Preview: Barys at CSKA Moscow, KHL

MOSCOW (Interstat) — The Kontinental Hockey League’s CSKA Moscow will look to avenge a recent road loss when it hosts Barys Astana at CSKA Ice Palace on Thursday.

The clubs met just five days prior in Astana, where Barys secured a 3-1 victory on Jan. 17. CSKA, sitting with a 22-25 record across all competitions, has struggled for consistency, alternating wins and losses in its last six outings. The Red Army club is 3-3 in that span following Saturday’s defeat.

Barys (16-32) snapped a five-game losing streak with that win over CSKA but promptly began another, falling 2-0 at Lada Togliatti on Tuesday. The Kazakh club has lost 10 of its last 12 games.

A key matchup will be Barys goaltender Adam Scheel against CSKA forward Maxim Sorkin. Scheel was the first star in the Jan. 17 win, stopping 25 of 26 shots. In his last five starts, however, he is 1-4 despite a .942 save percentage, receiving minimal offensive support. Barys has been shut out in three of those losses.

Sorkin scored CSKA’s lone goal in the last meeting and has points in three of his last five games (two goals, two assists). He will be central to CSKA’s effort to solve Scheel again and ignite an offense that has managed just four goals in its past three games.

CSKA’s home-ice advantage has been slight this season, while Barys has the league’s worst road record. The hosts will be heavily favored, but the visitors have proven they can win this specific matchup.

Following this game, CSKA hosts Severstal Cherepovets on Monday. Barys continues a road trip at Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk on Saturday.

Game Facts: Barys Astana (16-32) at CSKA Moscow (22-25), Thursday, 7:30 p.m. local time, CSKA Ice Palace, Moscow.