Traktor faces Avangard, Lada hosts HC Sochi
After yesterday’s frenzy, only two games are on tap on a light KHL Sunday, with Traktor hosting Avangard in an exciting Eastern Conference clash and Lada welcoming HC Sochi as the teams meet for the sixth time in the current campaign.
The matchday starts in Chelyabinsk, with Traktor hosting Avangard. The Black-and-Whites won four games in a row before falling to Avtomobilist in Yekaterinburg on Wednesday as the team starts a two-match home stand today. It will be the fourth meeting between Traktor and the Hawks this season, with Avangard claiming two wins so far. After the loss, Traktor slipped down to a disappointing seventh pace in the Eastern Conference’s standings, with 48 points. What’s concerning for the Evgeny Koreshkov’s men is that Traktor has conceded 146 goals so far – only Sibir allowed more in the East. Traktor will seek to bounce back today against Avangard, who returned to victory on Thursday against CSKA (2:1) after losing twice in a row, to Salavat Yulaev (3:4) and Metallurg (1:2). The Hawks are currently flying in third position in the East, with 61 points.
14:00: Traktor (21-19-6, 7th E) vs Avangard (29-12-3, 3rd E)
About the game
Traktor starts a two-game home series following a loss to Avtomobilist on Wednesday (1:4).
Avangard starts a three-game road trip following a win over CSKA on Thursday (2:1).
The season series between the teams is 1-2 (5:1, 5:8, 2:3).
Traktor’s forward Mikhail Grigorenko is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that stretch.
Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points.
Injury list
Avangard: Alexander Volkov
Milestone alert
Avangard’s forward Dmitry Rashevsky may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
The action moves then to the Western Conference, with Lada hosting HC Sochi. It will be the sixth meeting between the two sides this season, with the last clash happening on Jan. 09, with Lada claiming a 4:1 road victory. After that, the hosts lost the next couple of matches, to SKA (3:4 SO) and Salavat Yulaev (2:5). HC Sochi suffered then from a record-breaking loss to Metallurg (0:9), but bounced back quickly defeating SKA in St. Petersburg (2:1). The Black Sea franchise is above Lada in the West’s standings by four points.
16:30: Lada (12-28-6, 11th W) vs HC Sochi (14-23-6, 10th W)
About the game
Lada is in the middle of a five-game home series and lost its previous couple of matches.
HC Sochi wraps up a three-game road trip following a win over SKA on Friday (2:1).
The season series between the two sides is 3-2 (4:5 SO, 0:4, 3:1, 5:3, 4:1).
Lada’s forward Artur Tyanulin had at least an assist in each of his previous eight matches, totaling eight helpers.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Matvei Guskov, Daniil Seroukh, Igor Shvyryov.
