SKA - Dynamo Moscow. Introducing the opponents

PREVIOUS MEETINGS DURING 2020/2021 SEASON

12.10.2020. SKA - Dynamo Moscow - 3:4 (Tokranov 06:56, Kamenev 08:53, Trenin 28:32; Kagarlitsky 03:33, Tarasov 19:50, Shipachyov 31:02, Volkov 47:40)

26.12.2020. Dynamo Moscow - SKA - 2:1 OT (Kagarlitsky 37:31, Shipachyov 62:49; Belov 39:47)

01.02.2021. Dynamo Moscow - SKA - 2:0 (Kagarlitsky 43:37, Jaskin 58:34)

18.02.2021. SKA - Dynamo Moscow - 1:3 (Stromwall 31.34; Hietanen 08:58, 14:28, Lindberg 59:27)

STANDINGS IN 2020/2021 REGULAR SEASON

6. SKA, 33 regulation victories, 2 overtime victories, 2 penalty shootout victories, 15 regulation defeats, 4 overtime defeats, 4 penalty shootout defeats, goal difference 178-126, 82 points

3. Dynamo Moscow, 34 regulation victories, 5 overtime victories, 15 regulation defeats, 2 overtime defeats, 4 penalty shootout defeats, goal difference 195-137, 84 points

LEADING PLAYERS DURING FIRST ROUND OF 2020/2021 GAGARIN CUP PLAYOFFS

SKA

Emil Galimov: 6 (3+3) points

Andrei Kuzmenko: 5 (4+1) points

Joonas Kemppainen: 5 (2+3) points

Evgeny Ketov: 5 (2+3) points

Ivan Morozov: 5 (1+4) points

DYNAMO MOSCOW

Andrei Sergeev: 7 (3+4) points

Dmitrij Jaskin: 5 (3+2) points

Vadim Shipachyov: 5 (1+4) points

Dmitry Kagarlitsky: 4 (2+2) points

Oscar Lindberg: 3 (2+1) points

Both SKA and Dynamo Moscow only required five matches to progress to the second round of the KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs. In an entertaining, goal-filled series, SKA remained unbeaten in Saint Petersburg to defeat a spirited Dinamo Minsk team 4-1, while Dynamo saw off the challenge of Severstal Cherepovets by the same score. Dynamo were given a real run for their money against Severstal, though, notably losing their second home match 2:5 and equalising with only three seconds remaining on the clock in the third game of the series.

Dynamo have been hugely reliant on their first line throughout the campaign. Practically winning matches on their own, their top forward line of Vadim Shipachyov (21+51), Dmitrij Jaskin (41+24) and Dmitry Kagarlitsky (18+35) regularly tears the opponents to pieces in ruthless fashion, and their leading defensive partnership of Juuso Hietanen (7+20) and Michal Cajkovsky (12+16) offers plenty of productivity and reliability.

The Muscovites, coached by well-known veteran Vladimir Krikunov, compete in an organised, compact manner, not giving opposing teams space in which to operate and boasting the ability to take advantage of the majority of their scoring opportunities. Taking into account that the dangerous Hietanen, Cajkovsky, Shipachyov, Jaskin and Kagarlitsky form their first powerplay unit, it’s vital that our players manage to stay out of the penalty box.

It’s worth noting that 29-year-old defenseman Andrei Sergeev made headlines for Dynamo in the first round against Severstal, contributing with seven points in the series, including a hat-trick in the fourth game in Cherepovets.

This will be the sixth time when SKA and Dynamo have met in the playoffs, with our team having emerged victorious in 2015, 2016 and 2017 after initially losing in 2012 and 2013. Overall, 26 playoff matches have been played between these two clubs in the KHL: in that period, SKA have registered 14 wins, 12 defeats and a positive goal difference of 67-62.

GOALKEEPING STATISTICS DURING FIRST ROUND OF 2020/2021 PLAYOFFS

SKA

Alexander Samonov: 4 matches, 3 victories, 91.1%, 2.57

Magnus Hellberg: 1 match, 1 victory, 83.3%, 2.62

DYNAMO MOSCOW

Ivan Bocharov: 3 matches, 2 victories, 95.3%, 1.25

Alexander Yeryomenko: 3 matches, 2 victories, 89.6%, 2.78, 1 shutout

SERIES SCHEDULE

March 18, 20: Saint Petersburg

March 22, 24: Moscow

March 26: Saint Petersburg*

March 28: Moscow*

March 30: Saint Petersburg*

*If required

Live text updates of all the matches will be provided on our official Twitter account. Video broadcasts of the games can be purchased on the KHL’s website.