Last matchday of the regular season
An eight-game KHL matchday closes the regular season with action across both conferences. Salavat Yulaev hosts HC Sochi, Sibir faces Barys, and Traktor takes on Admiral. In the West, Dinamo Minsk welcomes Avtomobilist, while SKA meets the Shanghai Dragons. Two Moscow games see Dynamo play Ak Bars and Spartak face Neftekhimik. The day concludes in Yaroslavl, where Lokomotiv clashes with Metallurg in a matchup between the regular season’s conference leaders.
The action starts in Ufa, with Salavat taking on HC Sochi. The Ufa side is the fifth seed in the East and is already set to face Avtomobilist in the playoff first round, thus today’s game will have little impact on the team’s season. However, Salavat Yulaev will likely want to please the home crowd in the last showing of the current campaign. The Ufa team enters today’s match following consecutive wins over the Shanghai Dragons (5:3) and Neftekhimik (3:0). HC Sochi is now stuck in last place in the West and lost its previous six matches, including two at home in the most recent outings, against Amur (2:3) and Ak Bars (2:4), respectively.
14:30: Salavat Yulaev (35-26-6, 5th E) vs HC Sochi (18-41-8, 11th W)
About the game
Salavat Yulaev ends a five-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
HC Sochi plays the lone road game of the series on a six-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 2-1 (3:1, 1:2, 2:1).
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Semyon Vyazovoi is on a 64:05 shutout streak.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Sheldon Rempal is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that stretch.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Pavel Suchkov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Alexander Chyorny, Alexander Komarov, Yegor Korbit, Gleb Kuzmin.
HC Sochi: Max Ellis, Cameron Lee, Ilya Nikolayev, Maxim Tretyak.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Pyotr Khokhryakov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
Then, in Novosibirsk, Sibir welcomes Barys as the teams face for the sixth and final time this season, with the hosts leading the season series with four wins (three after shootouts). Sibir is already set to face Avtomobilist, while Barys can still avoid a last-place finish in the East, being now in eleventh place at one point more than Admiral. Sibir celebrated four wins against the Kazakhs, and won two straight wins over Western giants CSKA (3:2) and SKA (4:1). Barys has instead lost to Admiral twice, both times 6:2.
15:30: Sibir (29-29-9, 8th E) vs Barys (21-35-11, 10th E)
About the game
Sibir ends a four-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Barys plays the lone road game of the series following two straight losses.
The season series between the two teams is 4-1 (4:6, 1:0 SO, 4:3 SO, 4:1, 2:1 SO).
Barys’ forward Tyce Thompson is on a five-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that streak.
Injury list
Sibir: Valentin Pyanov, Sergei Shirokov, Pavel Tkachenko.
In Chelyabinsk, Traktor will be seeking a fourth straight win in a home game against Admiral. The Black-and-Whites defeated Torpedo (3:2 OT), SKA (2:1), and Metallurg (6:2) and are set to face Ak Bars in the first round of the elimination stage. The Sailors, who also won three times in a row, most recently over Dynamo Moscow, can avoid last place in today’s game, but will most likely need a win. Traktor defeated Admiral three times already this season.
17:00: Traktor (32-26-9, 6th E) vs Admiral (20-35-12, 11th E)
About the game
Traktor ends a four-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
Admiral wraps up a three-game road trip also on a three-match winning streak.
The season series between the two teams is 3-0 (3:1, 3:1, 3:2).
Traktor’s forward Vitaly Kravtsov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points over that stretch.
Traktor’s forward Joshua Leivo is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Traktor’s forward Mikhail Grigorenko is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points.
Admiral’s forward Stepan Starkov is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 9 (3+6) points over that span.
Admiral’s forward Yegor Chezganov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points.
Admiral’s forward Dmytro Timashov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Admiral’s forward Daniel Usmanov had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
Traktor: Sergei Mylnikov.
Admiral: Alexander Daryin, Mario Grman, Vladislav Kara, Ivan Muranov, Semyon Ruchkin.
Milestone alert
Traktor’s defenseman Andrei Pribylsky lines up for his 200th KHL game.
Traktor’s defenseman Michal Cajkovsky may reach 200 points in the KHL (currently at 199).
The action then shifts to the Western Conference, starting with Dinamo Minsk hosting Avtomobilist. The Belarusians will try to please the home crowd after an extra time loss to Avangard on Tuesday (3:4 OT) and will wait for the outcome of other Western games to know their opponent in the playoff first round. The Motormen will try to build on a recent win over the Shanghai Dragons and repeat their success over the Bison on Dec. 18, when they celebrated a 3:2 SO win on home ice.
19:10: Dinamo Minsk (38-19-10, 3rd W) vs Avtomobilist (40-23-4, 4th E)
About the game
Dinamo Minsk ends a three-game home series following a loss to Avangard on Tuesday (3:4 OT).
Avtomobilist, who defeated Dinamo Minsk earlier in the season (3:2 SO), wraps up a three-game road trip after defeating the Shanghai Dragons on Wednesday (6:2).
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Sam Anas is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points over that stretch.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Ty Smith is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Ryan Spooner had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling four helpers.
Injury list
Dinamo Minsk: Vadim Moroz.
Avtomobilist: Evgeny Alikin.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Stanislav Galiyev may reach 300 points in the KHL (currently at 298).
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may record his 30th KHL shutout.
Avtomobilist’s goalie Vladimir Galkin may reach 10 career shutouts.
In St. Petersburg, the home crowd will be treated to the last city derby of the season. Earlier this season, SKA won four of their five head-to-head matchups. The visitors failed to qualify for the playoffs and will finish ninth in the Western Conference. They are currently on a six-game losing streak, most recently falling at home to Avtomobilist (2:6). Igor Larionov’s team has returned from a road trip through Chelyabinsk and Novosibirsk, where they lost to Traktor (1:2) and Sibir (1:4). With 79 points, SKA sits sixth in the Western Conference, tied with Torpedo just below them. Spartak trails by only one point, making the final Western Conference playoff matchups highly unpredictable. There is, however, one clear scenario: if SKA defeats the Shanghai team (thus securing sixth place), they will face Severstal—who would finish third in the conference—in the first round.
19:30: SKA (36-24-7, 7th W) vs Shanghai Dragons (21-34-12, 9th W)
About the game
SKA plays the only home game of the series on a two-match losing streak.
The Shanghai Dragons play the lone road game of the series on a six-match losing streak.
The season series between the two teams is 4-1 (4:7, 3:2 ОТ, 4:1, 3:2, 5:2).
Injury list
SKA: Trevor Murphy, Nikita Zaitsev.
Shanghai Dragons: Jake Bischoff, Jeremy Groleau, Ben Harpur, Andrei Kareyev, Patrik Rybar.
Milestone alert
Shanghai Dragons’ forward Kirill Rasskazov may reach 100 career assists (currently at 99).
Shanghai Dragons’ goalie Dmitry Shikin may reach 10 KHL shutouts.
Two games are then scheduled in Moscow, starting with Dynamo hosting Ak Bars. The first meeting between the two teams this season took place on Nov. 13 in Kazan, when Ak Bars edged out a narrow 5:4 victory. Anvar Gatiyatulin’s team will finish the regular season in third place in the Eastern Conference with 92 points and will face Traktor in the first round of the playoffs. Dynamo, with 81 points, sits fifth in the West and failed to secure home-ice advantage for the opening round. Vyacheslav Kozlov’s side is two points ahead of both SKA and Torpedo—will they hold their position, or drop lower by the end of the matchday?
19:30: Dynamo Moscow (38-24-5, 6th W) vs Ak Bars (42-17-8, 3rd E)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow ends a two-game home series following a loss to Admiral on Wednesday (1:2).
Ak Bars, who defeated the Blue-and-Whites earlier in the season (5:4), wraps up a three-game road trip after a win over HC Sochi (4:2).
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Daniil Pylenkov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (2+6) points over that stretch.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Dylan Sikura is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Fredrik Claesson, Kirill Gotovets, Artyom Mikheyev.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Artyom Sergeyev may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
Dynamo Moscow’s goalie Maxim Motorygin may reach 10 career shutouts.
Ak Bars’ forward Artur Brovkin may line up for his 100th league appearance.
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov may record his 40th KHL shutout.
In the second Moscow game Spartak hosts Neftekhimik. The first meeting between the two teams this season took place on Feb. 20 in Nizhnekamsk, when Neftekhimik secured a 2:0 victory. However, heading into the rematch, the Wolves find themselves in the opposite situation, having failed to score in a 0:3 loss to Salavat Yulaev in Ufa two days ago. Spartak has seen each of its last three games go beyond regulation, against Amur (1:0 OT), Dynamo Moscow (3:4 SO), and CSKA (2:3 SO). With 78 points, the Red-and-Whites sit eighth in the Western Conference, just behind SKA and Torpedo, meaning their final position will only be determined at the end of the matchday. Neftekhimik will finish seventh in the East and will face Avangard in the first round of the playoffs.
19:30: Spartak (35-24-8, 8th W) vs Neftekhimik (33-31-3, 7th E)
About the game
Spartak ends a four-game home series on a two-match losing streak.
Neftekhimik, who defeated Spartak earlier on the season (2:0), ends a three-game road trip following a loss to Salavat Yulaev on Wednesday (0:3).
Spartak’s goalie Alexander Georgiyev is on a 76:18 shutout streak.
Injury list
Spartak: Brandon Biro.
Neftekhimik: Vladislav Barulin.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s defenseman Artemy Knyazev may line up for his 100th league appearance.
The final game of the day will be an exciting showdown between two years ago finalists Lokomotiv and Metallurg. Their first meeting this season took place on Jan. 6 in Magnitogorsk, where Metallurg prevailed in a hard-fought 5:4 overtime win. Lokomotiv is coming off a 1:2 SO loss on the road to Dinamo Minsk and is now awaiting its first-round playoff opponent, which will be the eighth seed in the West. Metallurg will face Sibir, and head coach Andrei Razin is using the final stretch of the regular season to test a partially rotated lineup, which suffered a 2:6 loss to Traktor in Chelyabinsk on Wednesday. In the upcoming game, Lokomotiv will be without defenseman Nikita Cherepanov, who will serve the first of a three-game suspension.
19:30: Lokomotiv (45-16-6, 1st W) vs Metallurg (49-11-7, 1st E)
About the game
Lokomotiv plays the lone home game of the series following a loss to Dinamo Minsk on Sunday (1:2 SO).
Metallurg, who defeated Lokomotiv earlier in the season (5:4 OT), ends a two-game road trip after losing to Traktor on Wednesday (2:6).
Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Beryozkin had at least an assist in each of his previous six matches, totaling eight helpers.
Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Shalunov is on a five-game scoring streak, with 7 (5+2) points over that stretch.
Lokomotiv’s forward Artur Kayumov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Metallurg’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
Injury list
Metallurg: Dmitry Silantyev.
Milestone alert
Three-time Gagarin Cup champion, Lokomotiv’s defenseman Alexei Bereglazov lines up for his 800th KHL game.
Lokomotiv’s forward Pavel Kraskovsky may score his 200th career point (currently at 198).
Lokomotiv’s defenseman Alexander Yelesin may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th KHL shutout.
