SKA - Dynamo Moscow. Introducing the opponents

CURRENT STANDINGS

5. SKA, 15 matches, 9 regulation victories, 3 regulation defeats, 1 overtime defeat, 2 penalty shootout defeats, goal difference 45-39, 21 points

11. Dynamo Moscow, 14 matches, 6 regulation victories, 1 overtime victory, 5 regulation defeats, 1 overtime defeat, 1 penalty shootout defeat, goal difference 39-35, 16 points

FORM

SKA and Dynamo Moscow share one of the KHL's fiercest rivalries. The two teams, both two-time Gagarin Cup champions, have produced some of the most memorable league battles over the years, with each match guaranteed to be full of tension and drama. This will be their first meeting of the 2020/2021 KHL campaign.

Dynamo, coached by the vastly experienced Vladimir Krikunov, currently find themselves sitting in fifth place of the Western Conference with 16 points from 14 games. So far, the capital outfit have endured a somewhat mixed start to the season, having initially lost their opening three matches before subsequently embarking on a six-game winning streak. However, they have struggled recently, losing four out of their most recent five matches to Spartak Moscow (4:5 SO), Traktor Chelyabinsk (2:4), CSKA Moscow (0:2) and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (2:3 OT). All defeats except the match against Traktor were suffered on the road.

Former SKA forwards Dmitry Kagarlitsky (0+6) and Vadim Shipachyov (4+10) are on Dynamo's books. Shipachyov, 33, won the KHL Gagarin Cup with SKA in 2015 and 2017, playing a major role in those triumphs.

On Friday, our team managed to get back on track following two successive losses, edging past HC Sochi 4:3 at home in a pulsating battle. In truth, our players haven't been at their best since returning to action last week, but that can easily be explained by the fact that they spent two weeks on the sidelines without being able to participate in training sessions. At the moment, SKA are still in second spot of the conference, trailing leaders CSKA by four points. It must be noted that CSKA do have a game in hand.

POINTS LEADERS IN LAST FIVE MATCHES

SKA

Vladimir Tkachyov: 5 (2+3) points

Arseniy Brinkman: 3 (1+2) points

Ivan Volodin: 3 (1+2) points

DYNAMO MOSCOW

Dmitrij Jaskin: 6 (4+2) points

Daniil Tarasov: 5 (3+2) points

Teemu Pulkkinen: 4 (4+0) points

In net, Ivan Bocharov is regarded as the starting Dynamo goalkeeper, with the 25-year-old having competed in 10 matches so far while registering a save percentage of 90.9% and a goals against average of 2.50 along the way. Alexander Yeryomenko, now 40, has tallied a 89.6% save percentage and a goals against average of 2.62 in his five appearances.

22-year-old Mikhail Berdin has been impressive for SKA after signing for our organisation in September. To date, Berdin has competed in seven straight matches in the KHL, earning a save percentage of 91.0% and a goals against average of 2.67. The young goaltender was particularly on top form against Sochi as he stopped 38 of the 41 shots he faced to fire SKA to a vital victory.

WHERE TO WATCH

Match TV and Channel 78 will show the match live on television in Russia, whereas you can purchase a full video broadcast worldwide on the KHL's website. You can find text updates on our official Twitter account.