MOSCOW (Interstat) — A surging CSKA Moscow squad will look to extend its winning streak against the struggling Lada Togliatti in a Kontinental Hockey League matchup Tuesday at Lada Arena.

The visiting Army Men enter the contest riding a seven-game win streak across all competitions, most recently a 2-1 overtime victory at Red Star Kunlun on Sunday. Their record stands at 30-25. In stark contrast, the home side has lost 10 of its last 12 games and sits at 16-40 overall, languishing near the bottom of the KHL standings.

CSKA has dominated the recent head-to-head series, winning both meetings this season by identical 4-2 scores on Nov. 27 and Dec. 16.

A key player to watch for CSKA is forward Pavel Karnaukhov, who has been a consistent offensive threat. He scored the game-winning goal in Sunday’s victory and has tallied three goals in his last eight games, maintaining steady shot production. For Lada, center Tyler Graovac will be relied upon to provide a spark. He scored a goal in Saturday’s 5-3 loss to Barys Astana, one of the few bright spots in a difficult stretch for the club.

CSKA’s streak has been built on defensive discipline and timely scoring, conceding just nine goals over the seven wins. Goaltender Ivan Fedotov has been a pillar during this run. Lada, meanwhile, has been plagued by defensive breakdowns, allowing five or more goals in four of their last six losses.

The schedule offers little respite for either team post-game. CSKA continues a road swing at rival SKA Saint Petersburg on Saturday. Lada faces a quick turnaround, hosting a formidable Ak Bars Kazan team on Thursday.

Despite the stark disparity in form, the rivalry and CSKA’s demanding travel schedule back from China could provide an opening for Lada to compete. However, halting CSKA’s momentum will require a significant and sustained defensive effort from the home side, something they have struggled to produce all season.