Preview: SKA Saint Petersburg at Severstal Cherepovets

CHEREPOVETS, Russia (Interstat) — A struggling SKA Saint Petersburg squad faces a stern road test against the playoff-positioned Severstal Cherepovets in a Kontinental Hockey League matchup on Thursday.

The game at Ice Palace pits two teams on divergent trajectories. Severstal (33-20-1) sits among the league’s upper tier, while traditional power SKA (20-22-2) is mired below the playoff line, seeking consistency.

The visiting SKA arrives winless in its last three (0-2-1), including a 3-3 tie with Dinamo Minsk on Tuesday. A bright spot in that draw was forward Andrei Stas, who scored a goal on six shots. He will be relied upon to spark an offense that has been shut out twice in its last seven games.

Severstal aims to rebound from a 5-1 home loss to Spartak Moscow on Monday. Defenseman Nikolai Burenov provided the lone goal in that defeat, continuing his active stretch. Burenov has recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in his last five appearances.

The season’s only prior meeting was a high-scoring affair won by SKA, 6-4, in Cherepovets on Nov. 26, 2025. Replicating that result will require SKA to reverse recent form; the team has lost six of its last eight games overall.

Severstal has been strong at home and has collected points in seven of its last ten contests (6-3-1). Following Thursday’s game, the teams will meet again in Saint Petersburg on Feb. 18.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Severstal is projected to win 3-1.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time.