Preview of KHL Game: Amur at Metallurg M

MAGNITOGORSK, Russia (Interstat) — The Kontinental Hockey League’s top team will look to rebound from a rare loss when Metallurg Magnitogorsk hosts the struggling Amur Khabarovsk on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Arena Metallurg.

The matchup is a study in stark contrasts. Metallurg M (36-11-1) sits atop the league standings, while Amur (15-31-1) is mired near the bottom. The home team has won eight of its last ten games, including a 9-0 rout of HC Sochi on Jan. 14. Their most recent outing, however, was a 2-1 home loss to Sibir Novosibirsk on Thursday, snapping a five-game win streak.

Amur enters on a seven-game losing skid, having not won since Dec. 27. Their most recent defeat was a 4-3 loss to this same Metallurg squad on Monday in Khabarovsk.

That previous meeting suggests Amur can be competitive. Forward Oleg Li was the standout performer in that game, scoring both of Amur’s final two goals in the third period to nearly force overtime. Li, who finished with two goals on four shots, is Amur’s player to watch. He has been active offensively during the losing streak, recording 15 shots on goal in his last five appearances.

For Metallurg, defenseman Yegor Yakovlev is a key figure. He scored his team’s lone goal in the loss to Sibir, firing seven shots on net, and has four points (one goal, three assists) in his last four games. His offensive production from the blue line has been a consistent weapon.

The season series has been dominated by Metallurg, who also won 3-1 in Khabarovsk on Nov. 7. The simulator from Interstat projects that dominance to continue, forecasting a 5-1 victory for the home side.

Metallurg will aim to use this game to regain momentum before a key stretch against Eastern Conference rivals. Amur, desperately seeking to end its prolonged slump, will need another standout performance from Li and a near-perfect defensive effort to challenge the league leaders on their home ice.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM local time (0900 GMT).