Lokomotiv - SKA. Introducing the opponents

CURRENT STANDINGS

10. Lokomotiv, 1 match, 1 victory, goal difference 3-2, 2 points

11. SKA, 1 match, 1 victory, goal difference 3-2, 2 points

FORM

These two teams started the 2021/2022 KHL regular season in similar fashion. At home, Lokomotiv just managed to defeat Dinamo Riga 3:2, with goals from Rushan Rafikov, Maxim Osipov and Pavel Kudryatsev completing a dramatic comeback after initially going 0:2 behind in the first period. Meanwhile, SKA were given a real test by Severstal Cherepovets on the road, also emerging victorious by a score of 3:2. Kirill Marchenko initially gave the away team the advantage in the second minute, but two successive goals from Severstal put the hosts in the box seat after two frames. Nevertheless, with Fredrik Handemark - shorthanded - and Linden Vey hitting the target in the third period, SKA did earn the two points.

During the summer, Lokomotiv made some impressive moves on the market, notably signing star CSKA Moscow forward Maxim Shalunov and American forward Reid Boucher from reigning Gagarin Cup champions from Avangard Omsk. Admittedly, back-up goalkeeper llya Konovalov did leave for the Edmonton Oilers after the completion of the previous campaign, but head coach Andrei Skabelka does have the talented Daniil Isaev and Yegor Guskov at his disposal as alternatives to 30-year-old first-choice goaltender Edward Pasquale. 19-year-old Guskov was indeed the stand-out goalkeeper of the 2020/2021 MHL season for Lokomotiv’s first youth team, catching the eye with a large total of 15 shutouts.

Last season, Lokomotiv progressed to the second round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs after sweeping Jokerit 4-0 in the first phase, but they were subsequently knocked out by CSKA 3-4 in a seven-game thriller of a series. Under Skabelka, Lokomotiv like to compete in a fast, aggressive manner while not forgetting to defend compactly with good organisation.

MEETINGS BETWEEN THE TEAMS DURING THE 2020/2021 KHL SEASON

11.09.2020. SKA - Lokomotiv - 4:2 (Kuzmenko 04:11, Burdasov 08:34, Bengtsson 24:06, Galimov 59:52; Alexeev 31:44, Cherepanov 57:10)

07.01.2021. Lokomotiv - SKA - 4:1 (Kraskovsky 37:32, Ivanov 40:52, Petersson 53:41, Osipov 57:39; Aaltonen 45:58)

04.02.2021. SKA - Lokomotiv - 3:2 OT (Stromwall 35:28, Kemppainen 50:05, Kuzmenko 63:28; Korshkov 14:07, Kayumov 52:08)

20.02.2021. Lokomotiv - SKA - 2:1 (Rafikov 31:41, Kraskovsky 59:34; Kemppainen 10:18)

In the first round of matches, Pasquale stopped 23 of the 25 Dinamo Riga shots he faced, while 26-year-old Alexander Samonov pulled off 28 saves against Severstal for SKA.

WHERE TO WATCH

Puck-drop is scheduled for 17:00 local time at the Arena 2000 in Yaroslavl. KHL PRIME and Channel 78 will provide a television broadcast in Russia, whereas you can watch a live video on the KHL’s website worldwide. Text updates will be provided on our official Twitter account.