On January 23, 2025, SKA St. Petersburg will host Dynamo Moscow at SKA Arena, marking another exciting match-up in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). This clash pits two teams vying for playoff positioning as they navigate the regular season challenges.
SKA is eager to build on their recent victory over Lokomotiv, which ended their four-game losing streak. Before this win, the team had faced significant struggles, losing 5-0 to Spartak and stumbling against Dynamo Moscow with a narrow 5-4 defeat earlier this season. Their recent match against Lokomotiv saw them win decisively with a score of 5-2, which provided much-needed confidence and momentum.
Currently, SKA sits at sixth place with 57 points, demonstrating one of the best offensive records this season with 171 goals scored, making them the highest-scoring team. Despite offensive prowess, SKA's defense has been shaky, illustrated by their recent games where they have allowed multiple goals. Notably, they have averaged 3.7 goals scored per game, but the frequent discipline issues have seen them average 8.5 penalty minutes per match. The team will miss key players such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, affecting their lineup depth.
Dynamo Moscow, on the other hand, is coming off mixed performances, having faced defeat against Sochi (1-3) after stringing together five consecutive wins. With their recent loss, Dynamo will aim to bounce back, emphasizing their high-scoring capabilities and consistently solid performance. Currently fifth with 59 points, they boast one of the league's best power-play percentages, successfully converting 22.2% of their man-advantage opportunities, and have only allowed 115 goals against, averaging under three goals allowed per game.
The previous encounters between the two this season have seen Dynamo come out on top, winning both prior matches, indicating historical advantages. While each team showcases a potent attack, the question remains whether SKA can adapt defensively to withstand Dynamo's strong offensive threats. Dynamo’s star player, Dmitry Rashevsky, leads the team with 13 points against SKA, and their balance between attack and defense has produced favorable results this season.
Statistics from their past meetings show high-scoring games, with the scoreboard regularly exceeding five goals per matchup. Analysts suggest taking the over for total goals, as both teams tend to score significantly. The oddsmakers see SKA as slight favorites, providing enticing options for wagers on scores and individual player performances.
Looking at betting tips, many experts believe the matchup could lead to high-scoring proceedings once again, especially with both teams' offensive aspirations. A favorable wager might involve betting on total goals exceeding 5.5 or SKA winning, which they have shown potential for after their recent performance.
This KHL showdown promises excitement as the competitive nature of both teams will dictate the outcome. With stakes high and playoff spots on the line, SKA will look to leverage home-ice advantage and assert themselves against the rising Dynamo.