On Tuesday, September 26th, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) presents three exciting matchups. Lada will host the Shanghai Dragons, desperately seeking to break a six-game losing streak. Lokomotiv will face Avtomobilist, with the Yaroslavl team eyeing their fifth consecutive victory. Meanwhile, Dynamo Minsk is set to welcome Severstal.
Lada (Tolyatti) vs. Shanghai Dragons (Kunlun Red Star)
Can Lada Avoid a Seventh Consecutive Loss?
Match Time: 18:00 MSK
Lada enters their game against the Shanghai Dragons (also known as Kunlun Red Star) on a daunting six-game losing streak. Following Pavel Desyatkov`s appointment as head coach, the Tolyatti squad fell to SKA (0:3) and HC Sochi (4:5 SO). With just three points, Lada is currently at the bottom of the Western Conference, five points behind the Chinese team, who sit in ninth place. The Dragons, under Gerard Gallant, have seen their last two games extend beyond regulation time, securing an overtime victory against Torpedo (1:0 OT) before suffering an overtime loss to Dynamo Moscow (2:3 OT) to kick off their road trip. Lada`s forward Andrei Altybarmakyan will serve the final portion of his suspension during this match, after which he will be eligible to return to the ice.
Key Players (Last 5 KHL Matches)
| Team | Player | Points (Goals+Assists) |
|---|---|---|
| Lada | Riley Savchuk | 4 (3+1) |
| Dmitry Kugryshev | 3 (1+2) | |
| William Dufour | 2 (1+1) | |
| Dragons | Nick Merkley | 6 (3+3) |
| Borna Rendulić | 3 (1+2) | |
| Will Reilly | 3 (0+3) |
Additional Statistics
- Lada defenseman Vladislav Syomin leads the regular season in hits (32 in seven games).
- Lada`s top scorers are forwards Riley Savchuk (4+2) and Dmitry Kugryshev (3+3).
- The upcoming match will be Artyom Zemchyonok`s 600th KHL game.
- For the Dragons, Nick Merkley (4+3) and Borna Rendulić (2+5) lead in points.
- Adam Clendening is among the top-5 defensemen in the league for points and assists (0+6 in seven games).
- Another Dragons defenseman, Doyle Somerby, leads in blocked shots (23 in seven games).
Head-to-Head Record (KHL History)
Lada has won only 2 out of 8 previous encounters against the Chinese club. The overall head-to-head record stands at Lada 2 – 6 Dragons.
Recent match outcomes between these teams include scores such as Lada 2 – 3 Dragons, Lada 5 – 1 Dragons, Lada 0 – 2 Dragons.
Lokomotiv (Yaroslavl) vs. Avtomobilist (Yekaterinburg)
Can Avtomobilist Halt Yaroslavl`s Five-Game Winning Streak?
Match Time: 19:00 MSK
Lokomotiv is currently riding a four-game winning streak. In their last outing, the Yaroslavl team defeated Severstal (2:1), pushing them to the top of the Western Conference with 13 points, surpassing Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Now, Bob Hartley`s squad aims to maintain their leading position. Avtomobilist trails by five points and arrives in Yaroslavl following two consecutive losses to Neftekhimik (1:4, 2:5). Can Nikolai Zavarukhin`s team avoid extending this losing streak?
Key Players (Last 5 KHL Matches)
| Team | Player | Points (Goals+Assists) |
|---|---|---|
| Lokomotiv | Alexander Radulov | 7 (5+2) |
| Egor Surin | 6 (4+2) | |
| Georgy Ivanov | 5 (2+3) | |
| Avtomobilist | Stéphane Da Costa | 6 (0+6) |
| Reid Boucher | 4 (1+3) | |
| Jesse Blacker | 4 (1+3) |
Additional Statistics
- For Lokomotiv goaltender Alexei Melnichuk, the next shutout will be his 10th in the KHL.
- Alexei Bereglazov is among the top-5 defensemen in the regular season for points and assists (0+6 in eight games) and leads in plus/minus rating (+9).
- Goaltender Daniil Isayev is in the top-five for save percentage (94.8%) and GAA (1.32) after eight games.
- Lokomotiv forwards Alexander Radulov and Egor Surin, both with six goals in eight games, are among the league`s top snipers. Surin has a five-game point streak (4+2).
- Rushan Rafikov is in the top-5 defensemen for goals, with three in eight games.
- Another Lokomotiv defenseman, Andrei Sergeyev, is nearing 300 KHL points (currently 297).
- Avtomobilist`s Jesse Blacker is one of the most productive defensemen this season (1+6 in eight games).
- Forward Brooks Macek is in the top-5 for goal scoring with five goals in five games, two of which were game-winners.
- Nikita Shashkov is among the top-five in hits (27 in eight games).
- Yekaterinburg defenseman Kirill Vorobyov is in the top-5 for blocked shots (22 in eight games).
- Stéphane Da Costa is close to 300 KHL assists (currently 298), and Alexander Sharov is nearing 300 points (currently 297).
Head-to-Head Record (KHL History)
Lokomotiv has won 17 out of 29 previous encounters against Avtomobilist. The overall head-to-head record is Lokomotiv 17 – 12 Avtomobilist.
Recent match outcomes between these teams include scores such as Lokomotiv 1 – 3 Avtomobilist, Lokomotiv 3 – 1 Avtomobilist, Lokomotiv 0 – 1 Avtomobilist.
Dynamo Minsk (Minsk) vs. Severstal (Cherepovets)
Will Minsk Extend Their Point Streak to Six Games?
Match Time: 19:10 MSK
Dynamo Minsk enters this match against Severstal with a five-game point streak, having consistently earned points. After a loss to Dynamo Moscow (2:4), Dmitry Kvartalnov`s team secured a win against Torpedo (4:3) but suffered three overtime or shootout losses: to Ak Bars (1:2 SO), Amur (2:3 OT), and Neftekhimik (3:4 OT). Severstal, after three consecutive victories (against Admiral (5:3), Sibir (2:0), and Torpedo (4:3 OT)), recently lost to Lokomotiv (1:2) and dropped to third place in the Western Conference. Minsk`s defenseman Nick Merkley is a standout, currently the second-leading scorer in the regular season with nine points (4+5) in eight games.
Key Players (Last 5 KHL Matches)
| Team | Player | Points (Goals+Assists) |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamo Minsk | Nick Merkley | 9 (4+5) |
| Savely Volkov | 4 (2+2) | |
| Vadim Pinchuk | 3 (1+2) | |
| Severstal | Egor Skorenov | 5 (3+2) |
| Stepan Prikhodko | 5 (2+3) | |
| Danil Aimurzin | 4 (3+1) |
Additional Statistics
- Minsk forward Nick Merkley leads the regular season in shots on goal (37 in eight games).
- Roman Gorbunov is in the top-5 for hits (27 in eight games), and Kristian Khenkel is among the top-five for blocked shots (22 in eight games).
- Severstal defenseman Timofey Davydov is in the top-five for hits (27 in eight games).
- His teammate Mikhail Ilyin is among the top-five rookie scorers (2+2 in eight games).
- For forward Danil Aimurzin, the next assist will be his 50th in the KHL.
- Alexander Samonov is among the top-5 goaltenders in save percentage (95.2%) and GAA (1.24) in eight games.
Head-to-Head Record (KHL History)
Dynamo Minsk has won 18 out of 28 previous encounters against Severstal. The overall head-to-head record is Dynamo Minsk 18 – 10 Severstal.
Recent match outcomes between these teams include scores such as Dynamo Minsk 2 – 1 Severstal, Dynamo Minsk 4 – 2 Severstal, Dynamo Minsk 1 – 2 Severstal.
All statistics are current as of the preview date.
Neville Woodall