Preview: Struggling Lada Faces SKA in KHL Matchup

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (Interstat) — The struggling Lada Togliatti face a daunting task Wednesday when they visit SKA Saint Petersburg in a Kontinental Hockey League game at Ice Palace Saint Petersburg.

Lada (11-30-0) enters on a six-game losing skid across all competitions, most recently a 3-2 road loss to Red Star Kunlun on Monday. Their season has been defined by defensive struggles, allowing four or more goals in eight of their last ten contests.

SKA (17-14-1), meanwhile, looks to build momentum after a 3-3 tie with Amur Khabarovsk on Monday. The Saint Petersburg club has been inconsistent but holds a clear advantage in the standings and recent history against Lada.

The teams have met twice this season, with SKA winning decisively both times: 6-1 at home on Sept. 14 and 3-0 in Togliatti on Sept. 21.

A player to watch for Lada is forward Ivan Savchik, who scored a goal in the loss to Red Star and has two goals in his last four games. He will need to lead an offense that has been held to two or fewer goals in five of its last six outings.

For SKA, forward Kirill Petkov is coming off a one-goal, five-shot performance in the tie with Amur and will be a key part of the home team’s attack.

Lada’s goaltending remains a question, with Ivan Bocharov taking the loss Monday despite 28 saves. SKA is expected to start its netminder as it seeks to solidify its playoff positioning in the Western Conference.

The game is the first of a home-and-home set, with the teams scheduled to meet again in Togliatti on Monday.