Welcome. Game starts at 06:00 ET / 12:00 CET / 15:00 MSK / 17:00 local time in Chelyabinsk.

The game against Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod couldn't be of more importance for home side Traktor Chelyabinsk as they are in the middle of the fight for the last playoff spot in Eastern Conference together with league newcomers Admiral Vladivostok from Russia's Far East.

Traktor are currently 9th in the East with 74 points in 52 games (of 54), laying one point behind Admiral Vladivostok who have played one game more already. As Admiral plays against Amur Khabarovsk, the last in the whole KHL, in the last match on home ice, Traktor will most likely need 5 points to make it to the playoffs themselves out of their last two home games against Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and Ak Bars Kazan – a very difficult task as both are among the top teams in the East!

Torpedo have collected 91 points in 52 games for the 5th spot in the East. In the last two games the only open question for them is if they can get the home advantage in the first playoff round against Salavat Yulayev Ufa who currently hold the 4th position – both teams can't reach a better or worse place anymore and will face for sure.

After the 4 week long Olympic break Traktor had mixed results against Continental Cup winners Dynamo Moscow (3-5) and bottom side Vityaz Podolsk (3-2) on home ice. Torpedo lost against future first playoff round opponents Salavat Yulayev Ufa (1-2 OT) and beat Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (5-3) on the road.

Traktor's top scorers are Petri Kontiola (35 pts), Andrei Kostitsyn (29 pts) and Anton Glinkin (27 pts). Torpedo's topscores are Sakari Salminen (46 pts), Wojtek Wolski and Jarkko Immonen (both 36 pts).

If Traktor can reconquer the last playoff spot in the East despite the high pressure, we'll see soon!

Starting lineups:

Traktor Chelyabinsk: Garnett (Danilishin) – Borodkin, Katichev, Ryabykin, Bondarev, Vasilchenko, Kondratyev, Klimontov, Khlystov – Popov, Glinkin, Kokuyov, Chistov, Bulis, Kuznetsov, Kontiola, Kostitsyn, Valyev, Zavarukhin, Panov, Mokin

Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod: Gelashvili (Kasutin) – Hietanen, Khomitsky, Valentenko, Belokhvostikov, Grigoryev, Denisov, Osipov – Wolski, Salminen, Immonen, Galuzin, Krasnoslobodtsev, Skachkov, Parshin, Kolanos, Kulyomin, Badyukov, Konkov, Dvurechensky, Potapov

Referees: Ravodin, Gusev – Nazarov, Koposov

The teams are waiting on the ice while the Russian national anthem is being played. The game is about to start very soon!

The guests are finding a bit better into the match now and even force Traktor back into their own third but without a shot on goal yet.

A blue line shot by the guests is no danger for Garnett.

For a moment Garnett lost the puck after a harmless shot from the left circle and this was almost punished by Sakari Salminen who waited just next to the goalie crease but Garnett covered up the puck in time!

Semyon Kokuyov leaves the puck for Andrei Popov on the right circle but his shot from there can't surprise Gelashvili in the guest net!

The Traktor power play formation isn't really working well yet as they fail to keep the puck inside the Torpeod third and the guests made several long clearances alreay.

A harmless shot by a Traktor defender from the right wing doesn't make it through to the net.

Another long clearance by the guests and Torpedo are back at full strength.

Traktor are clearly in controll of the match but fail to create more than a few harmless distance shots currently. Torpedo wait for counters.

Offside call against Traktor.

Shots on goal to this point are 6 to 1 in favour of Traktor.

Easy pad save to the side by Gelashvili after a harmless shot from the left circle.

The game really has calmed down. There are barely any attacks anymore.

Torpedo's Jarkko Immonen tries it with a shot from the left circle but it is not placed well and means no danger for Garnett in the Traktor net.

After the hosts failed to clear the puck in their own third it was Evgeny Belokhvostikov who tried it from close to the left circle but his shot went wide.

Icing called against Traktor.

Another stupid icing against the home team.

Traktor failed to create any real danger during their power play and now the guests hare complete again.

Traktor's Evgeny Kuznetsov tries it with a shot from within the slot that is deflected wide by the stick of a defender.

There have been several breaks already in this middle period. This way the game can't develop for sure.

A Torpedo attack via the right wing ends when nobody helped the forward against two opponents.

Wojtek Wolski tries it with a shot from just left to the Traktor net but is stopped by Garnett.

Blue line shot by a Torpedo defender, no danger for Garnett.

A shot from within the slot through two defensemen by Evgeny Kuznetsov is blocked to the side without problems by Torpedo goalie Gelashvili.

Krystofer Kolanos tries it from just right to the Traktor net but can't surprise Garnett.

Torpedo are the more active side in these first minutes of this period but they still haven't had a 100% chance in the whole game.

Traktor with a series of shots from all possible angles but Gelashvili stays calm.

Torpedo forward Vladimir Galuzin is able to rush into the Traktor third and three opponents are necessary to stop him behind the net – but even this only with unfair methods. There is a penalty call!

The guests are back at full strength and have a power play themselves for the first time in this game now.

A solo by a Traktor forward doesn't lead to a scoring opportunity as the last defender stole the puck from his stick.

Traktor are back at full strength, too.

The Traktor penalty killing works excellent so far. They easily fire the puck deep into the Torpedo third.

Another long clearance by the hosts.

And again the puck is sent all the way down to the Torpedo net who don't even get their power play formation into position.

A one-timer from the blue line by Torpedo defender Pavel Valentenko goes just wide.

The Traktor penalty is over and the hosts are back at full strength.

Traktor keep the puck inside their own third and don't find a hole in the guest defense. The home fans are losing their patience a bit with their team.

Petri Kontiola waits at the left circle and tries to find a player in a good shooting position several times but then the hosts lose the puck and the situation is cleared.

Traktor defender Dmitry Ryabykin with a shot from the right circle that goes just wide.

The Khomitsky penalty from late of the middle period is over and the guests are back at full strength.

A shot by Evgeny Belokhvostikov from the left circle at height of the blue line is blocked by an opponent and there is almost a counter for Traktor but a Torpedo defender helps out to clear the situation within the neutral zone.

Traktor forward Stanislav Chistov tries to battle in a rebound after a shot by Jan Bulis from the left circle waiting just in front of the goalie crease but Gelashvili blocks the back hander!

It's very quiet now. The home fans know that a loss today could very easily mean the end of all their playoff hopes!

Hectic situation in front of the Traktor net but the guests don't get a shot on target out of the crowd.

The hosts try to react. A blue line shot by defender Alexei Bondarov goes just wide.

Torpedo try to force the hosts back into their own third, press for the second goal and thus the decision in this match.

A harmless shot from the left circle goes straight into the gloves of Torpedo goalie Gelashvili.

Traktor play it like a power play now and keep the puck inside the Torpedo third but without a decent shot on goal.

The hosts are easily kept away from the net and time is working against them.

It's a very one-sided picture. Traktor attack with all players available and the guests wait for counter opportunities.