Five-game matchday highlighted by Traktor vs Ak Bars matchup
After yesterday’s Western games, today the action starts in the Far East again for the penultimate day before the All-Star break. Amur looks to close the gap to the playoff line hosting Torpedo, while Admiral and Barys meet in a clash between struggling Eastern sides. Sibir aims to solidify eighth place against Neftekhimik, before the spotlight shifts west for a marquee showdown between conference-leading Lokomotiv and surging Spartak.
In Khabarovsk, Amur tries to build on its previous winning streak and get closer to Sibir in the conference’s standings hosting Torpedo. The Tigers defeated Avtomobilist (5:2) and Barys twice (2:1 SO, 4:2), and are now at six points from eighth-placed Sibir, with two games in hand. After three straight defeats, Torpedo returned to win in Vladivostok on Monday (3:2 OT), and is now fighting with Dinamo Minsk for third spot in the Western Conference’s standings. With both teams eager for points, fans in Khabarovsk will be treated to an exciting game who can easily go either side as Amur and Torpedo face off for the first time this season.
12:15: Amur (19-26-7, 9th E) vs Torpedo (31-17-5, 3rd W)
About the game
Amur enters the fourth game of a six-match home series on a three-game winning streak.
Torpedo is in the middle of a five-game road trip and defeated Admiral on Monday (3:2 OT).
Amur’s forward Alex Galchenyuk is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that stretch.
Amur’s forward Yaroslav Likhachyov is on a three-game scoring streak instead, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Amur: Roman Abrosimov.
Torpedo: Alexei Kruchinin.
Milestone alert
Amur’s forward Yaroslav Likhachyov and Torpedo’s forward Dmitry Shevchenko may both reach 100 career points (currently 99).
In Vladivostok, both Admiral and Barys will try to return to victory after recent lack of success. The two Eastern sides met in Astana last Wednesday, with the Sailors celebrating a 5:2 road win. After that game, Admiral suffered two straight defeats, to Avtomobilist (1:4) and Torpedo (2:3), respectively, while Barys lost twice to Amur (1:2 SO, 2:4). Earlier in the season, Barys defeated Admiral at home (3:0). The Sailors remain at the foot of the Eastern Conference with 37 points. The Kazakhs have 40 points in the standings, but played three games more than Admiral, and are eleven points from the playoff places. They lost their last six matches, and perhaps will be looking for a return to victory today.
12:30: Admiral (14-28-9, 11th E) vs Barys (16-30-8, 10th E)
About the game
Admiral enters the third game of a six-match home series on a two-game losing streak.
Barys wraps up a three-game road trip on a six-match losing streak.
The season series between the two sides is 1-1 (0:3, 5:2).
Injury list
Admiral: Alexander Daryin.
Barys: Mason Morelli.
The action then moves to Novosibirsk, where Sibir will try to cement its positioning in eighth place as the playoffs approach in a home game against Neftekhimik. After a home loss to Traktor, Sibir returned to winning on Monday, with an extra time victory over Ak Bars (3:2 SO). The team thus gained two precious points for the Eastern Conference’s standings, with Amur pushing in ninth position. However, Sibir has a six-point cushion over the Tigers. After seven consecutive wins, Neftekhimik slowed the pace with losses to Ak Bars (1:6) and Salavat Yulaev (1:2), with the Ufa team overtaking the Wolves in fifth position in the East. After today’s game, Neftekhimik will fly back home to start with a home stand after the All-Star break.
15:30: Sibir (23-26-5, 8th E) vs Neftekhimik (27-22-3, 6th E)
About the game
Sibir is in the middle of a seven-game home series and defeated Ak Bars on Monday (3:2 SO).
Neftekhimik ends a three-game road trip on a two-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 1-1 (3:2 SO, 1:3).
Injury list
Sibir: Mikhail Abramov, Ilya Fedotov, Valentin Pyanov, Daniil Valitov.
In Chelyabinsk, Ak Bars will seek a third win over Traktor this season, and a rebound after losing to Sibir on Monday after being up by two by the first hooter (2:3 SO). The Kazan side continues its battle with Avangard for the second spot in the Eastern Conference, with Ak Bars now having 73 points in the standings, with a significant gap to table-topping Metallurg. Traktor is currently the seventh seed in the East, only one point above Sibir, whom the Black-and-Whites defeated in the last outing. Traktor has only two wins in the last five matches, also defeating Admiral on Jan. 24 (3:1). Ak Bars’ veteran Albert Yarullin will return to Kazan’s lineup after missing since September for a knee injury.
17:00: Traktor (23-22-6, 7th E) vs Ak Bars (34-14-5, 3rd E)
About the game
Traktor plays the lone home game of the series following a win over Sibir on Saturday (3:1).
Ak Bars ends a two-game road trip following a loss to Sibir on Monday (2:3 SO).
The season series between the two teams is 0-2 (3:5, 2:3).
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Barabanov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that stretch.
Ak Bars’ defenseman Nikita Lyamkin had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling four helpers.
Ak Bars’ forward Ilya Safonov scored at least a goal in each of his previous three matches, totaling five tallies.
Ak Bars’ forward Artyom Galimov had at least an assist in each of his previous three matches, totaling five helpers.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Stepan Falkovsky, Mikhail Fisenko.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Joshua Leivo may dish out his 100th KHL assist (currently at 99).
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov may record his 40th career shutout.
The match day closes out with a showdown in Yaroslavl between Lokomotiv and Spartak. The Red-and-Whites have yet to defeat the reigning Gagarin Cup holders this season, having come up short in all three meetings so far. Heading into their fourth regular-season clash with Lokomotiv, Spartak is riding a three-game winning streak after victories over Lada (6:2), SKA (4:0), and Severstal (5:1). With 62 points, Spartak sit sixth in the Western Conference, while Lokomotiv lead the standings with an eleven-point advantage. The Railwaymen are also on a longer winning run, having claimed five straight victories. Three days earlier, they shut out HC Sochi at home (3:0), with goaltender Daniil Isayev recording his fifth shutout of the season.
19:00: Lokomotiv (34-14-5, 1st W) vs Spartak (28-17-6, 6th W)
About the game
Lokomotiv wraps up a three-game home series on a five-match winning streak.
Spartak ends a two-game road trip on a three-match winning streak.
The season series between the two sides is 3-0 (5:2, 6:3, 3:2 ОТ).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Daniil Isayev is on a 60:05 shutout streak.
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Radulov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (1+4) points over that stretch.
Spartak’s goalie Alexander Georgiyev is on a 60:00 shutout streak.
Spartak’s forward Nikita Korostelyov is on a six-game scoring streak, with 7 (6+1) points over that span.
Spartak’s forward Daniil Gutik is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Stepan Nikulin.
Spartak: Nikita Buruyanov.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
