Gagarin Cup playoffs. SKA – CSKA. Introducing the opponents

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1 April 2022

MEETINGS IN THE 2021/2022 REGULAR SEASON

07.11.2021. CSKA – SKA – 4:0 (Kamenev 12:23, 14:16, Wallmark 49:48, Nordstrom 57:29)

21.11.2021. CSKA – SKA – 3:1 (Plotnikov 01:04, Andronov 06:34, Grigorenko 08:01; Burdasov 54:18)

22.12.2021. SKA – CSKA – 3:2 OT (Volkov 28:40, Moiseev 31:50, Gusev 61:26; Okulov 40:46, Karnaukhov 51:58)

OVERVIEW

Does anyone else have a feeling of déjà-vu?

Yes, for the fourth time in a row, the Western Conference final will be contested by SKA and CSKA. And, considering that CSKA have won all three of the most recent KHL semi-finals between the two organisations, this series represents a fantastic chance for SKA to finally get one over the Muscovites.

The formidable CSKA are indeed yet to concede a single defeat in these Gagarin Cup playoffs. Coached by the legendary Sergei Fyodorov, the capital Army Men are performing like a well-oiled machine in this year’s competition, calmly dispatching their opponents with ruthless displays. Competing in a compact, organised manner, CSKA barely allow opposing teams to breathe with their intense approach across all zones of the ice. Previous battles against CSKA have proven just how tough it is to combat their intense pressing and relentless pressure.

Many expected Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and Dynamo Moscow to give CSKA a real challenge in the maiden two rounds of the playoffs. However, Fyodorov’s men rose to the occasion with aplomb, winning eight consecutive games to qualify for the semi-finals without a loss to their name. The likes of Klas Dahlbeck (0+2), Darren Dietz (1+3) and Nikita Nesterov (1+3) offer plenty of quality in defence, and dangerous forwards Konstantin Okulov (4+4), familiar face Vladislav Kamenev (2+6) and Mikhail Grigorenko (4+2) always provide a potent threat in the attacking zone. Starting goaltender Ivan Fedotov is regarded as one of the leading Russian goalkeepers at this moment in time.

Nevertheless, despite CSKA’s ominous form, SKA certainly have no reason to fear the Moscow-based club. Our players qualified for the semi-finals with minimal fuss, only suffering the one defeat while beating Dinamo Minsk (4-0) and Spartak Moscow (4-1) to reach this stage of the tournament for the seventh year on the bounce. Interestingly, our team tallied four successive wins by a score of 2:1 to see off a spirited Spartak side in the quarter-finals.

Furthermore, in the last regular-season duel against CSKA in December 2021, SKA produced an impressive display to register a dramatic 3:2 victory in overtime at the Ice Palace.

Gifted forwards Andrei Kuzmenko (6+5) and Nikita Gusev (5+6) shone in the opening two rounds of the playoffs. At the blue line, Finnish defenseman Mikko Lehtonen has been in great shape, picking up six (1+5) points across our nine matches against Dinamo Minsk and Spartak.

2021/2022 PLAYOFF STATISTICS

SKA

GOALKEEPERS

Lars Johansson: 9 matches, 8 wins, save percentage 92.3%, goals against average 1.87

Alexander Samonov: 1 match, save percentage 87.5%, goals against average 1.60

DEFENSEMEN

Mikko Lehtonen: 6 (3+3) points

Igor Ozhiganov: 3 (2+1) points

Stepan Falkovsky: 2 (2+0) points

FORWARDS

Andrei Kuzmenko: 11 (6+5) points

Nikita Gusev: 11 (5+6) points