SKA - Traktor. Match day

SKA have returned to Saint Petersburg for a KHL home match against HC Traktor Chelyabinsk.

Our team’s first game of the season was indeed in Chelyabinsk, where Traktor grabbed a 2:1 overtime victory. Unlike the previous two campaigns, Traktor have proven to be a real KHL force this time around, currently occupying fifth place of the Eastern Conference with 87 points. Their success is largely down to goalkeepers Pavel Francouz and Vasily Demchenko, who are both in the KHL’s top ten statistically. With an incredible 95.2 saves percentage, Pavel Francouz has been practically unplayable at times.

At the other end, Paul Szczechura is their top scorer, boasting 38 points (11+27). However, despite Traktor almost certain of making the KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs, they have been in poor form of late, losing four games out of their past five. They have been struggling for goals too, netting a mere seven in those fixtures.

Falling to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 2:4 on Friday, SKA’s slender lead at the top of the KHL standings has been cut to one point. Second placed CSKA Moscow are breathing down SKA’s necks, hardly dropping points in their games. Ilya Kovalchuk is the team’s best scorer with 72 points (29+43), while Finnish goalkeeper Mikko Koskinen has competed in the last five consecutive matches.

The SKA – Traktor match will begin at 17.00 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.