KHL Match Previews for October 4th: Benoit Groulx’s 100th Game and More

Two intriguing matchups are scheduled for October 4th in the Fonbet KHL Championship. Neftekhimik aims to deliver a third defeat of the season to Avtomobilist, while Traktor`s head coach, Benoit Groulx, is set to celebrate his milestone 100th game in the League against the Kunlun Red Star.

Neftekhimik vs. Avtomobilist: Will the Urals Secure a Win on Their Third Attempt?

These two rivals have already clashed twice this season, with Neftekhimik dominating both encounters (4:1, 5:2). The “Wolves” recently saw their impressive four-game winning streak come to an end with a 1:4 home loss to Lada. Despite this setback, Neftekhimik remains a strong contender in the Eastern Conference, holding 14 points and a one-point lead over Yekaterinburg. Avtomobilist, however, arrives at this game on a high note, with two consecutive wins under their belt, having conceded only two goals in victories over Ak Bars (4:1) and Amur (3:1). Notable players Anatoly Golyshev, Brooks Macek, and Curtis Volk have joined Avtomobilist for their road trip and training, while injured players Sergei Zborovsky, Nikita Tryamkin, Maxim Osipov, and Stephane Da Costa remain in Yekaterinburg.

Team Leaders in Last Five KHL Games:

• Neftekhimik: Andrei Belozyorov (7 points: 2 goals, 5 assists), Danil Yurtaykin (7 points: 2 goals, 5 assists), Evgeny Mityakin (6 points: 4 goals, 2 assists).
• Avtomobilist: Danil Romantsev (4 points: 2 goals, 2 assists), Jesse Blacker (4 points: 2 goals, 2 assists), Roman Gorbunov (3 points: 2 goals, 1 assist).

Neftekhimik forward Andrei Belozyorov is showcasing exceptional form, collecting points in five consecutive matches (2+5). Evgeny Mityakin is a prominent scorer, ranking among the top five snipers in the championship with seven goals in 11 games. Danil Yurtaykin is also a key playmaker, currently in the top five assist-makers with nine helpers. On the physical front, Luka Profaka leads the league in hits (47 in 11 games), while Artyom Serikov is a leader in blocked shots (34 in 11 matches), with Avtomobilist defenseman Kirill Vorobyov trailing him by just four blocks. Avtomobilist forward Alexander Sharov is on the verge of a significant milestone, nearing 300 KHL career points (currently at 298). Jesse Blacker stands out as a leading scorer and assistant among defensemen in the regular season (2+8 in 11 games).

Kunlun Red Star vs. Traktor: Celebrating Benoit Groulx`s 100th Match

Traktor head coach Benoit Groulx will reach his 100th KHL game milestone in St. Petersburg against the Kunlun Red Star. Chelyabinsk approaches this game after suffering two losses in Moscow against Spartak (3:6) and Dynamo (2:3 SO), although they impressively recovered from a two-goal deficit in the final minutes against Dynamo. The Kunlun Red Star is currently in strong form, having secured two consecutive victories and earning points in their last four games. Since September 26th, Gerard Gallant`s team has demonstrated solid defense, conceding only two goals while defeating Lada (4:1) and Spartak (3:1). With 12 points, the “Dragons” have temporarily climbed into the top four of the Western Conference. Traktor, with 13 points, holds a position among the top five in the Eastern Conference.

Team Leaders in Last Five KHL Games:

• Kunlun Red Star: Borna Rendulic (4 points: 1 goal, 3 assists), Nikita Popugaev (3 points: 1 goal, 2 assists), Adam Clendening (3 points: 1 goal, 2 assists).
• Traktor: Joshua Leivo (8 points: 3 goals, 5 assists), Grigory Dronov (6 points: 4 goals, 2 assists), Andrei Svetlakov (4 points: 1 goal, 3 assists).

Kunlun Red Star defenseman Adam Clendening is proving to be one of the most productive defensemen this season, with 1 goal and 7 assists in nine games. Traktor forward Joshua Leivo is on an impressive five-game point streak (3+5) and leads the regular season in both scoring and assists (4+10 in nine games). Grigory Dronov is among the top five defensemen-snipers, contributing four goals in 11 appearances. In terms of defensive efforts, Logan Day is among the top five players for blocked shots (29 in ten games), with Doyle Somerby of the Red Star just two blocks behind him. Traktor forward Andrei Svetlakov is also approaching a personal milestone, with his next point set to be his 250th in the KHL.