Preview: Dynamo Moscow at Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (Interstat) — Two Eastern Conference clubs trending in opposite directions will meet Sunday when Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod hosts Dynamo Moscow in a Kontinental Hockey League matchup at Trade Union Sport Palace.

Torpedo (31-24-0) holds a slight edge in the standings over Dynamo (29-25-0) and seeks to rebound from a recent skid. The home side has dropped three of its last four contests, including a 4-3 overtime loss to Ak Bars Kazan on Thursday. Forward Yegor Sokolov scored in that defeat and remains a key offensive catalyst. Sokolov has recorded six points (two goals, four assists) in his last six games.

Conversely, Dynamo arrives with momentum from a tight road victory, having edged Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 2-1 on Friday. That win marked their second straight and improved their record to 4-6-0 over their last 10 outings. Defenseman Fredrik Claesson, who logged two penalty minutes and two hits in the win over Avtomobilist, has been a physical presence on the blue line with three points (two assists) in his last 10 games.

The season series between these clubs has been decisively one-sided, though the most recent encounter provided drama. Dynamo won the first two meetings this season by a combined 8-1 margin before Torpedo claimed a 4-3 overtime victory in Moscow on Jan. 12. That result snapped a five-game head-to-head winning streak for Dynamo dating back to last season.

Torpedo’s offense, which exploded for 13 total goals in wins over SKA Saint Petersburg and the Shanghai Dragons in late January, has cooled lately, scoring three or fewer goals in five of its last six games. Dynamo has also struggled for consistent scoring, being held to two goals or fewer in seven of its last 10 contests, underscoring the potential for a low-scoring, defensive battle.

Following Sunday’s game, Torpedo will remain at home to face Red Star Kunlun on Wednesday. Dynamo continues its road swing before returning to Moscow to host HC Sochi next Thursday.