SKA - Neftekhimik. Match day

SKA’s third match of this home series will take place today against HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

Today’s opponents Neftekhimik aren’t generally regarded as one of the KHL’s strongest teams, but they have been impressive this season so far and currently occupy eighth place of the Eastern Conference with 58 points. They haven’t made the KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs for the last couple of years, however their positive start this campaign has raised hopes of a return to the post-season. Our team already have experience against them this year too, as in a seven goal thriller SKA came out on top 4:3 on penalty shots. Since that game Neftekhimik have seen their results improve, and they are coming off the back of an impressive 5:3 win over HC Spartak Moscow away in the Luzhniki. Forward Mikhail Zhukov their top scorer with 21 points (11+10), and goaltender Alexander Sudnitsin has been very solid at the back holding a 94.2% saves percentage.

Our players are going through a great run of form at the moment, and have won the past five matches in a row. Three of those games have come in overtime, with 3:2 wins in the extra frame coming against HC Lada Togliatti, HC Sochi and Traktor Chelyabinsk. Those results have seen SKA rise to seventh in the Western Conference, and a gap is now being established between the teams below. Captain Ilya Kovalchuk has eight points from the last five matches (4+4), including an assist in Alexander Kadeikin's overtime winner against Traktor.

The SKA – Neftekhimik match will begin at 17.00 local time inside the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace. Life78 and KHL TV will both broadcast the game live, and you can keep up to date with events live by following either our online match centre or our official Twitter account.