MOSCOW (Interstat) — Metallurg M will visit Spartak in a Kontinental Hockey League game Friday at Luzhniki Minor Arena in Moscow, Russia. Metallurg M brings an 8-3 record into the matchup. Spartak is 5-5.

Nikita A. Korotkov is a player to watch for Metallurg M. In recent games, he recorded one goal, two shots on goal and two hits against Shanghai Dragons; one goal, three shots and one hit against Avangard Omsk; one hit against Ak Bars Kazan; three shots and two hits against Salavat Yulaev Ufa; one goal, two shots and two hits against Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk; two assists and one shot against Barys Astana; one hit against Spartak Moscow; one hit against Ak Bars Kazan; one shot and two hits against Amur Khabarovsk; and one shot, 10 penalty minutes and three hits against Amur Khabarovsk.

Mikhail Maltsev is a player to watch for Spartak. In recent games, he recorded one goal and one assist with five shots against Traktor Chelyabinsk; two shots against Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg; four shots, two penalty minutes and one hit against Avangard Omsk; one goal, two shots and one hit at Salavat Yulaev Ufa; one shot and one hit at Traktor Chelyabinsk; one goal, four shots and two penalty minutes against Severstal Cherepovets; one goal and four shots against SKA Saint Petersburg; and one assist, one shot and two penalty minutes at CSKA Moscow.

Spartak won the most recent head-to-head meeting, 3-2 at Metallurg Magnitogorsk earlier this season. Metallurg M’s most recent result was a 4-1 loss at Shanghai Dragons. Korotkov scored in that game. Igor Nechayev had one assist and one shot, and Nathan Todd had two shots. Spartak’s most recent result was a 4-2 home loss to Traktor Chelyabinsk. Maltsev had one goal and one assist with five shots, Danil Pivchulin scored and had four shots, and Alexander Vl. Belyayev had four shots.

Metallurg M has other recent wins against Avangard Omsk, Ak Bars Kazan, Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, Barys Astana and Amur Khabarovsk. Its other recent loss came against Avangard Omsk in overtime. Spartak has recent wins against Traktor Chelyabinsk, Severstal Cherepovets, SKA Saint Petersburg and CSKA Moscow. Its other recent losses came against Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Avangard Omsk in overtime, Salavat Yulaev Ufa and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

After this game, Metallurg M returns home to face Admiral Vladivostok, then Salavat Yulaev Ufa, before road games at Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and Dinamo Minsk. Spartak will host Barys Astana, then travel to HC Sochi for two games, followed by road matchups at Amur Khabarovsk and Admiral Vladivostok.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Spartak 3, Metallurg M 2.