Preview: Metallurg Magnitogorsk at Salavat Yulaev Ufa

UFA, Russia (Interstat) — The Kontinental Hockey League’s top team visits a club fighting for playoff positioning Wednesday when Metallurg Magnitogorsk faces Salavat Yulaev Ufa at Ufa Arena.

Metallurg (45-17-0) arrives with the KHL’s best record but is looking to stabilize after a 4-5-1 stretch in its last 10 games. It is coming off a 3-2 shootout win at Traktor Chelyabinsk on Sunday, where forward Ruslan Iskhakov had a goal and an assist.

Iskhakov, a key offensive catalyst, has points in two of his last three games and scored in Metallurg’s last meeting with Salavat Yulaev, a 4-3 shootout loss on Feb. 13. In that game, the home team rallied from a 3-1 deficit.

Salavat Yulaev (33-30-0) sits in a tightly contested conference playoff race and is 5-5-0 in its last 10. It is looking to rebound from a 6-3 road loss to Amur Khabarovsk on Saturday. Defenseman Sergei Varlov has been a physical presence, recording 18 hits in his last eight appearances.

The season series favors the hosts, who have won two of three meetings, including both that required extra time. Salavat Yulaev won 4-3 in a shootout at home on Feb. 13 and 3-2 in overtime in Magnitogorsk on Sept. 8. Metallurg’s lone victory was a 6-4 home win on Oct. 16.

Metallurg’s offense, led by Iskhakov, will test a Salavat Yulaev defense that has allowed 18 goals over its last five games. The visitors will aim to improve a road record that has seen them drop four of their last five away from Magnitogorsk.

For Salavat Yulaev, securing points is critical as it navigates a final homestand against playoff contenders. Following this game, it hosts Dynamo Moscow on Friday.

Metallurg continues a road trip at Sibir Novosibirsk on Friday. A win in Ufa would provide crucial momentum as it seeks to lock up the league’s top seed for the postseason.