Short KHL matchday with three games on slate
Three games are on the KHL schedule as the matchday opens in Ufa with an Eastern clash between Salavat Yulaev and Neftekhimik, two teams looking to respond after recent defeats. The action then shifts west, where in-form HC Sochi hosts Dynamo Moscow as the Black Sea side searches for a rare third straight win. A light Monday slate wraps up in St. Petersburg, with the Shanghai Dragons facing Lada in a meeting of teams desperate to halt worrying losing streaks.
The matchday will open with a showdown between Salavat Yulaev and Neftekhimik. Both sides will be trying to bounce back after recent losses, with the Ufa team falling to Dinamo Minsk in the 2025 last game (2:3 OT) and Neftekhimik suffering from a loss in Sochi just two days ago (1:2). It will be the fourth meeting between the two sides this season, with Salavat Yulaev so far having the upper hand in direct confrontations. However, the Wolves have the upper hand in the standings, sitting in fifth place, against Salavat Yulaev’s eighth. After today’s game, Neftekhimik will fly back home, where the team will play two consecutive matches against Admiral next week.
14:30: Salavat Yulaev (17-20-4, 8th E) vs Neftekhimik (20-19-3, 5th E)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev enters the sixth game of an eight-match home series following a loss to Dinamo Minsk on Dec. 30 (2:3 OT).
Neftekhimik ends a two-game road trip after losing to HC Sochi on Saturday (1:2).
The season series between the teams is 2-1 (2:1, 0:1, 3:1).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Sheldon Rempal is on a six-game scoring streak, with 13 (4+9) points over that stretch.
Neftekhimik’s forward Andrei Belozyorov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points.
Neftekhimik’s forward Evgeny Mityakin had at least an assist in each of his previous four matches, totaling five helpers.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Daniil Alalykin, Gleb Kuzmin.
Neftekhimik: Raul Yakupov.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Sheldon Rempal lines up for his 100th league appearance. The North American forward has 43 goals and 54 assists across these games.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Devin Brosseau and defenseman Evgeny Kulik may reach 100 KHL points (both currently at 99).
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Pyotr Khokhryakov may dish out his 100th KHL helper (currently at 99).
The action then moves to the Western Conference, with two games. In Sochi, the hosts will try to build on a two-win run when the team defeated Neftekhimik (2:1) and SKA (8:4) – this last game back in 2025. Despite the good moment, HC Sochi is fifteen points behind the playoff line, and at this point, it’s hard to have any hope for a postseason qualification for the Black Sea franchise. However, a third straight win may give the team a nice boost. On the other end of the rink, Dynamo Moscow had a bad end of 2025, with losses to Dinamo Minsk (3:5) and CSKA (1:5), but the Blue-and-Whites remain a strong candidate for a spot in the Western Conference’s top four and will try to return to victory today.
17:00: HC Sochi (12-20-6, 10th W) vs Dynamo Moscow (25-14-2, 5th W)
About the game
HC Sochi, who defeated Dynamo Moscow earlier in the season (3:2 SO), is in the middle of a five-game home series and won its previous couple of matches.
Dynamo Moscow enters the sixth game of a seven-match road trip on a two-game losing streak.
HC Sochi’s defenseman Noel Hoefenmayer is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points over that stretch.
HC Sochi’s forward Max Ellis netted a goal in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Dmitry Kagarlitsky, Daniil Seroukh.
Dynamo Moscow: Kirill Gotovets, Artyom Mikheyev.
Milestone alert
HC Sochi’s goalie Pavel Khomchenko may record his 10th KHL shutout.
Then, in St. Petersburg, a showdown between the Shanghai Dragons and Lada closes out a light KHL Monday. Both sides will be desperate for a return to win. The Chinese franchise lost its last three matches, to Neftekhimik (3:4 OT), SKA (2:3), and Metallurg (3:7), and this setback complicated things for an eventual playoff qualification, with the Dragons now at more than five points from eighth-placed Spartak. There is still room for a return to the right side of the playoff line, but the chances are getting thinner at each loss. Lada lost its last five matches, and is now sitting at the foot of the Western Conference table, with just 26 points.
17:00: Shanghai Dragons (15-16-9, 9th W) vs Lada (11-26-4, 11th W)
About the game
The Shanghai Dragons enter the seventh game of an eight-match home series following three straight losses.
Lada enters the fourth game of a six-match road trip on a five-game losing streak.
The season series between the two sides is 1-1 (4:1, 2:4).
Lada’s forward Riley Sawchuk is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that stretch.
Lada’s forward Andrei Altybarmakyan is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 6 (1+5) points.
Injury list
Shanghai Dragons: Parker Foo, Jeremy Groleau, Ben Harpur.
Milestone alert
Shanghai Dragons’ defenseman Adam Clendening lines up for his 100th league appearance.
Shanghai Dragons’ forward Kirill Rasskazov and Lada’s forward Artur Tyanulin may dish out their 100th career assist (both currently at 99).
