Crowded fixture list on a busy matchday
Seven games headline a packed KHL matchday, opening in Novosibirsk with a revenge clash between Sibir and Admiral. The East then delivers Traktor vs Avtomobilist, a top-of-the-table battle between Metallurg and Lokomotiv, and a classic showdown in Kazan as Ak Bars hosts Avangard. In the West, Severstal meets Spartak, Torpedo welcomes Barys, and the evening closes in Moscow with CSKA facing Dinamo Minsk in a matchup loaded with standings and milestone intrigue.
The matchday starts in Novosibirsk again with a revenge game between Sibir and Admiral, who met on Dec. 28 with today’s hosts celebrating an extra time win. After three straight wins, the Novosibirsk side fell to Avangard at home in another edition of the Siberian Derby, failing on a good chance to climb up in the Eastern Conference standings and return to the playoff places. In another local rivalry match, Admiral returned to win when the Sailors took home the Far East Derby against Amur on Saturday (3:2). However, Admiral remains in the last spot of the East’s table with 33 points – three fewer than Sibir and Barys, tied in ninth place.
13:30: Sibir (16-22-4, 10th E) vs Admiral (13-19-7, 11th E)
About the game
Sibir is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost to Avangard on Sunday (2:5).
Admiral kicks off a four-game road trip fresh off a win over Amur on Saturday (3:2).
The season series between the two teams is 3-2 (2:1 SO, 0:2, 2:3, 4:2, 3:2 OT).
Sibir’s defenseman Yegor Alanov had at least an assist in each of his previous four matches, totaling five helpers.
Sibir’s forwards Anton Kosolapov and Semyon Koshelev are on an identical three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that stretch.
Admiral’s forward Nikita Soshnikov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.
Injury list
Admiral: Alexander Daryin, Adam Huska, Mikhail Maltsev.
Milestone alert
Admiral’s defenseman Libor Sulak may reach 100 league assists (currently at 99).
Then, in the Urals, Traktor hosts Avtomobilist in an exciting Eastern Conference matchup. It will be the fifth meeting between the two sides, with the Motormen claiming three victories so far. The Chelyabinsk side opened 2026 with a victory over Dinamo Minsk (5:4) and, with 42 points, remains sixth in the Eastern Conference. Avtomobilist is seven points clear of that mark, which allows them to sit confidently in fourth place. The visitors’ position in the standings was not affected by the heavy 0:5 loss to Ak Bars in Kazan two days ago. The question, however, is whether Avtomobilist can regroup mentally after such a result.
14:00: Traktor (18-18-6, 6th E) vs Avtomobilist (23-15-3, 4th E)
About the game
Traktor enters the second game of a four-match home series following a win over Dinamo Minsk on Sunday (5:4).
Avtomobilist is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Ak Bars also on Sunday (0:5).
The season series between the teams is (2:0, 3:5, 1:2 SO, 1:5).
Traktor’s forwards Mikhail Grigorenko and Vasily Glotov are on an identical four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that streak.
Traktor’s forward Jordan Gross is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Artyom Kashtanov, Denis Romantsev.
Then, in Magnitogorsk, Metallurg faces Lokomotiv in a battle at the top. The teams will face each other for the first time in the current regular season. Both teams come into the game on two-game winning streaks. The Steelers edged Traktor (5:4 OT) and the Shanghai Dragons (7:3), while the Railwaymen recorded narrow wins over Torpedo (1:0) and CSKA (2:1 SO). Andrei Razin’s side continue to lead the Eastern Conference with confidence, having collected 64 points so far. Thanks to the recent results, Lokomotiv returned to the top of the Western Conference, but their margin over Severstal and Dinamo Minsk remains minimal, with those rivals holding one and three games in hand respectively.
14:30: Metallurg (30-6-4, 1st E) vs Lokomotiv (27-12-4, 1st W)
About the game
Metallurg starts a four-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Lokomotiv enters the second game of a four-match road trip also on a two-game winning streak.
Metallurg’s forward Nikita Korotkov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Metallurg: Alexander Siryatsky.
Lokomotiv: Yegor Surin.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s defenseman Valery Orekhov and forward Yegor Korobkin may score their 100th KHL point (both currently at 99).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th league shutout.
The temperature will be high in Kazan too, with Ak Bars hosting Avangard in another league classic. Earlier this season, the two sides have already traded wins. Ak Bars is currently riding a four-game winning streak, with Anvar Gatiyatulin’s team unbeaten since Dec. 18 after defeating Salavat Yulaev (2:1), Traktor (3:2), Severstal (4:3 SO), and Avtomobilist (5:0) over that stretch. Avangard travelled to the capital of Tatarstan from Novosibirsk, where the Hawks came out on top in the derby against Sibir (5:2). The two teams are direct rivals in the Eastern Conference standings. Ak Bars sit second with 58 points, while Avangard are one place lower with a minimal gap, holding two games in hand. Will the Hawks be able to move ahead of Ak Bars by the end of the match day?
17:00: Ak Bars (28-12-2, 2nd E) vs Avangard (27-10-3, 3rd E)
About the game
Ak Bars enters the fourth game of a six-match home series on a four-game winning streak.
Avangard is in the middle of a three-game road trip and defeated Sibir on Sunday (5:2).
The season series between the two sides is 1-1 (2:1, 1:6).
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov is on a 71:36 shutout streak.
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Chmelevsky is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that stretch.
Avangard’s forward Konstantin Okulov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 7 (2+5) points.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Nikita Lyamkin, Albert Yarullin.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov may record his 40th career shutout.
Ak Bars’ forward Alexei Pustozyorov lines up for his 200th league appearance.
Avangard’s forward Dmitry Rashevsky may record his 200th career point (currently at 198).
The action then moves to the Western Conference for three games. In Cherepovets, Severstal hosts Spartak. The upcoming game will mark Spartak head coach Alexei Zhamnov’s 200th KHL appearance behind the bench, and the Red-and-Whites come into it after a wild game in Nizhny Novgorod against Torpedo, which ended in a 7:6 win. With 47 points, the visitors currently sit on the edge of the Western Conference playoff zone, level on points with seventh-placed SKA, who have two games in hand. Severstal are second in the standings, trailing Lokomotiv by a minimal margin while having played one game fewer than the Yaroslavl side. In their previous outing, the Cherepovets club beat Lada 4:2 at home.
17:00: Severstal (27-12-3, 2nd W) vs Spartak (21-15-5, 8th W)
About the game
Severstal enters the second game of a six-match home series following a win over Lada on Saturday (4:2).
Spartak enters the tenth game of a twelve-match road trip following a win over Torpedo on Sunday (7:6).
The season series between the two sides is 2-0 (2:1, 4:3).
Severstal’s forward Adam Liska is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points over that stretch.
Severstal’s forward Ruslan Abrosimov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points.
Spartak’s forward Mikhail Maltsev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
Spartak’s forward Pavel Poryadin is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
Spartak: Daniel Usmanov.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s head coach Alexei Zhamnov records his 200th KHL game.
In Nizhny Novgorod, Torpedo hosts Barys. It will be the first 2026 game for the Kazakhs. The teams’ first meeting this season took place on 12 October in Astana and ended with a 5:3 win for Torpedo. Heading into this new clash with Barys, the Nizhny Novgorod side is on a four-game losing streak, with Alexei Isakov’s team without a win since Dec. 23 after losses to CSKA (2:3 OT), Neftekhimik (0:5), and Lokomotiv (0:1). They finally broke their scoring drought in the previous game against Spartak, but even that high-scoring affair ended in defeat for the team. Barys arrives in Nizhny Novgorod from Omsk, where they defeated Avangard before the New Year break. With 36 points, the Kazakh club sit ninth in the Eastern Conference and remains in the playoff hunt, while Torpedo is fifth in the West with 50 points.
17:00: Torpedo (23-14-4, 5th W) vs Barys (15-21-6, 9th E)
About the game
Torpedo, who defeated Barys earlier in the season (5:3), ends a two-game home series on a four-match losing streak.
Barys enters the second game of a five-match road trip following a win against Avangard on Dec. 30 (4:2).
Injury list
Torpedo: Alexei Kruchinin.
In the closing game of the day, CSKA hosts Dinamo Minsk in another highly-anticipated battle. For the guests’ forward Vadim Shipachyov, the upcoming game could become a milestone, as stepping onto the ice would mark his 1,100th KHL appearance. Moreover, one of the most prominent figures in league history is closing in on the 1,000-point mark, currently sitting at 998. This will be the fourth meeting of the season between Dinamo and CSKA, with the Bisons having already collected two wins. Dmitry Kvartalnov’s side travels to Moscow from Chelyabinsk, where they suffered a narrow 4:5 loss to Traktor. CSKA, meanwhile, failed to extend their winning streak to four games two days ago, losing to Lokomotiv. With 48 points, the Red-and-Blues are sixth in the Western Conference, while the Minsk side sit third, just behind leaders Lokomotiv and with three games in hand.
17:00: CSKA (20-15-8, 6th W) vs Dinamo Minsk (26-9-5, 3rd W)
About the game
CSKA enters the fourth game of a six-match home series following a loss to Lokomotiv on Sunday (1:2 SO).
Dinamo Minsk enters the fourth game of a five-match road trip after losing to Traktor also on Sunday (4:5).
The season series between the two teams is 1-2 (5:3, 0:2, 2:5).
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Sam Anas is on a six-game scoring streak, with 11 (5+6) points over that stretch.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vasily Pinchuk is also on a six-game scoring streak, with 12 (5+7) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Ty Smith had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling five helpers.
Injury list
CSKA: Dmitry Buchelnikov, Danila Moiseyev, Dmitry Samorukov.
Dinamo Minsk: Stanislav Galiyev.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vadim Shipachyov lines up for his 1,100th league appearance, and may reach 1,000 KHL points (currently at 998).
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may reach 30 KHL shutouts.
