Today`s KHL schedule features two intriguing matchups: SKA will visit Yekaterinburg, aiming to snap a losing streak, while Dynamo Moscow and Salavat Yulaev will compete for their third consecutive victory.
Avtomobilist vs SKA: Can SKA End Its Losing Streak?
Matchup: Avtomobilist (Yekaterinburg) vs SKA (Saint Petersburg)
Game time: 17:00 Moscow time
SKA concludes its three-game road trip in Yekaterinburg, coming off a 2-4 loss to Lokomotiv in Yaroslavl, which marked their fourth consecutive defeat. With 12 points, Igor Larionov`s team sits ninth in the Western Conference, outside the playoff picture, a situation that may prompt further roster adjustments. Forward Nikolai Goldobin missed the previous game, while Ignat Lutfullin and Nikita Nedopekin made their KHL debuts. Avtomobilist, conversely, boasts five more points and is among the top three teams in the Eastern Conference. Nikolai Zavarukhin`s squad has been unbeaten since September 26th, enjoying a four-game winning streak, highlighted by a dominant 4-1 road victory over Avangard in their last outing.
Key Players in Recent Games (Last 5 KHL Matches)
Avtomobilist:
- Roman Gorbunov: 6 points (4 goals + 2 assists)
- Stepan Khripunov: 6 points (3 goals + 3 assists)
- Danil Romantsev: 5 points (3 goals + 2 assists)
SKA:
- Valentin Zykov: 4 points (3 goals + 1 assist)
- Nikolai Goldobin: 4 points (0 goals + 4 assists)
- Brennan Menell: 3 points (2 goals + 1 assist)
Roman Gorbunov of Avtomobilist is on a five-game point streak (4 goals, 2 assists). Teammates Danil Romantsev (3 goals, 2 assists) and Stepan Khripunov (3 goals, 3 assists) have also recorded points in their last four consecutive games. Defenseman Jesse Blacker continues to be a top scorer and assist leader among league blueliners (2 goals, 9 assists in 13 games). Yekaterinburg`s goaltender Vladimir Galkin has climbed into the top five for save percentage (93.8% through seven appearances). Defenseman Kirill Vorobyov is also among the top five for blocked shots (36 in 13 games). For SKA, aside from Goldobin (0 goals, 4 assists), Valentin Zykov (3 goals, 1 assist) has been a top performer in the last five games. SKA`s goaltender Artemy Pleshkov is in the top five for save percentage (94.4% after five games). Brennan Menell remains the leading goal-scoring defenseman with six goals in 12 matches.
Head-to-Head Statistics
Historically in the KHL, SKA has won 22 out of 36 head-to-head encounters against Avtomobilist.
Avtomobilist 14 vs 22 SKA (All-time KHL victories)
Recent Match Scores (Avtomobilist vs SKA):
- 3 – 2
- 2 – 5
- 2 – 1
- 5 – 2 (SKA home win)
- 4 – 5 (SKA home loss)
- 1 – 3 (SKA home loss)
Dynamo Moscow vs Salavat Yulaev: Who Will Secure Their Third Straight Win?
Matchup: Dynamo Moscow vs Salavat Yulaev (Ufa)
Game time: 19:30 Moscow time
Salavat Yulaev embarks on a two-game road trip following two home victories against Sibir (5-2) and HC Sochi (3-1). Despite these wins, Viktor Kozlov`s team remains at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with eight points. Dynamo Moscow also secured two consecutive wins, defeating Traktor (3-2 SO) and Torpedo (4-1). Goaltender Vladislav Podyapolsky, back from injury, defended the Moscow net in both matches. Dynamo, with 13 points, holds the seventh spot in the Western Conference. Prior to this game, Salavat Yulaev signed forward Alexander Khokhlachyov to a full contract after he scored two goals in three games on a tryout.
Key Players in Recent Games (Last 5 KHL Matches)
Dynamo Moscow:
- Maxim Comtois: 5 points (3 goals + 2 assists)
- Dylan Sikura: 5 points (1 goal + 4 assists)
- Artyom Sergeev: 4 points (1 goal + 3 assists)
Salavat Yulaev:
- Alexander Zharovsky: 4 points (1 goal + 3 assists)
- Maxim Kuznetsov: 4 points (1 goal + 3 assists)
- Nikita Zorkin: 3 points (2 goals + 1 assist)
Dynamo forward Maxim Comtois is currently on a three-game point streak (2 goals, 2 assists). For Salavat Yulaev, Alexander Zharovsky has recorded points in three consecutive games (1 goal, 3 assists). Visiting defenseman Alexei Vasilevsky is just one assist shy of his 100th career KHL assist.
Head-to-Head Statistics
In recent history, Dynamo Moscow has won 10 out of 12 head-to-head contests against Salavat Yulaev.
Dynamo Moscow 10 vs 2 Salavat Yulaev (Recent Head-to-Head victories)
Recent Match Scores (Dynamo M vs Salavat Yulaev):
- 4 – 2
- 2 – 1
- 3 – 2
- 1 – 3 (Salavat home win)
- 1 – 2 (Salavat home win)
- 3 – 2 (Salavat home win)
Neville Woodall