SKA - Vityaz. Match day

SKA will play their second home match in a row today against HC Vityaz Podolsk, a team that originates from the Moscow suburbs.

Today's opponents Vityaz are generally regarded as being one of the KHL's outsiders, however it's a club that is improving every year. Having just missed out on the playoffs in the previous season they have begun this campaign with intent, and sit in seventh place of the Western Conference with 43 points. With SKA situated just behind them in the table this really is a very important fixture, and the fact that plenty of ex SKA players play for Vityaz makes matters even more interesting. Vyacheslav Solodukhin, Alexander Kucheryavenko, Maxim Afinogenov and Georgiy Berdyukov have all played for SKA some way along their careers, and they will be full of motivation competing against their old club. Vityaz's top scorer is currently Maxim Afinogenov on 15 points (10+5), and goaltender Harri Sateri has been their key player with an impressive 94.1% saves percentage.

Having defeated HC Dynamo Moscow 3:2 two days ago SKA have moved up to eighth of the conference, and do now occupy a playoff berth. Vyacheslav Voynov impressed on his debut taking an assist, and forward Nikita Gusev scored his first SKA goal. Mikko Koskinen was one of the keys to victory in that match, making 32 saves.

The SKA - Vityaz match will begin at 19.30 local time inside the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace. Life78 will broadcast the game live, and you can keep up to date with events either by following our official Twitter account, or our on site match centre.