Welcome. Game starts at 14:00 GMT / 15:00 CET / 17:00 MSK / 19:00 local time in Chelyabinsk.

Traktor Chelyabinsk started as one of the top favourites into the 2013-14 KHL season after reaching last year's Gagarin Cup finals but so far they couldn't really convince and are currently only 9th in Eastern Conference with 21 points in 17 games but just one point behind the first playoff spots.

Today's opponents Severstal Cherepovets had less high expectations but their start was also not as good as they hoped. The team is only 12th in Western Conference with 24 points in 19 games.

Traktor won only 2 of the 7 October games by now but their 2-1 home win in their last match on Sunday against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl gives them hope for more.

Severstal was a bit more successful than Traktor in October by winning 4 of their 9 games. In their four game road trip they faced Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (2-1), Salavat Yulayev Ufa (3-8) and Metallurg Magnitogorsk (2-4) so far.

An interesting and open game without any favourites can be expected. Stay tuned for the start of the match in a couple of minutes!

Starting lineups:

Traktor Chelyabinsk: Garnett (Demchenko) – Borodkin, Katichev, Bondarev, Kondratyev, Klimontov, Vasilchenko, Flyagin – Kontiola, Panov, Kostitsyn, Chistov, Bulis, Kuznetsov, Popov, Dugin, Glinkin, Kuryanov, Kokuyov, Abdullin, Mokin

Severstal Cherepovets: Stepanek (Grigoryev) – Serkin, Andersen, Caslava, Popov, Stasenko, Yevseyenkov – Bushuyev, Videll, Nikontsev, Berdnikov, Antipov, Klimenko, Kazakovtsev, Kovyrshin, Buchnevich, Fedoseyev, Gogolev, Monakhov, Bumagin, Dedunov

Referees: Zakharov, Safiullov – Metalnikov, Sirotkin

The teams are waiting on the ice and the Russian national anthem is being played. The game is about to start in a few moments.

Nikolai Bushuyev has the first shot on goal of this match. After his team Severstal appeared for the first time inside the Traktor third he tried it with a fast shot from the blue line towards the right top corner but Garnett deflected the puck wide with his glove hand.

On the other side of the ice Traktor brought several players into scoring position just in front of the guest net but couldn't force a shot on goal.

Evgeny Katichev was hurt in a battle for the puck inside the neutral zone and skates slowly towards the bench but it looks like the Traktor defender will be able to stay in the game.

Severstal's 4th line is doing a good job during their first shifts. Fedoseyev and Bumagin both forced the goalie to make saves.

Somehow the guests from Cherepovets make the more aggressive impression in these first minutes. Traktor still have to find into the game.

The guests try it from the left circle towards the right top corner but again Garnett is there with a block to the side.

Commercial break.

Severstal try to give the fast answer but the Traktor defense is working hard to keep them away from their net.

After they won the faceoff at the left circle inside the guest third the Traktor offense almost beat Stepanek for the second time but the shot from short distance went wide!

Several players of the guests are in a good shooting position but either Garnett or the Traktor defense stop them from getting a really dangerous shot on goal.

Commercial break.

The puck goes back and forth currently without any of the two teams being the dominant team.

Blue line shot by the guests after a won faceoff into the gloves of Garnett.

A long clerance deep into the Traktor third gives the guests from Cherepovets time to take a breath.

After a check by Andrei Kostitsyn Severstal's Nikita Popov crashed into the boards with his back first – very painful! He leaves the ice injured but it looks as if he would be able to come back intot he game later again.

The Sevestal penalty is over and they have a man more on the ice.

Michael Garnett cleared the puck to the side against several opponents with his stick to avoid a major scoring opportunity for the guests.

The puck ends up deep inside the Severstal third after a long clearance.

The home side almost scores with the first attack of the middle period but a shot by Petri Kontiola from within the slot goes wide past the right post!

Yegor Dugin has the next opportunity for the hosts but his shot from close to the blue line misses the net aswell.

A nice individual effort brings Anton Glinkin into an excellent scoring position but he misses the net from short distance. So far Traktor lack precision in this period.

The guests are back at full strength and not only killed their second penalty this afternoon but also scored themselves a goal during the last Traktor power play.

Counter for Severstal but their forward wasn't able to get into a good shooting position with three opponents battling for the puck with him. His shot from the left circle then was blocked to the side by Garnett.

Commercial break.

Andrei Kostitsyn with the fast attack but there is an offside call against him.

Again Kostitsyn in the center of attention but his shot from within the slot after a pass from behind the net is blocked to the side by Stepanek.

Nobody attacked Nikita Popov and so the guest defender was able to fire a shot towards the Traktor net with nobody in front of him but Garnett made the save!

Commercial break.

After a long distance shot Stepanek thought for a moment to keep the puck in play but then decided to cover it up to avoid a possible turnover.

Severstal have one of their rare attacks in the middle period but Linus Videll can't get a shot on goal after a pass from right to the net...

Out of the blue Vladimir Antipov appeared in front of Garnett but the Traktor goalie won the battle.

Traktor try to calm down after the early setback while Severstal keep the perssure high and want more!

Traktor's Andrei Kostitsyn tries it with a shot from just behind the blue line but can't beat Stepanek.

The game has really calmed down recently. None of the teams want to risk anything.

Severstal are the more active side but without having too many opportunities.

Shots in this period so far are 2-1 for Traktor...

The guests are back at full strength after a harmless Traktor power play.

A blue line shot by the guests hit their own forward Anatoly Nikontsev who waited in front of the Traktor net to deflect a puck...

Both teams are trying to pass the puck as long as possible between their own players to avoid an opportunity by the opponents...

Finally another shot towards the net but Severstal miss it and the puck goes wide past the left bottom corner.

A no look shot by the hosts from within the slot is blocked to the side by Stepanek.

After Traktor won the following face off Katichev tried it with a shot from the blue line but again the guest goalie was able to stop the puck!

Evgeny Kuznetsov wins the puck behind the Severstal net and tries it with a wrap-around afterwards but Stepanek is there with a save.

Suddenly Andrei Popov was left alone in front of the guest net but the following one-timer from short distance was stopped by Stepanek aswell!

Harmless shot by Severstal's Nikolai Bushuyev from the right circle, easily caught by Michael Garnett.

Petr Caslava's shot from the left wing went just inches wide past the right top corner!