Introducing first-round opponents Dynamo Moscow

STANDINGS OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE

2. Dynamo Moscow: 37 regulation wins, 2 OT wins, 3 SO wins, 21 regulation defeats, 2 OT losses, 3 SO losses, goal difference 204-167, 89 points

7. SKA: 28 regulation wins, 7 OT wins, 3 SO wins, 24 regulation defeats, 4 OT losses, 2 SO losses, goal difference 236-205, 82 points

MEETINGS IN THE REGULAR SEASON

05.12.2024. SKA – Dynamo Moscow – 2:4 (Kuzmin, Gritsyuk; Rimashevsky, Mikheyev, Dzhioshvili, Weal)

11.01.2025. Dynamo Moscow – SKA – 5:4 (Rimashevsky, Rashevsky, Dzhioshvili, Comtois, Gusev; Akolzin, Bardakov, Nikishin 2)

23.01.2025. SKA – Dynamo Moscow – 3:5 (Grigorenko, Gritsyuk, Karpukhin; Sikura, Paquette, Shvets-Rogovoi, Chernov, Ilyenko)

01.02.2025. Dynamo Moscow – SKA – 3:4 OT (Dzhioshvili, Gusev 2; Zykov, Nikishin 2, Pedan)

11.02.2025. Dynamo Moscow – SKA – 3:1 (Buruyanov, Paquette, Chernov; Karpukhin)

27.02.2025. SKA – Dynamo Moscow – 0:1 (Comtois)

BACKGROUND

This match-up can only be described as a mouth-watering duel worthy of the final. However, whether we like it or not, these two historic teams – who are incidentally both two-time holders of the Gagarin Cup – are heading to battle against each other in the very first round of the 2024/2025 playoffs.

If our games against Dynamo as a part of the regular season are anything to go by, we’re in for a pulsating series full of thrills and spills. Yes, SKA did indeed only manage to earn the one win in six games, but every match was tense and decided by the smallest of margins. The fact that the series begins in Moscow probably suits SKA more than Dynamo; our players’ sole victory over the Muscovites in the regular season was tallied at the VTB Arena, where they’ve achieved plenty of success over the years.

Despite a few rocky spells here and there, Dynamo impressed throughout the majority of the regular season, securing the runners-up spot in the Western Conference largely thanks to the array of attacking talent at their disposal. We certainly know all about former SKA forward Nikita Gusev’s ability, but the likes of Cedric Paquette, Maxime Comtois, Jordan Weal and Dmitry Rashevsky also took leading roles. Watch out for Canadian pair Paquette and Comtois trying to get under our players’ skins with their trash talk and predictable provocations.

In truth, Dynamo looked far from a solid defensive side in our games against them, but they were bailed out by excellent goalkeeping from the underrated Maxim Motorygin. The commanding 22-year-old has been a reliable figure in the Dynamo net this season, recording four shutouts and a 92.8% save percentage across 42 appearances to date. Motorygin is expected to begin the series as Dynamo’s number one with ex-SKA goaltender Vladislav Podyapolsky sitting on the bench following his recent injury.

To their credit, the Moscow-based organisation did greatly improve defensively in our last two meetings of the regular season, only conceding once and managing to protect Motorygin well. Expect Dynamo to opt for a rigid, compact approach with an emphasis on counter-attacks if they open up an advantage.

Tracking back in defence and snuffing out Dynamo’s counters is something which SKA simply have to get right. Thankfully, we saw positive signs in this regard towards the end of the regular season, with our team finally taking a big step forward in terms of skating back effectively and preventing the opponents from catching them on break-aways. If SKA do find the required balance and get their transition game right, Dynamo will be faced with major problems.

As it always is in the playoffs, discipline will be key, especially when you remember the firepower which Dynamo possess and just how effective they normally are on the PP; they recorded a 21.4% conversion rate in the regular season which was good enough for sixth place. For comparison, SKA finished the regular season in ninth position of the PP ranking with a 20.2% conversion rate.

On the other hand, though, SKA boasted the third-best penalty kill with a success rate of 83.8%, while Dynamo were languishing in 14^th with an unsatisfactory PK percentage of 80.6%.

It’s also worth pointing out that SKA were the only team in the regular season not to score a single goal shorthanded. For their part, Dynamo netted just the one marker while on the penalty kill.

LEADERS DURING THE REGULAR SEASON

DYNAMO MOSCOW

GOALKEEPERS

Vladislav Podyapolsky: 14 matches, 93.2% save percentage, 2.08 GAA, 1 shutout, 354 saves made

Maxim Motorygin: 42 matches, 92.8% save percentage, 2.13 GAA, 4 shutouts, 1069 saves made

Evgeny Yaroslavlev: 3 matches, 90.8% save percentage, 2.67 GAA, 79 saves made

DEFENSEMEN

Daniil Pylenkov: 31 (6+25) points, +14

Igor Ozhiganov: 23 (6+17) points, +16

Brennan Menell: 22 (4+18) points, -8

FORWARDS

Nikita Gusev: 69 (29+40) points, +14

Jordan Weal: 51 (15+36) points, +5

Maxime Comtois: 50 (21+29) points, +18

SKA

GOALKEEPERS

Yegor Zavragin: 37 matches, 91.2% save percentage, 2.55 GAA, 3 shutouts, 885 saves made

Artemiy Pleshkov: 23 matches, 91.6% save percentage, 2.86 GAA, 1 shutout, 556 saves made

Pavel Moisevich: 18 matches, 89.8% save percentage, 3.32 GAA, 1 shutout, 389 saves made

DEFENSEMEN

Alexander Nikishin: 46 (17+29) points, +19

Andrei Pedan: 13 (1+12) points, +11

Nikita Zaitsev: 10 (1+9) points, -8

FORWARDS

Ivan Demidov: 49 (19+30) points, +14

Mikhail Grigorenko: 45 (20+25) points, -9

Arseniy Gritsyuk: 44 (17+27) points, +22

SERIES SCHEDULE

Game one: 27 March (Moscow)

Game two: 29 March (Moscow)

Game three: 31 March (Saint Petersburg)

Game four: 2 April (Saint Petersburg)

Game five*: 4 April (Moscow)

Game six*: 6 April (Saint Petersburg)

Game seven*: 8 April (Moscow)

*If required

Four wins are required to progress to the next stage of the competition.

WHERE TO WATCH

All matches are available to watch via the KHL’s website. Alternatively, check out our official X account for live text commentary!