Conference finals to start also in the West

After the Eastern Conference showdown, started yesterday, today it’s the turn of the West to start its final countdown to the Gagarin Cup finals. As tradition dictates, CSKA and SKA will meet once again, making it their ninth clash in the playoffs history. In the five previous seasons, only once did the teams missed their appointment, in 2019-2020, when the playoffs were halted after the first round. This confrontation at the KHL level dates back to 2012, when SKA and CSKA met for the first time in the Gagarin Cup playoffs. SKA won the first three meetings, then CSKA had five straight victories. This year, both teams achieved three wins as the sides met six times.

To get to the Western finals, SKA had to pass through Dinamo Minsk and Torpedo. In the first round, the Belarusians surprised SKA from time to time, and managed to get two wins. In the following stage, the St. Petersburg side corrected its mistakes and lost no time – sweeping Torpedo in just four games.

CSKA had quite a different path, requiring two long, dramatic series to end up facing SKA once again. After a hard-fought, 4-3 win over a tenacious Severstal in the first round, the Muscovites needed seven games another time as they threw away a 3-1 lead in the series against Lokomotiv. Despite the momentum being on the Railwaymen’s side, CSKA’s greater experience in do-or-die situations made the difference.

17:00: SKA vs CSKA

Series stand
0-0

Series History
2011. First round meet-up. SKA defeated CSKA 4-1.

2014. First round meet-up. SKA defeated CSKA 4-0.

2015. Western Finals. SKA defeated CSKA 4-3.

2016. Western Finals. CSKA defeated SKA 4-0.

2018. Western Finals. CSKA defeated SKA 4-2.

2019. Western Finals. CSKA defeated SKA 4-3.

2021. Western Finals. CSKA defeated SKA 4-2.

2022. Western Finals. CSKA defeated SKA 4-3.

About the game

SKA’s forward Marat Khairullin is on a three-game scoring streak, with 7 (3+4) points over that span.

CSKA’s goalie Adam Reideborn is on a 74:28 shutout streak.

Injury list

SKA: Danila Moiseyev, Artyom Shvets-Rogovoi.

CSKA: Danil Yurtaikin.

Milestone alert

CSKA’s forward Konstantin Okulov lines up for 500^th KHL game.

CSKA’s defenseman Darren Dietz may reach 200 career points (currently at 199).

CSKA’s forwards Maxim Mamin and Andrei Svetlakov may score their 100^th KHL assist (currently are both sitting at 99).