SKA - HC Sochi. Match day

SKA will play their penultimate match of the KHL regular season at home to HC Sochi.

These two clubs have only recently played against each other, with SKA comfortably winning in the 2014 Olympic host city 4:0. Nevertheless, today's game promises to be a much tougher task. Sitting in ninth place of the Western Conference on 88 points, Sochi have to win this match and hope that Jokerit fail to beat Ak Bars in their game. If Jokerit do take the three points in Finland against Ak Bars, Sochi will be ruled out of the playoff race, no matter what happens in Saint Petersburg.

Sochi's flailing playoff bid has run out of gas during the past few matches, as they have lost twice to HC CSKA Moscow 0:2 and 3:4 respectively. Ilya Krikunov is their top scorer with 34 points (11+23), while first choice goalkeeper Konstantin Barulin holds a 92.7 saves percentage.

To the surprise of many, SKA lost to Spartak Moscow 2:4 on Tuesday, a defeat which has left the team facing an uphill task to finish in first of the KHL standings. In order to take first, our players have to win their matches and wait for CSKA to drop points. The teams are level on 131 points, but due to CSKA winning more matches in regulation, they are in top spot.

The SKA - HC Sochi match will begin at 19.30 local time inside the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace. Life78 and KHL TV HD will broadcast live, and you can follow events on our official Twitter account.