February kicks off with three games
Three games highlight the first match day of February, with two matches in Moscow and one in Yaroslavl. In the Russian capital, CSKA hosts SKA and Dynamo Moscow faces Avangard in two high-octane games. In St. Petersburg, conference leader Lokomotiv faces HC Sochi as the Railwaymen eye a fifth straight win.
CSKA starts February on a three-game winning streak, following wins over Barys (1:0), Severstal (4:2), and Dynamo Moscow (4:2). CSKA is still outside of the top four in the Western Conference’s standings, tied with the Blue-and-Whites at 60 points, but with a game in hand on their city rivals. It will be the third meeting between CSKA and SKA, with the teams trading wins earlier in the season. SKA is currently on a six-game losing streak – a negative record for the franchise in KHL history. In the last four matches, SKA scored only two goals, allowing fifteen. Despite the setback, the St. Petersburg franchise still holds the seventh place in the West’s table.
17:00: CSKA (26-17-8, 6th W) vs SKA (24-20-5, 8th W)
About the game
CSKA starts a two-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
SKA enters the second game of a six-match losing streak on a six-game losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-1 (4:3, 1:4).
Injury list
CSKA: Dmitry Buchelnikov, Danila Moiseyev, Vladislav Provolnev.
SKA: Igor Larionov, Trevor Murphy, Vladislav Romanov.
Milestone alert
CSKA’s defenseman Vladislav Yeryomenko lines up for his 300th league appearance.
In Yaroslavl, Lokomotiv seeks a fifth straight win in a home game against HC Sochi. The Railwaymen defeated Dinamo Minsk (2:1), Spartak (3:2 OT), SKA (3:1), and Lada (3:1) and retained their one-point lead over Severstal in the Western Conference’s standings, at 71 points. The Black Sea franchise travels to Yaroslavl after three straight games against the Shanghai Dragons, where they celebrated one win in the second encounter. HC Sochi is currently the tenth seed in the West’s table, with a one-point advantage over Lada.
17:00: Lokomotiv (33-14-5, 1st W) vs HC Sochi (15-31-6, 10th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv, who defeated HC Sochi earlier in the season (5:0), is in the middle of a three-game home series and won its previous four matches.
HC Sochi enters the third game of a six-match home series following a loss to the Shanghai Dragons on Friday (2:5).
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Stepan Nikulin.
HC Sochi: Anton Malyshev, Ilya Samsonov, Denis Vengryzhanovsky.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
HC Sochi’s goalie Pavel Khomchenko may celebrate his 50th league win.
Closing out a light KHL Sunday is a clash between Dynamo Moscow and Avangard. The Hawks are flying high with six straight wins and they travel to the Russian capital today after a 1:0 blanking of Traktor on Thursday, with Michael McLeod’s twelfth tally of the season – and Nikita Serebryakov’s 25 saves – making the difference for Avangard. The Hawks, who defeated Dynamo Moscow in the teams’ first confrontation this season, are battling with Ak Bars for the second place in the Eastern Conference’s table, with Metallurg unreachable at the moment. The Muscovites have now 60 points in the standings, tied with the other two Moscow teams, CSKA and Spartak, and will try to return to victory today following two straight home losses, to CSKA (2:4) and Severstal (2:3). Dynamo Moscow has only one win in its last five matches, and will be looking for a win over a highly-rated opponent for a morale boost and a return to a winning record.
17:00: Dynamo Moscow (28-20-4, 7th W) vs Avangard (34-12-3, 3rd E)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow wraps up a four-game home series following two straight losses.
Avangard, who defeated the Blue-and-Whites earlier in the season (7:4), starts a two-game road trip on a six-match winning streak.
Avangard’s goalie Nikita Serebryakov is on a 117:31 shutout streak.
Avangard’s defenseman Damir Sharipzyanov is on a ten-game scoring streak, with 17 (8+9) points over that streak.
Avangard’s forward Andrew Poturalski is on a six-game scoring streak instead, with 8 (2+6) points.
Avangard’s forward Michael McLeod is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Kirill Gotovets, Artyom Mikheyev.
Avangard: Alexander Volkov.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Artyom Sergeyev may reach 100 KHL assists.
