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Avtomobilist seeks revenge, Amur hosts Traktor, SKA clashes with Severstal
The week continues with a light matchday on Tuesday, with just three games on tap. Avtomobilist hosts Avangard in Yekaterinburg, while Traktor welcomes Amur in two exciting Eastern showdown. In the Western Conference, in-form SKA welcomes Severstal.
Avtomobilist hosts Avangard seeking revenge for the early defeat against the Hawks. On Sept. 15, with the season still young, Avangard rallied from a 0-2 deficit to claim a 3-2, extra-time win with Andrew Poturalski netting the game-winner in OT. Much has changed since those days, with Avangard being now in a disappointing ninth place in the Eastern Conference’s standings. However, the Hawks have now two wins in the last three matches. They defeated Spartak in Moscow (2-1 OT), lost to Metallurg on the road (5-1), and celebrated a home win over Lada (4-1). The Yekaterinburg side is instead sixth in the table, and just ended a double-header with Amur as the teams traded 3-0 wins. Avto has thus three wins in the last five matches, and will start a road trip after today’s game at the UGMK Arena.
In the meantime, Amur moves to Chelyabinsk as the Tigers will face Traktor twice in a row, today and on Thursday. Amur has just defeated Avtomobilist in Yekaterinburg and climbed up to seventh place in the Eastern table as the team has now three wins in the last five matches. That’s an encouraging positioning for the Tigers, who will be looking to build on their recent win in Yekaterinburg. Traktor is however also in form. After a 3-4 loss to SKA, the Chelyabinsk side accumulated three straight wins, over Dynamo Moscow (2-1 OT), Spartak (4-2), and Ak Bars (3-2). If adding a 2-1 win over Avangard on Sept. 20, that makes four wins in the last five games for Scott Gordon’s team. Traktor is now on the right side of the playoffs line, and will want to stay above it.
The action then moves to St. Petersburg as SKA and Severstal collide for the first time in the season. After a loss to CSKA, the St. Petersburg franchise bounced back in another high-scoring game, defeating Admiral in extra-time (6-5 SO). SKA is currently closing the Western Conference’s top four and will be looking for another win in today’s match. After a rocky start, Severstal has now four wins in the last five matches, including a 2-1 OT win over the Shanghai Dragons on Saturday, that allowed the Steelers climbing up to seventh place in the West’s table. With both teams in good form and showing offensive hockey, the crowd at the SKA Arena will definitely be entertained.
17:00: Avtomobilist (5-5-2, 6th E) vs Avangard (5-5-0, 9th E)
About the game
Avtomobilist wraps up a four-game home series following a loss to Amur on Sunday (0-3).
Avangard, who defeated Avtomobilist earlier in the season (3-2 OT), starts a three-game road trip fresh off a win over Lada on Friday (4-1).
Avtomobilist’s goalie Evgeny Alikin is on a 71:02 shutout streak.
Avangard’s defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that streak.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Nikita Shashkov.
Avangard: Maxime Lajoe, Pavel Leuka, Nikolai Prokhorkin, Damir Sharipzyanov, Alexander Volkov.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s forward Alexander Barabanov may reach 300 points in the KHL (currently at 299).
Avtomobilist’s goalie Evgeny Alikin may record his 30th career shutout.
Avangard’s forward Joshua Leivo lines up for his 200th league appearance.
17:00: Traktor (5-5-0, 8th E) vs Amur (5-5-1, 7th E)
About the game
Traktor starts a three-game home series on a three-match winning streak.
Amur enters the third game of a four-match road trip following a win over Avtomobilist on Sunday (3-0).
Traktor’s forward Alexander Rykov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that stretch.
Amur’s goalie Alexander Trushkov is on a 62:52 shutout streak.
Injury list
Traktor: Vitaly Kravtsov, Sergei Telegin.
Amur: Alexander Dergachyov, Danila Galenyuk, Alexei Krutov, Yegor Rykov.
19:30: SKA (8-2-0, 4th W) vs Severstal (5-4-2, 7th W)
About the game
SKA ends a two-game home series following a win over Admiral on Saturday (6-5 SO).
Severstal starts a three-game road trip fresh off a win over the Shanghai Dragons also on Saturday (2-1 OT).
SKA’s forward Vasily Atanasov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points over that stretch.
SKA’s forward Nikolai Goldobin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.
SKA’s forward Sergei Plotnikov is also on a three-game scoring streak, but with 7 (4+3) points.
Severstal’s forward Alexander Skorenov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that span.
Severstal’s forward Ilya Ivantsov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Severstal’s defenseman Thomas Gregoire is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.
Injury list
SKA: Trevor Murphy, Linus Weissbach.
Severstal: Nikita Burenov, Adam Liska.
Milestone alert
SKA’s forward Daniil Aimurzin may reach 100 career assists (currently at 99).
