Dynamo Moscow and SKA collide on an eventful KHL matchday!
The most important match is likely to be the clash between the Western giants – the Blue-and-Whites and SKA have already faced each other this year and Dynamo will want to try and get its revenge. The St. Petersburg side must be aware, thus – both Dynamo goalies are in excellent shape, and it won’t be easy for the Rotenberg men to solve the key to find the opponent crease.
The matchday, however, starts earlier in the East, with Barys and Avangard going at it again after yesterday’s clash. The Kazakhs had the upper hand on Thursday, while the Hawks are sensationally yet to win a single game.
Another exciting matchup sees Avtomobilist hosting Sibir. The two teams are leading the Eastern Conference with nine points, and are playing opposite-style hockey. Avto has the best offence in the league (tied with Dinamo Minsk), while Sibir shares with Dynamo Moscow the best defensive numbers.
The Belarusian franchise is facing Ak Bars tonight. Due to other events at the Minsk Arena, the game will be held in Kazan. It’ll be an exciting matchup – both teams have been excellent this season, and their leaders are in good shape.
Another high-octane game will be between Spartak and Torpedo. The Muscovites had a good start of the season, but suffered from a loss to Avtomobilist in their latest match. More or less the same can be said for Torpedo – and with Igor Larionov on the bench, they are starting to get interesting and exciting results.
Traktor hosting Neftekhimik and Kunlun Red Star welcoming HC Sochi close an action-packed KHL Friday.
16:30: Barys (2-3-1, 8th E) vs Avangard (0-5-1, 10th E)
About the game
Barys is in the middle of a five-game home series and won its previous couple of matches, including defeating Avangard yesterday (5:3).
Avangard plays the seventh of a twelve-match road trip and lost all of its games.
Avangard’s defenseman Alexei Bereglazov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that span.
17:00: Avtomobilist (4-1-1, 1st E) vs Sibir (4-1-1, 2nd E)
About the game
Avtomobilist plays the third of a four-game home series and is on a two-match winning streak.
Sibir starts a two-game road trip and defeated Avangard on Tuesday (3:2 SO).
Avtomobilist’s captain Sergei Shirokov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 8 (5+3) points.
Sibir’s defenseman Trevor Murphy is on a three-game scoring streak, with 5 (2+3) points.
Injury list
Avtomobilist: Alexei Makeyev.
Sibir: Vadim Kudako.
Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s forward Sergei Shirokov may reach 450 KHL points (currently at 449) and 200 KHL goals (currently at 197).
His teammate, Pavel Kulikov, and Sibir’s forward Denis Golubev may score their 100th career point (both are currently at 99).
Avtomobilist’s goalie Igor Bobkov may reach 30 KHL shutouts.
17:00: Traktor (2-4-0, 9th E) vs Neftekhimik (0-4-1, 11th E)
About the game
Traktor starts a two-game home series and lost to Barys on Tuesday (1:3).
Neftekhimik starts a three-game road trip with a five-match losing streak.
Traktor’s forward Anton Burdasov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
Neftekhimik’s forward Vladislav Leshchenko is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.
Injury list
Traktor: Sergei Telegin.
Milestone alert
Tkaktor’s defenseman Artyom Blazhiyevsky may reach 400 KHL games.
Traktor’s forward Sergei Kalinin may score his 100th career assist (currently at 99).
19:00: Kunlun Red Star (1-4-1, 10th W) vs HC Sochi (1-4-0, 11th W)
About the game
Kunlun Red Star starts a three-game home series on a five-match losing streak.
HC Sochi is in the middle of a three-game road trip and lost to Dynamo Moscow (0:2) on Wednesday.
The Dragons have won their latest four home matches against HC Sochi, with the most recent defeat dated Nov 04, 2017 (3:4).
19:00: Dynamo Moscow (5-1-0, 2nd W) vs SKA (6-0-0, 1st W)
About the game
Dynamo Moscow is in the middle of a three-game home series and is on a two-match winning streak.
SKA, which has already defeated the Blue-and-Whites this season (4:1), ends a three-match road trip and won its previous six games.
Dynamo Moscow’s goalies Ilya Konovalov and Konstantin Volkov have shutout streaks alive – at 69:37 and 59:59, respectively.
Dynamo Moscow’s forward Eric O’Dell is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.
SKA’s forward Marat Khairullin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 9 (7+2) points.
19:00: Dinamo Minsk (4-2-0, 7th W) vs Ak Bars (3-1-1, 5th E) (The game will be held in Kazan)
About the game
Dinamo starts a three-game home series and lost to Severstal on Wednesday (2:5).
Ak Bars starts a two-match road trip and defeated Torpedo also on Wednesday (2:1).
Dinamo Minsk has already defeated Ak Bars this season (3:2 SO). Its forward Ryan Spooner is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (5+3) points over that span.
Ak Bars’ forward Kirill Semyonov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.
Injury list
Ak Bars: Artyom Lukoyanov.
Disqualifications:
Dinamo Minsk’s Brandon Kozun serves a one-game ban.
19:30: Spartak (4-1-1, 3rd W) vs Torpedo (3-2-0, 8th W)
About the game
Spartak starts a two-game home series and lost to Avtomobilist on Wednesday (1:4).
Torpedo ends a three-game road trip and lost to Ak Bars also on Wednesday (1:2).
Torpedo’s forward Alexei Kruchinin is on a four-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points over that span.
His linemate, Nikolai Kovalenko, is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points.
Injury list
Spartak: Roman Starchenko.
Milestone alert
Spartak’s forward Andrei Loktionov may score his 200th KHL point (currently at 199).
Torpedo’s defenseman Mark Marin lines up for his 100th KHL game.
Source: en.khl.ru
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