12 teams to have opener tonight!

After Lokomotiv’s win yesterday, the second matchday of the new season will feature six games, with exciting matchups in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.Just as last season, the second matchday starts with an exciting Siberian derby between Avangard and Sibir. Omsk, the host city, is abuzz with excitement, and a sold-out crowd is expected to pack the arena. Last year, the Hawks got the upper hand with a 2:1 score with goals by Igor Geraskin and Ryan Spooner, but then game was then forfeited due to Sibir dressing four import players for the night. This season, Sibir will be seeking revenge, and Avangard have a few key players out with injuries – it will only add to excitement.Another two games are scheduled in the East, with Avtomobilist hosting Traktor, and Barys welcoming Neftekhimik. The Kazakhs have shuffled their lineup this summer, and it will be interesting to see whether they will be able to return to playoff hockey after missing the elimination stage two seasons in a row.The action then moves to the West. Torpedo will have its season opener against Severstal, while Vityaz will host Admiral as both teams will be trying to accumulate points since the start. Then, in Moscow, Dynamo will entertain Kunlun Red Star in another exciting lineup. The Dragons had a busy offseason and the team has underwent significant changes, will it be enough to return to the playoffs?16:30 Avangard vs SibirAbout the gameAvangard has a few critical players out of its lineup, with Sibir getting ready with a few veteran signings before the start of the season. A sold-out crowd is expected in Omsk as the city will gear up for the new campaign.The Hawks will play its first game of a four-match home series, while Sibir starts a four-game road trip.Injury listAvangard: Mikhail Berdin, Reid Boucher, Vladimir Tkachyov.Sibir: Dmitry Ovchinnikov.17:00 Avtomobilist vs TraktorAbout the gameBoth the Motormen and Traktor had a good preseason campaign, thus will be determined to emerge as winner in the first Ural Derby of the season. Traktor has strengthened its lineup this summer, and will be seeking another big season, but Avtomobilist will not be less.Avtomobilist plays the first game of a two-match home series, while Traktor starts a five-match road trip.Injury listAvtomobilist: Evgeny Kashnikov, Semyon Kizimov.Milestone alertTraktor’s defenseman Artyom Blazhiyevsky may reach 100 KHL points (currently at 99).Traktor’s newly signed forward Alexander Kadeikin will seek his 100th KHL tally (currently at 99).17:30 Barys vs NeftekhimikAbout the gameBarys enters a four-game home series with a revamped roster as the team has strengthened with significant new signings from both the league and North America. Neftekhimik starts a three-match road trip and will be seeking a good result to start the new campaign on a positive note.Injury listBarys: Batyrlan Muratov.Neftekhimik: Grigory Seleznyov, Kirill Urakov.Milestone alertBarys’ captain, veteran forward Roman Starchenko, seeks his 200th goal in the KHL regular season (currently at 199).Barys’ forward Damir Zhafyarov may reach 200 KHL assists (currently at 199).Neftekhimik’s defenseman Bogdan Kiselevich may score his 200th league point (currently at 198).19:00 Torpedo vs SeverstalAbout the gameTorpedo and Severstal are always a nice matchup and the home fans will be treated to an entertaining game, with both teams opening the season on a full roster. Moreover, there is plenty of players who lined up for both squads to spice up the contest. It’s the first home game in a series of three for Torpedo, while Severstal starts a three-match road trip.Milestone alertTorpedo’s forward Andrei Belevich lines up for his 300th career game.Torpedo’s newly signed forward Dmitry Kagarlitsky eyes his 500th career point (currently at 497).Torpedo’s goalie Ivan Bocharov may record his 30th KHL shutout.19:00 Vityaz vs AdmiralAbout the gameThe Moscow Region franchise starts a five-game home series hosting Admiral, who will be at its first match of a three-game road trip. Both teams had a good preseason, and unpredictability will be high in this contest.Injury listVityaz: Grigory Vashchenko.Admiral: Vyacheslav Osnovin.Milestone alertVityaz’s goalie Dmitry Shikin may record his 10th league shutout.Vityaz’s forward Vladimir Galuzin is seeking his 100th tally in the KHL regular season (currently at 99).19:30 Dynamo Moscow vs Kunlun Red StarAbout the gameDynamo Moscow had a couple of big signings this summer, but the Dragons shuffled most of their roster, also changing their head coach appointing Mikhail Kravets. It will be interesting to see whether they can pose a challenge to Dynamo in the lone road game of their series. The Blue-and-Whites, instead, start a short, two-game home series.Injury listKunlun Red Star: Doyle Somerby.