Ak Bars hosts Traktor on an Eastern showdown

The KHL matchday starts in the Western Conference, when a slumping Vityaz side tries to invert the trend hosting Sibir. The Novosibirsk side, however, had an excellent start of the season and despite the recent loss to Avtomobilist is the fourth seed of the East.

The action then moves to Kazan, where Ak Bars welcomes Traktor. Both teams can be considered a disappointment so far – especially Traktor – but thing may change should a victory in a tight matchup erupts. And this game is a nice chance for both teams to start getting things going the right way, with Ak Bars’ Alexander Radulov trying to reach the 200-goal mark.

After a tough loss to Torpedo, Avangard tries to improve its stock in Nizhnekamsk – the only team without a win so far. The Hawks are getting closer to the end of its 12-game road trip to start the season, and they are improving of late. However, Neftekhimik is yet to get a win and, sooner or later, they will eventually take two points. Moreover, the boards had a few moves on the market this week, and maybe the roster’s shift will work. 

A showdown between HC Sochi and Amur closes a light KHL Sunday. Both teams are on a losing streak, and a win may invert the trend for either the Black Sea or the Far East franchise.

14:00: Vityaz (4-3-2, 8^th W) vs Sibir (5-4-1, 4^th E) 

About the game

Vityaz enters the second of a four-game home series on a five-match losing streak.

Sibir, which recorded its latest away win over Vityaz on Sep 30, 2018 (4:3), starts a four-match road trip and lost to Avtomobilist on Thursday (3:5).

Injury list

Vityaz. Alexander Avtsin.

Sibir: Vadim Kudako.

Milestone alert

Sibir’s forward Taylor Beck lines up for his 300^th KHL game.

17:00: Ak Bars (5-2-1, 3^rd E) vs Traktor (4-6-0, 8^th E)

About the game

Ak Bars ends a two-game home series and lost to Spartak on Wednesday (0:2).

Traktor ends a three-match road trip and defeated Neftekhimik on Friday (5:3).

Traktor’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 7 (5+2) points over that span.

Milestone alert

Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Radulov may tally his 200^th KHL goal. 

17:00: Neftekhimik (0-8-1, 11^th E) vs Avangard (3-6-1, 9^th E) 

About the game

Neftekhimik is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost all nine games since the start of the season.

Avangard is at its eleventh of a twelve-game road trip and lost to Torpedo on Friday (2:4).

Avangard’s forward Sergei Tolchinsky is on a five-game scoring streak, with 8 (3+5) points over that span.

17:00: HC Sochi (1-8-0, 11^th W) vs Amur (3-5-1, 10^th E) 

About the game

HC Sochi enters the third of a four-match home series on a five-game losing streak.

Amur starts a four-game road trip and lost its previous four matches.

Injury list

Amur: Andrei Alexeyev, Vyacheslav Gretsky, Michal Jordan.

Milestone alert

HC Sochi’s forward Vasily Glotov may reach 100 KHL games.

Amur’s forward Igor Rudenkov is on the lookout for his 100^th KHL point.

Source: en.khl.ru

Third showdown between SKA and Dynamo Moscow tonight!

The KHL matchday starts in Ufa, with Salavat Yulaev hosting Dinamo Minsk. Both teams have active winning streaks, and play an offensive style – the crowd will be entertained at the Ufa Arena. Another exciting Eastern Conference game sees Metallurg hosting Kunlun Red Star. After defeating CSKA, the Dragons couldn’t repeat the trick pulling a victory off SKA, but they can still defeat another contender with a game in Magnitogorsk.

The action then moves to the West, where Lokomotiv hosts Admiral. The Railwaymen are on a good streak, while the Sailors are cooling down after a hot start – Lokomotiv may have the upper hand, at least initially. However, the top game of the night is undoubtedly the third showdown of the season between two Western Conference’s giants SKA and Dynamo Moscow. The Roman Rotenberg men got the best of the Blue-and-Whites twice this season, and they will be looking out for three in a row as the teams are likely to meet again in the playoff.

A slumping Severstal side hosts Barys in the matchday’s closing game – the Cherepovets side lost three straight games and will be trying to returning to victory when the Kazakhs start a road trip on this KHL Saturday.

14:30: Salavat Yulaev (4-3-2, 5^th E) vs Dinamo Minsk (6-2-1, 2^nd W) 

About the game

Salavat Yulaev starts a two-game home series after two consecutive wins in the Far East.

Dinamo Minsk starts a three-game road trip also on a two-match winning streak.

The Ufa side has already defeated Dinamo Minsk this season (4:2), as the Belarusian side lost its previous 12 matches against Salavat Yulaev, with the most recent victory dated Sep 10,

Salavat Yulaev’s forward Nikolai Kulemin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points over that span.

His teammate, forward Ivan Drozdov, is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points.

Injury list

Salavat Yulaev: Josh Ho-Sang.

Dinamo Minsk: John Gilmour.

Milestone alert

Salavat Yulaev’s forward Stepan Sannikov may reach 200 KHL points.

His teammates, forwards Stanislav Bocharov and Sergei Shmelyov, may tally their 100^th KHL goal (both are currently at 99).

15:00: Metallurg (6-1-2, 2^nd E) vs Kunlun Red Star (3-5-2, 10^th W) 

About the game

Metallurg starts a three-game home series and is on a five-match winning streak.

Kunlun Red Star, who has never won in Magnitogorsk, starts a three-game road trip and lost to SKA on Thursday.

Metallurg’s goalie Vasily Koshechkin is on a 60:00 shutout streak.

Metallurg’s forward Semyon Koshelev is on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (1+2) points over that span.

Metallurg’s forward Nikita Korostelyov had a helper in each of his previous four games.

Injury list

Metallurg: Arkhip Nekolenko, Anatoly Nikontsev.

Kunlun Red Star: Cliff Pu.

17:00: Lokomotiv (5-3-1, 7^th W) vs Admiral (4-4-1, 7^th E)

About the game

Lokomotiv starts a four-game home series and won its previous three matches.

Admiral starts a four-game road trip and is on a two-match losing streak.

Lokomotiv’s most recent win over Admiral is dated Oct 18, 2018 (4:0).

Lokomotiv’s goalie Danil Isayev is on a 65:25 shutout streak.

Injury list

Lokomotiv: Alexei Marchenko.

Admiral: Vadim Khlopotov, Alexander Shevchenko, Rinat Valiyev.

Milestone alert

Lokomotiv’s forward Yegor Averin may reach 300 KHL points (currently at 298).

17:00: SKA (9-0-0, 1^st W) vs Dynamo Moscow (6-3-0, 3^rd W)

About the game

SKA starts a three-game home series and won its previous nine matches.

Dynamo Moscow ends a two-match road trip and defeated Severstal on Thursday (3:1).

SKA has already defeated the Blue-and-Whites twice this season (4:1, 3:2).

Injury list

SKA: Danila Moiseyev, Mikhail Pashnin, Alexander Samonov, Artyom Shvets-Rogovoy.

Dynamo Moscow: Bogdan Yakimov.

Milestone alert

Dynamo Moscow’s defenseman Sergei Boikov lines up for his 100^th KHL game.

17:30: Severstal (4-4-1, 9^th W) vs Barys (4-4-1, 6^th E)

About the game

Severstal is in the middle of a three-game home series and lost its most recent three matches.

Barys starts a three-game road trip on a two-match winning streak.

Severstal had its latest home win over Barys on Oct 27, 2017 (4:3 OT).

Barys’ goalies Nikita Boyarkin and Julius Hudacek have active shutout series, 83:44 and 60:00, respectively.

Barys’ defenseman Jesse Graham is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (0+5) points.

Source: en.khl.ru