NIZHNEKAMSK, Russia (Interstat) — Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk will host Barys Astana on Friday in a Kontinental Hockey League game at SCC Arena in Neftekhim Arena.

Neftekhimik brings a 7-4 record into the matchup. Barys enters at 5-5. Neftekhimik won the most recent head-to-head meeting, 6-3 at Barys earlier this season. Barys has posted wins over Dynamo Moscow, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Lada Togliatti, Salavat Yulaev Ufa and Sibir Novosibirsk this season. Neftekhimik has defeated Admiral Vladivostok twice, Barys, Lada Togliatti, Sibir Novosibirsk, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg and HC Sochi.

Sevastyan Sokolov is a player to watch for Neftekhimik. Over his last 10 games, the forward has one goal, one assist, 14 shots on goal, two penalty minutes and six hits. He had a goal and an assist with two shots in the earlier win at Barys. He recorded two shots and one hit in a 1-0 loss at Amur Khabarovsk. He also had two shots at Admiral Vladivostok, one shot against Lada Togliatti, two shots, two penalty minutes and one hit at Metallurg Magnitogorsk, one shot at Salavat Yulaev Ufa, two shots and one hit at Sibir Novosibirsk, two hits against Admiral Vladivostok, one shot against Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg and one shot and one hit against HC Sochi.

Vsevolod Logvin is a player to watch for Barys. Over his last 10 games, the forward has four goals, six assists, 27 shots on goal and six hits. He scored one goal on two shots in the most recent game at Ak Bars Kazan. He scored twice on three shots against SKA Saint Petersburg. He had one assist and two shots against Neftekhimik, one assist and two shots at Dynamo Moscow, one assist, one shot and three hits at Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, five shots at Metallurg Magnitogorsk, one shot and two hits at Lada Togliatti, two shots against Amur Khabarovsk, one assist, five shots and one hit against Salavat Yulaev Ufa, and one goal, two assists and four shots against Sibir Novosibirsk.

In Barys’ most recent game, Logan Day added an assist on three shots with one hit, and Ian McCoshen had two shots and one hit. In Neftekhimik’s most recent game, Timur Khairullin had three shots and one hit.

Neftekhimik’s upcoming schedule includes home games against Sibir Novosibirsk, Avangard Omsk, Traktor Chelyabinsk, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Admiral Vladivostok, along with road games at Salavat Yulaev Ufa, CSKA Moscow, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Avangard Omsk and Sibir Novosibirsk. Barys will visit Spartak Moscow next and later plays Avangard Omsk, Sibir Novosibirsk and Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg at home, with road games at Sibir Novosibirsk, Amur Khabarovsk, Admiral Vladivostok, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Dinamo Minsk and Shanghai Dragons.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Neftekhimik 3, Barys 2.