MAGNITOGORSK (Interstat) — Metallurg M will host Salavat Yulaev on Friday in a Kontinental Hockey League game at Arena Metallurg.

Metallurg M enters with a 10-4 record and has been one of the league’s stronger teams early this season. Salavat Yulaev is 7-6 and will look to steady its form on the road against a Magnitogorsk club that has defended home ice well. The matchup is the second meeting between the teams this season. Metallurg Magnitogorsk won the most recent head-to-head game 4-3 at Salavat Yulaev. Metallurg M has won six of its past eight games, including a 2-0 victory at Spartak Moscow and a 6-2 home win over Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

Salavat Yulaev will turn to goaltender Semyon Vyazovoi, who has been busy and productive. In his most recent outing, Vyazovoi made 33 saves on 37 shots in a 5-4 overtime win at Sibir Novosibirsk. He has posted a 5-4 record over his last nine appearances, including a 41-save performance in a 3-1 win at Dynamo Moscow and a 27-save shutout at Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Vyazovoi also made 19 saves in wins over Spartak Moscow and Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. His recent loss to Metallurg Magnitogorsk came despite 23 saves on 27 shots.

Devin Brosseau and Danil Alalykin were among Salavat Yulaev’s most productive players in the overtime win at Sibir Novosibirsk. Brosseau scored once and recorded five shots, while Alalykin added a goal and two shots. Salavat Yulaev will need that secondary scoring to support Vyazovoi against a Metallurg M defense that has allowed few goals in several recent games.

Metallurg M counters with goaltender Yegor Zavragin, who delivered a 24-save shutout in a 3-0 win over Admiral Vladivostok in his latest appearance. Zavragin has shown the ability to give Metallurg M steady goaltending and keep games low-scoring. He made 22 saves on 25 shots at Shanghai Dragons and 19 saves on 22 shots against Spartak Moscow. Vladimir E. Tkachyov and Nathan Todd were productive in the win over Admiral Vladivostok, with Tkachyov recording a goal and an assist and Todd scoring once.

Metallurg M has moved through the early schedule with consistency, while Salavat Yulaev has shown flashes of offense but also some defensive lapses. The home side will aim to control play at Arena Metallurg and limit Salavat Yulaev’s chances in transition. Salavat Yulaev will try to use its speed and goaltending to steal a road result.

Interstat’s game simulator is projecting a final score of Metallurg M 4, Salavat Yulaev 2.