Spartak seeks 500th win in a Moscow Derby vs CSKA, Traktor hosts Sibir
Traktor and Sibir meet for the third time this season with the Chelyabinsk side having won both previous encounters, looking to extend its edge in the season series. The Black-and-Whites ride a three-game winning streak as they push toward the Eastern Conference’s top four. Later, a Moscow Derby headlines the day as Spartak faces CSKA seeking its historic 500th KHL win, with both teams jockeying for playoff positioning in a tightly packed Western Conference.
In today’s Eastern game, Traktor faces Sibir with the teams at their third encounter this season, with the Black-and-Whites sweeping the series so far. Traktor enters today’s game on a three-game winning streak, after collecting victories over Dinamo Minsk (5:4), Avtomobilist (3:1), and Traktor (4:2) – a streak that allowed the Chelyabinsk franchise climb up to only three points to the East’s top four, now in a tight struggle with Neftekhimik for the fifth place in the conference’s table. The Novosibirsk side lacked consistency of late, alternating wins and losses. Most recently, Sibir suffered a loss to Gagarin Cup holder Lokomotiv in extra time (2:3 OT), and is currently in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, tied with Amur at 39 points.
14:00: Traktor (20-18-6, 6th E) vs Sibir (17-22-5, 9th E)
About the game
Traktor wraps up a four-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
Sibir starts a two-game road trip following a loss to Lokomotiv on Thursday (2:3 OT).
The season series between the two teams is 2-0 (4:3 SO, 4:3).
Traktor’s forward Maxim Dzhioshvili is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that stretch.
Traktor’s forward Andrei Svetlakov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.
Sibir’s forward Taylor Beck is on a four-game scoring streak, with (2+2) points over that span.
The action then moves to the West for a Moscow Derby between CSKA and Spartak. The Red-and-Whites are up two games to one in the season series, but the last clash, on Dec. 28, went CSKA’s way. After that game, CSKA won another Moscow Derby, over Dynamo (5:1), then lost to Lokomotiv (1:2 SO) and had two straight wins, over Dinamo Minsk (4:2), and the Shanghai Dragons (3:2), respectively. This moment of good form allowed CSKA climbing up to fifth spot in the Western Conference’s standings, just two points from fourth-placed Dynamo Moscow. Yesterday, CSKA traded forward Daniel Sprong to Avtomobilist in exchange for monetary compensation. Spartak is now the eighth seed in the West, but has a six-point cushion over the Shanghai Dragons. After the loss to CSKA, Spartak had defeated Torpedo (7:6) and Severstal (1:2), and today is looking for its 500th win in the KHL. Will the Red-and-Whites be able to achieve this crucial milestone in today’s clash?
18:00: CSKA (22-15-8, 5th W) vs Spartak (22-15-5, 8th W)
About the game
CSKA wraps up a six-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Spartak enters the eleventh game of a twelve-match road trip also on a two-game winning streak.
The season series between the two sides is 1-2 (5:6 SO, 2:3, 2:1).
Spartak’s forward Mikhail Maltsev is on a four-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points over that stretch.
Spartak’s forward Pavel Poryadin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
CSKA: Dmitry Buchelnikov, Danila Moiseyev, Dmitry Samorukov.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s forward Prokhor Poltapov may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 98).
Spartak may celebrate its 500th win in the KHL.
