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Three games on a light KHL Saturday
A three-game slate features two important Eastern Conference clashes, with Amur hosting Salavat Yulaev in a battle between teams level on points, while Sibir looks to extend its winning streak against in-form Barys. In the West, Lokomotiv visits HC Sochi aiming to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Severstal and reclaim the conference lead after CSKA’s impressive winning run.
The matchday starts in Khabarovsk, with Amur taking on Salavat Yulaev. Both teams will be seeking a return to winning ways after recent setbacks. The Tigers just lost to Spartak on Wednesday, despite Vitaly Abramov finding the back of the net just one minute into the game. Christian Jaros set things up for the Red-and-Whites in the third period as Amur lost its first game in five matches. The Tigers and Salavat Yulaev are currently tied on 17 points in the Eastern Conference’s standings, with the Ufa team having lost its latest game to Sibir on home ice (2-4). It was the second defeat in three games for Salavat Yulaev, who is seeking some more consistency. After Nikita Bogdanov was sidelined with a serious injury, the team traded for HC Sochi’s Ivan Bocharov who will now serve as Semyon Vyazovoi’s backup. It will be an interesting match between two teams looking to return to the Eastern Conference’s top four.
Next up is a showdown between Sibir and Barys in Novosibirsk – the third in the current season between the two sides. After a rocky start, Sibir got the ball rolling and is now on a three-game winning streak, including one against the Kazakhs on Monday (3-2). The Novosibirsk side also defeated Traktor (2-1) and Salavat Yulaev (4-2) to rise to sixth place in the East. After its loss to Sibir, Barys bounced back quickly with a 4-1 home win over Avtomobilist and climbed up to third place in the Eastern table with four wins in the last five matches.
Closing out a light KHL Saturday is a clash between HC Sochi and Lokomotiv. After three straight losses, to Torpedo (0-6) and Spartak (twice, 0-2, 2-5), the Black Sea franchise returned to victory in a home game against Ak Bars. Today’s challenge, however, will be incredibly tough, with Lokomotiv coming down South. The Railwaymen lost their most recent game, 2-5 in Cherepovets, and surrendered the Western Conference lead to CSKA who now sits two points clear after an impressive winning streak. Today, Lokomotiv will look to return to winning ways and reclaim top spot again. After today’s game, the Railwaymen will return to Yaroslavl, where they will play the next five matches, including a replay of today’s clash on Oct. 29.
10:00: Amur (8-6-1, 4th E) vs Salavat Yulaev (8-7-1, 5th E)
About the game
Amur is in the middle of a five-game home series and lost to Spartak on Wednesday (1-2 OT).
Salavat Yulaev starts a three-game road trip following a loss to Sibir also on Wednesday (2-4).
Amur’s goalie Alexander Trushkov is on a 122:52 shutout streak.
Injury list
Amur: Alexander Dergachyov, Danila Galenyuk, Andrei Krutov, Vasily Machulin, Yegor Rykov.
Salavat Yulaev: Daniil Alalykin, Alexander Alexeyev, Nikita Bogdanov, Artyom Gorshkov, Gleb Kuzmin.
Milestone alert
Amur’s forward Kirill Petkov lines up for his 300th career appearance.
Amur’s goalie Maxim Dorozhko may record his 20th KHL shutout, while Alexander Trushkov may reach 10.
13:30: Sibir (6-7-3, 6th E) vs Barys (9-6-0, 3rd E)
About the game
Sibir plays the lone home game of the series on a three-match winning streak.
Barys starts a nine-game road trip fresh off a win over Avtomobilist on Wednesday (4-1).
The teams traded wins earlier in the season (1-7, 3-2).
Barys’ forward Justin Bailey is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points over that streak.
Injury list
Sibir: Mikhail Abramov, Maxim Osipov, Daniil Valitov.
Barys: Madi Dikhanbek.
Milestone alert
Sibir’s defenseman Darren Dietz may net his 100th KHL goal (currently at 99).
Sibir’s defenseman Ivan Mishchenko may record his 100th career assist (currently at 99).
17:00: HC Sochi (3-11-0, 11th W) vs Lokomotiv (11-4-0, 2nd W)
About the game
HC Sochi starts a three-game home series fresh off a win over Ak Bars on Monday (3-2).
Lokomotiv ends a two-game road trip following a loss to Severstal on Thursday (2-5).
Injury list
HC Sochi: Cam Lee.
Lokomotiv: Maxim Beryozkin, Danil Romantsev.
Milestone alert
Lokomotiv’s forward Georgy Ivanov may score his 200th KHL point (currently at 199).
Lokomotiv’s goalie Alexei Melnichuk may record his 10th shutout in the league.
