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Eastern heavyweights collide as Barys finally meets Neftekhimik
Barys and Neftekhimik finally meet in Astana after their postponed game, while Metallurg and Ak Bars renew their Eastern Conference battle in Magnitogorsk. The action then moves West, with Dynamo Moscow hosting Salavat Yulaev, Spartak facing Avtomobilist and the Shanghai Dragons welcoming Dinamo Minsk before Severstal and Sochi close out a six-game matchday packed with intriguing battles.
The matchday starts in Kazakhstan. Barys and Neftekhimik agreed to postpone yesterday’s game to today after national mourn for a Caspian Sea incident. After a huge win in Yaroslavl (5-0), Barys made another victim in Moscow, when the Kazakhs came out on top with a 4-1 triumph powered by a double by Garrett Pilon and a 37-save performance from goalie Andrei Shutov. However, Neftekhimik isn’t on bad form either. The Wolves did lose to Salavat Yulaev (0-2) and Metallurg (2-6), but bounced back quickly with a home win over Lada (7-2) as they are currently the third team in the Eastern Conference’s table. It will be an exciting game in Astana between two offensive teams which will want to win.
Another exciting showdown is scheduled in Magnitogorsk, where Metallurg hosts Ak Bars. The two leading Eastern sides already met once in the current season, with Magnitka claiming a 3-2 SO win after regulation and overtime didn’t produce a winner. Today’s match will be just as exciting, with both teams leading the Eastern Conference’s standings at 13 points. The only difference is that the hosts are riding a three-win run, while Ak Bars lost twice in a row before bouncing back in a home game against Sibir on Thursday (3-2 SO).
The action then moves to the Western Conference. Two games are on tap in Moscow, with Dynamo welcoming Salavat Yulaev and Spartak hosting Avtomobilist in a game that will count for the First Teams’ Cup. The Blue-and-Whites lost twice in a row, to Amur (0-4) and Barys (1-4), but bounced back with an extra-time win over Dinamo Minsk on Thursday (4-3 OT). Salavat Yulaev had a good start to the 2026-2027 campaign, but lost its last game, to Metallurg at home (3-4). With both teams seeking consistence and points, it will be an exciting match at the VTB Arena.
The Red-and-Whites will instead be looking to bounce back after a two-game hiatus, with losses to Salavat Yulaev (1-3) and Avangard (1-2). Two losses in a row aren’t the end of the world, but Spartak will be trying to revert the trend to return in shape and start climbing up the Western Conference’s standings. The Motormen will instead try to get out of a hole, with four consecutive losses for the Alexei Kudashov’s men. Avto lost games to Avangard (2-3 OT), Dinamo Minsk (3-5), the Shanghai Dragons (2-3), and Severstal (2-5). At the moment, the Yekaterinburg side is outside the playoff places in the East. After today’s game, the team will fly back home for the next four matches, including two consecutive clashes with Amur.
In St. Petersburg, the Shanghai Dragons host Dinamo Minsk as it will be the second meeting of the season between the two sides after the Dragons claimed the first game on Sept. 10 (4-3 OT). For a moment, it looked like the Belarusians could start a new winning streak after back-to-back wins over Sibir (4-1) and Avtomobilist (5-3). However, Dinamo Minsk lost in Moscow on Thursday (3-4 OT) as it was the fifth defeat in seven games in the current season – Sergei Brylin will want to return to winning games and start accumulating points before it is too late. The Dragons are lately in good shape, with two wins in their last three matches. The Chinese franchise defeated Dinamo Minsk, then lost to SKA (2-7), and celebrated a home win over Avtomobilist on Tuesday (3-2), powered by Brett Murray’s first double in the KHL.
Closing out an exciting matchday is a showdown between Severstal and HC Sochi. After struggling finding the back of the net, the Steelers scored nine goals in two games to defeat Amur (4-1) and Avtomobilist (5-2) to return back in track. The Black Sea franchise is instead in deep crisis, with only one win so far in the 2026-2027 campaign, and the team will try to use today’s match in Cherepovets to try and turn the season around with their second win.
11:00: Barys (5-2-0) vs Neftekhimik (5-2-1)
About the game
Barys starts a two-game home series on a two-match winning streak.
Neftekhimik starts a three-game road trip fresh off a win over Lada on Wednesday (7-2).
Milestone alert
Neftekhimik’s forward Rafael Bikmullin may score his 50th goal in the KHL (currently at 49).
14:30: Metallurg (6-1-1) vs Ak Bars (6-2-1)
About the game
Metallurg, who defeated Ak Bars earlier in the season (3-2 SO), plays the lone home game of the series on a three-match winning streak.
Ak Bars ends a two-match road trip following a win over Sibir on Thursday (3-2 SO).
Metallurg’s forward Nathan Todd is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that stretch.
Metallurg’s forward Igor Nechayev is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Metallurg’s forward Yegor Korobkin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Milestone alert
Metallurg’s forward Nikita Mikhailis may record his 200th career assist (currently at 199).
17:00: Dynamo Moscow (5-4-0) vs Salavat Yulaev (4-2-1)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow is in the middle of a five-game home series and defeated Dinamo Minsk on Thursday (4-3 OT).
Salavat Yulaev starts a three-game road trip after a home loss to Metallurg on Wednesday (3-4).
Injury list
Dynamo Moscow: Yegor Rimashevsky, Nikita Tertyshny.
Salavat Yulaev: Artyom Gorshkov, Gleb Kuzmin.
Milestone alert
Dynamo Moscow’s goalie Maxim Motorygin may record his 10th career shutout.
17:00: Spartak (5-2-1) vs Avtomobilist (2-4-2)
About the game
Spartak enters the second game of a five-match home series on a two-game losing streak.
Avtomobilist wraps up a seven-game road trip after four consecutive losses.
Injury list
Spartak: Maxime Comtois, Alex Galchenyuk, Nikita Kholodilin.
Avtomobilist: Nikita Shashkov.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s forward Alexander Barabanov may reach 300 points in the KHL (currently at 297).
17:00: Shanghai Dragons (3-2-0) vs Dinamo Minsk (2-1-4)
About the game
The Shanghai Dragons, who defeated Dinamo Minsk earlier in the season (4-3 OT), enters the second game of a four-match home series following a win over Avtomobilist on Tuesday (3-2).
Dinamo Minsk ends a two-game road trip after a loss to Dynamo Moscow on Thursday (3-4 OT).
Shanghai Dragons’ forward Dmitrij Jaskin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points over that stretch.
Shanghai Dragons’ forward Nic Petan had an assist in each of his previous three matches.
Dinamo Minsk’s defenseman Ty Smith is on a seven-game scoring streak, with 9 (1+8) points over that span.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Corey Triney had at least an assist in each of his previous three games, totaling six helpers.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Dinamo Minsk’s forward Stanislav Galiyev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points.
Injury list
Shanghai Dragons: Martin Frk.
Dinamo Minsk: Alex Limoges, Nicolas Meloche.
Milestone alert
Dinamo Minsk’s goalie Vasily Demchenko may reach 30 shutouts in the league.
Dinamo Minsk may celebrate its 500th win in the KHL.
17:00: Severstal (3-4-1) vs HC Sochi (1-6-0)
About the game
Severstal enters the second game of a four-match home series following two consecutive wins.
HC Sochi is in the middle of a three-game road trip on a two-match losing streak.
Injury list
Severstal: Nikolai Burenov, Adam Liska.
HC Sochi: Timur Khafizov, Kirill Slepets.
