak Bars’ forward Kirill Semyonov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that stretch.
Avtomobilist’s forward Reid Boucher is on a four-game scoring streak, with 10 (6+4) points.
Avtomobilist’s forward Stephane Da Costa is also on a four-game scoring streak, but with 8 (2+6) points.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Nikita Lyamkin, Albert Yarullin.
Avtomobilist: Artyom Kashtanov, Denis Romantsev.
Disqualifications
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Maxim Osipov serves a one-game ban.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Alexei Pustozyorov lines up for his 200th league appearance.
 
However, the central game of the day will be the fourth meeting in the season between CSKA and Lokomotiv. Earlier this season, the sides met three times, and CSKA under Igor Nikitin has yet to defeat the former team of its head coach — the club he led to the Gagarin Cup last season. In all three games, CSKA managed to score no more than one goal against the Railwaymen. At present, the Muscovites are riding a three-game winning streak against Torpedo (3:2 OT), Spartak (2:1) and Dynamo Moscow (5:1). The Railwaymen closed out 2025 by shutting out Torpedo (1:0). With 56 points, Lokomotiv caps the top three in the Western Conference. CSKA sits sixth, level on points with seventh-placed SKA (47).
 
17:00: CSKA (20-15-7, 6th W) vs Lokomotiv (26-12-4, 3rd W)
About the game
CSKA enters the third game of a six-match home series on a three-game winning streak.
Lokomotiv kicks off a four-game road trip fresh off a win over Torpedo on Dec. 30 (1:0).
The season series between the two teams is 0-3 (1:5, 1:4, 1:2 SO).
Injury list
CSKA: Dmitry Buchelnikov, Danila Moiseyev, Dmitry Samorukov.
Lokomotiv: Yegor Surin.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may reach 10 KHL shutouts.