Playoff pressure builds up in a four-game KHL Wednesday
The KHL match day opens in Vladivostok with Admiral seeking a response against Ak Bars, before attention shifts west for a heavyweight clash in Yaroslavl between Lokomotiv and Dinamo Minsk. Severstal aim to capitalize on that showdown as the Lynx visit Sochi, while Neftekhimik look to extend their winning streak at home against Dynamo Moscow. With playoff races tightening in both conferences, every point carries added weight across a packed slate of games.
The match day starts in Vladivostok with a second showdown between Admiral and Ak Bars. Two days ago, the Kazan side celebrated a 5:2 victory – it was Timur Bilyalov’s 200th career win as he became the fourth goalie in KHL history to reach such a milestone. With this win in Vladivostok, Ak Bars consolidated its second place in the Eastern Conference’s standings, trailing only table-topping Metallurg. It was the sixth straight loss for Admiral, who is losing ground in the playoff race and sits at the foot of the East’s table with 34 points. Eighth-placed Sibir is currently seven points above and the clock is ticking for the Sailors, who will depart for a key road trip after today’s game, with a match in Astana scheduled for Jan. 28. Yesterday, Admiral completed a trade with Spartak. The Moscow club acquired forward Daniil Gutik, while defenseman Nikita Yefremov and forwards Yegor Chezganov and Daniil Usmanov are heading to Vladivostok.
12:30: Admiral (13-24-8, 11th E) vs Ak Bars (32-14-2, 2nd E)
About the game
Admiral ends a three-game home series on a six-match losing streak.
Ak Bars wraps up a four-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
The season series between the two sides is 0-3 (3:5, 2:3 ОТ, 2:5).
Ak Bars’ goalie Maxim Arefyev is on a 68:31 shutout streak.
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Barabanov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (4+2) points over that stretch.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Mitchell Miller is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Admiral: Alexander Daryin, Vladislav Leontyev.
Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov may record his 40th KHL shutout.
Ak Bars’ head coach Anvar Gatiyatullin reaches 500 KHL games.
In Yaroslavl, fans will be treated to a battle between the Western Conference leaders, where Lokomotiv host Dinamo Minsk. Everything points toward a tight contest that could once again be decided in a shootout. Both previous meetings between the teams ended 3:2 after shootouts in favor of the home side, with the Bison celebrating a win in Minsk in September and Lokomotiv taking revenge in mid-December. The Railwaymen lost twice to Torpedo in five days, with a shutout win over the Shanghai Dragons on Saturday (2:0). With this setback, Lokomotiv is now third in the Western Conference’s standings, tied with Dinamo Minsk at 63 points, one point shy off Severstal. The Belarusians collected two straight road wins, over Dynamo Moscow (3:2) and SKA (4:3), and will be on the lookout for a third consecutive victory.
19:00: Lokomotiv (29-14-5, 3rd W) vs Dinamo Minsk (29-12-5, 2nd W)
About the game
Lokomotiv ends a three-game home series following a loss to Torpedo on Monday (1:3).
Dinamo Minsk wraps up a four-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-1 (2:3 SO, 3:2 SO).
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Sam Anas is on an eleven-game scoring streak, with 21 (5+16) points over that stretch.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Ty Smith had at least an assist in each of his previous five matches, totaling six helpers.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Alex Limoges is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Vitaly Pinchuk is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Stepan Nikulin, Yegor Surin.
Dinamo Minsk: Joshua Brook, Xavier Ouellet.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may reach 10 KHL shutouts, while Dinamo Minsk’s Vasily Demchenko may reach 30.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Sam Anas lines up for his 500th game with the team’s jersey.
In Sochi, Severstal will look for a return to win and get advantage of the clash between Lokomotiv and Dinamo Minsk to strengthen its positioning at the top of the Western Conference’s standings. After defeating Dinamo Minsk and Torpedo in early January, the Lynx lost two games out of the next three with another win over the Belarusians on Thursday (6:4) and losses to Sibir (2:3) and Dynamo Moscow (4:5 SO). Despite the lack of results, Severstal remains at the top of the West’s table and will be looking to stretch the gap while facing Sochi, currently in last place in the conference, tied with Lada at just 34 points. It will be the fourth meeting between the two sides, with Severstal sweeping the season series so far.
19:30: HC Sochi (14-24-6, 11th W) vs Severstal (30-14-4, 1st W)
About the game
HC Sochi starts a three-game home series following a loss to Lada on Sunday (0:4).
Severstal enters the second game of five-match road trip after losing to Dynamo Moscow on Monday (4:5 SO).
The season series between the two teams is 0-3 (0:3, 4:5 ОТ, 3:4 ОТ).
Severstal’s forward Danil Aimurzin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that stretch.
Injury list
HC Sochi: Matvei Guskov, Daniil Seroukh, Denis Vengryzhanovsky.
Severstal: Alexander Samoilov, Daniil Veryayev, Artyom Zhukov.
Milestone alert
Severstal’s forward Alexander Skorenov lines up for his 200th KHL game.
Then, in Nizhnekamsk, Neftekhimik faces Dynamo Moscow. Earlier in the season, the Wolves already defeated the Blue-and-Whites, and today they will try to stretch their current winning streak, now set at five matches. Neftekhimik is currently the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference – the same position as Dynamo Moscow in the West. After three straight losses, to Torpedo (3:4 OT), Spartak (3:5), and Dinamo Minsk (2:3), the Blue-and-Whites returned to victory on Monday, when they defeated Severstal on home ice (5:4 SO). Their gap to fourth-placed Torpedo is now at three points.
19:30: Neftekhimik (25-20-3, 5th E) vs Dynamo Moscow (27-17-3, 5th W)
About the game
Neftekhimik, who defeated Dynamo Moscow earlier in the season (3:2), starts a two-game home series on a five-match winning streak.
Dynamo Moscow starts a two-game road trip fresh off a win over Severstal on Monday (5:4 SO).
Neftekhimik’s defenseman Maxim Fedotov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that stretch.
Neftekhimik’s forward Nikita Khoruzhev had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Injury list
Neftekhimik: Raul Yakupov.
Dynamo Moscow: Kirill Gotovets, Artyom Mikheyev.
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s defenseman Ilya Khlystov lines up for his 500th league appearance.
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Artyom Sergeyev may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
