Western Conference takes center stage with four matches
It’s an all-Western day today, with four games on tap. Lokomotiv looks to tighten its grip on first place in a home game against Lada, while Spartak and SKA clash in a crucial seeding battle in Moscow. Dynamo hosts Severstal in a rivalry that has oddly tilted one way this season, and in Shanghai, the Dragons and HC Sochi meet again with playoff hopes and pride at stake across a packed Western slate.
Returning to Yaroslavl, Lokomotiv will be seeking to stretch its winning streak and increase its gap at the top of the Western Conference’s standings in a home game against Lada. The Railwaymen enters today’s matchday at 69 above Severstal and three above Dinamo Minsk, who lost to Sibir yesterday. The Gagarin Cup champs have four wins in the last five matches, three of them consecutive, over Dinamo Minsk (2:1), Spartak (3:2 OT), and SKA (1:3). Lada lost its previous couple of matches in Moscow, to Dynamo (1:3) and Spartak (2:6), and is battling with HC Sochi to avoid ending last in the West.
19:00: Lokomotiv (32-14-5, 1st W) vs Lada (15-30-6, 11th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv starts a three-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
Lada wraps up a three-game road trip following two consecutive losses.
The season series between the teams is 2-0 (6:1, 3:2).
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Stepan Nikulin.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
Lada’s forward Andrei Chivilyov lines up for his 300th league appearance.
Lada’s forward Andrei Obidin may reach 100 career points (currently at 99).
Two games following Moscow, with Spartak facing SKA and Dynamo hosting Severstal. The St. Petersburg franchise will be looking to revert the trend after five straight losses. SKA had some changes in its coaching staff, with former Admiral’s bench boss Leonids Tambijevs and former Lada’s head coach Boris Mironov joining the team as assistants to Igor Larionov. After a heavy defeat in Nizhny Novgorod (0:6), SKA returned home for a clash with Lokomotiv, but the Railwaymen left no chances to the hosts, who found the back of the net only twenty seconds to the final hooter with Rocco Grimaldi’s eleventh of the season. Today, SKA will try to bounce back facing Spartak, who defeated the St. Petersburg side three times this season. The Red-and-Whites also suffered a recent loss to Lokomotiv (2:3 OT), but then defeated Lada at home on Wednesday (6:2). Spartak is currently the seventh seed in the West, one place above SKA.
19:30: Spartak (26-17-6, 7th W) vs SKA (24-19-5, 8th W)
About the game
Spartak wraps up a three-game home series following a win over Lada on Wednesday (6:2).
SKA starts a six-game road trip on a five-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 3-0 (3:1, 2:1, 2:1).
Spartak’s forward Nikita Korostelyov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (4+1) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Spartak: Nikita Buruyanov.
SKA: Igor Larionov, Trevor Murphy, Vladislav Romanov.
In the second Moscow game, Dynamo hosts Severstal. Despite the Lynx have a significant advantage over the Blue-and-Whites in the Western Conference’s standings, Dynamo is sweeping the season series with three wins, two of which without allowing goal – an impressive feat against this year’s Severstal. The Muscovites enter today’s game with only one win across the last three matches, including a loss to CSKA in their last outing. After losing to Dynamo on Jan. 19, Severstal collected extra time wins over HC Sochi (5:4 OT) and Torpedo (2:3 OT), and a regulation loss to CSKA (2:4). The Lynx will try to finally defeat the Blue-and-Whites this season and continue their remote battle with Lokomotiv for the Western lead. Dynamo Moscow is currently the sixth seed in the conference, tied with CSKA at 60 points. After today’s game, Severstal will fly back to Cherepovets, where the Lynx will play the next couple of matches.
19:30: Dynamo Moscow (28-19-4, 6th W) vs Severstal (32-15-4, 2nd W)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow enters the third game of a four-match home series following a loss to CSKA on Wednesday (2:4).
Severstal ends a five-game road trip after defeating Torpedo also on Wednesday (3:2 OT).
The season series between the teams is 3-0 (3:0, 1:0 OT, 5:4 SO).
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Kirill Gotovets, Artyom Mikheyev.
Severstal: Alexander Samoilov, Daniil Veryayev, Artyom Zhukov.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Artyom Sergeyev may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
Severstal’s forward Dmitry Dumbadze may score his 100th career point (currently at 99).
In the last game of the match day, the Shanghai Dragons face HC Sochi again. The teams will wrap up their three-game series and take the ice for the second consecutive day. Yesterday, the Chinese franchise failed to claim a second straight win over the guests, suffering a narrow 1:2 defeat. The hosts missed a prime opportunity to close the gap to the playoff zone, and their deficit remains at eight points. At the same time, HC Sochi moved off the bottom of the Western Conference standings, edging past Lada while holding three games in hand. Will Dmitry Mikhailov’s men be able to repeat their success on the upcoming evening?
19:30: Shanghai Dragons (18-23-9, 9th W) vs HC Sochi (15-26-7, 10th W)
About the game
The Shanghai Dragons enter the second game of a seven-match home series and lost to HC Sochi yesterday (1:2).
HC Sochi enters the second game of a six-match road trip following their yesterday’s win.
The season series between the teams is 1-2 (2:4, 6:2, 1:2).
Shanghai Dragons’ Nick Merkley is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (4+1) points over that stretch.
Injury list
Shanghai Dragons: Jeremy Groleau, Ben Harpur, Patrik Rybar.
HC Sochi: Denis Vengryzhanovsky, Artyom Volkov.
Milestone alert
Shanghai Dragons’ forward Ilya Kablukov may reach 200 career points (currently at 199).
Shanghai Dragons’ forward Kirill Rasskazov may dish out his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
HC Sochi’s forward Dmitry Kagarlitsky may net his 200th league goal (currently at 199).
HC Sochi’s goalie Ilya Samsonov may line up for his 100th league appearance.
