Lokomotiv - SKA. Introducing the opponents

CURRENT STANDINGS

5. Lokomotiv, 41 matches, 20 regulation victories, 4 overtime victories, 2 penalty shootout victories, 10 regulation defeats, 4 overtime defeats, 1 penalty shootout defeat, goal difference 125-84, 57 points

3. SKA, 43 matches, 23 regulation victories, 1 overtime victory, 2 penalty shootout victories, 10 regulation defeats, 3 overtime defeats, 2 penalty shootout defeats, goal difference 133-95, 59 points

FORM

It’s no surprise to see that Lokomotiv are in third position of the 2020/2021 KHL Western Conference. Boasting one of the strongest squads in the league, the Yaroslavl-based outfit are enjoying a solid campaign so far, recording 26 wins in 41 matches to only trail second-placed SKA by two points. Interestingly, our first home match of the season in September was indeed against Lokomotiv, as our players emerged victorious by a score of 4:2 at the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace with Andrei Kuzmenko, Anton Burdasov, Lukas Bengtsson and Emil Galimov all scoring. The two sides haven’t met since that particular game.

Lokomotiv have been impressive since the brief festive break reached its completion. In their maiden two home matches of this particular series at the Arena-2000, Lokomotiv have been too strong for Vityaz Podolsk and Sibir Novosibirsk, tallying 7:1 and 3:2 victories respectively. It’s certainly worth noting that Lokomotiv haven’t lost a single competitive game in Yaroslavl since a 1:4 setback to Jokerit Helsinki on November 19.

Russian forwards Denis Alexeev (10+17), Yegor Korshkov (13+12), Pavel Kraskovsky (13+10), Artur Kayumov (10+12) and Vladimir A. Tkachyov (8+13) have all been in superb form for Andrei Skabelka’s troops, while defensemen Rushan Rafikov (2+17), Alexei Marchenko (5+11), Atte Ohtamaa (5+6) and Maxim Osipov (3+8) are productive from the blue line. Foreign forwards Anton Lander (9+11), Andre Petersson (8+7) and Teemu Pulkkinen (4+3) are also very dangerous for opposing defences.

SKA are coming off the back of a disappointing 3:4 overtime loss to Dinamo Minsk in Belarus. Nevertheless, having earned the one point in that match, our team are still occupying second spot of the conference with 59 points on the board. CSKA, who do admittedly have two games in hand, are only four points away in first.

POINTS LEADERS IN LAST FIVE MATCHES

LOKOMOTIV

Teemu Pulkkinen: 7 (4+3) points

Artur Kayumov: 7 (4+3) points

Anton Lander: 6 (2+4) points

SKA

Andrei Kuzmenko: 4 (3+1) points

Joonas Kemppainen: 4 (2+2) points

Vladimir E. Tkachyov: 4 (0+4) points

Edward Pasqaule has been a rock for Lokomotiv in net. So far, the experienced 30-year-old Canadian goalkeeper has made 29 appearances in the current campaign, recording a 92.9% save percentage, a goals against average of 1.77, four shutouts and even two assists. Young Russian goaltenders Ilya Konovalov (12 matches, 91.2%, 2.61) and Daniil Isaev (3 matches, 88.4%, 2.37, 1 shutout) have also competed between the Lokomotiv pipes.

Magnus Hellberg (15 matches, 92.7%, 2.07, 2 shutouts) was in goal for SKA against Dinamo Minsk, with Alexander Samonov (13 matches, 91.8%, 2.23) sitting on the bench. 18-year-old Yaroslav Askarov (7 matches, 96.2%, 0.96, 1 shutout) is yet to return to the team after recently representing Russia at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship in Canada.

WHERE TO WATCH

Puck-drop is scheduled for 17.00 local time in Yaroslavl. KHL TV HD and Channel 78 will provide a television broadcast in Russia, whereas you can purchase a live video on the KHL’s official website worldwide. Text updates can be found on our Twitter account.