Unpredictable Neftekhimik next up

15 October 2025

Aiming to generate positive momentum after beating Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg on Monday, SKA will tonight host floundering Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in Saint Petersburg.

DRAMATIC DROP-OFF AFTER FAST START

After initially winning seven out of their eight games between the 11^th and 29^th of September, Neftekhimik have since struggled to deal with the additional pressure placed on their shoulders.

The Nizhnekamsk-based outfit are coming into this match on the back of a five-game losing streak. With success comes expectation, and having previously defeated the likes of giants Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and Dynamo Moscow in impressive fashion, there is a feeling that Neftekhimik simply set the bar too high. Considering their modest resources, maintaining that kind of unstoppable form was always somewhat unrealistic, but that doesn’t excuse losing five on the bounce to rather modest opponents.

Sobering losses to Lada Tolyatti (1:4), Avtomobilist (2:5), Amur Khabarovsk (1:2, 1:4) and Sibir Novosibirsk (2:3 SO) have well and truly brought Neftekhimik back down to earth. Although they’re continuing to play in a pro-active, energetic manner with a clear emphasis on getting the puck on net from any angle, Igor Grishin’s tactics appear to have been found out. Adjustments are required if Neftekhimik are to steady the ship before the situation gets out of hand.

Their top line consisting of forwards Damir Zhafyarov, Evgeny Mityakin and Andrei Belozyorov is the one to look out for, with the trio having already amassed a combined total of 37 points. One-time San Jose Sharks prospect Danil Yurtaykin was previously competing in that particular line with Mityakin and Belozyorov, but he was recently removed in favour of Zhafyarov after a sudden dip in form. Nevertheless, even though Yurtaykin has only recorded one point across his last five matches, he is still Nizhnekamsk’s joint top scorer alongside Mityakin with 14 points.

Neftekhimik’s tenacious play is backed up by solid goalkeeping from Filipp Dolganov. While this may only be his third KHL campaign, the 27-year-old has already established himself as one of the league’s most reliable goaltenders, rarely committing mistakes and possessing the all-important ability to single-handedly steer his team to victory when under the cosh. Back-up goalkeeper Yaroslav Ozolin has unsurprisingly barely had a look in.

Canadian defenseman Luka Profaca carries the main threat from the blue line, while former SKA representative Maxim Fedotov is gradually getting his career back on track in Tatarstan after a couple of challenging seasons. Popular ex-SKA figure Dinar Khafizullin, now 36 years of age, is also currently on Neftekhimik’s books and regularly plays in a defensive pairing with Fedotov.

It is worth noting, however, that Fedotov has not been included in the Neftekhimik travelling squad for this match as a consequence of an injury.

LEADERS

GOALKEEPERS

Filipp Dolganov: 13 matches, 6 wins, 93.3% save percentage, 2.24 GAA

Yaroslav Ozolin: 4 matches, 1 win, 87.4% save percentage, 4.78 GAA

DEFENSEMEN

Luka Profaca: 5 (2+3) points, +2

Maxim Fedotov: 5 (1+4) points, -4

Artyom Serikov: 4 (1+3) points, -3

FORWARDS

Evgeny Mityakin: 14 (7+7) points, +4

Danil Yurtaykin: 14 (4+10) points, -1

Andrei Belozyorov: 12 (5+7) points, +2

SPECIAL TEAMS

62 attempts, 14 goals, 22.6% conversion rate, 7^th place

45 penalties, 7 conceded goals, 84.1% success rate, 5^th place

WHERE TO WATCH

Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time at the Ice Palace. You can purchase a live video broadcast on the KHL’s official website, whereas text updates are available on our official X account.