Puck cleared by SKA

Faceoff won by Riga

Riga is pulling Jucers for extra attacker

Shot by Skvorcovs is directed out of play. faceoff to Ezhov right

one minute left in play

Riga attacking now, as SKA is now playing conservatively

two minutes left

Home team timeout.

Perimeter shot by Purcha, turned away by Ezhov

five minutes left in play

Ramstedt line starting to find their chemistry, working the puck well in Riga's zone getting a shot off and controlling play

Riga on the attack now

Riga swarming SKA net now, puck loose out front, but it is cleared away before anyone could jump on it and get a shot on Ezhov

no penalties come out of the dust up in front of Jucers

Riga is now full strength

Martensson crashing the net with a chance, then falls on top of Jucers. All the players gather a brief conversation about how to punch properly

Dallman behind the net pass out front to Thoresen, shot wide

Riga in a passive diamond formation on their penalty kill

Riga penalty coming up

Riga again, locking down the neutral zone, only sending in one forechecker into SKA's offensive zone.

Martensson and Prucha trying to get a something going in Riga's corner, but Riga defense fill the passing lanes and break up the play

SKA returns to full strength

SKA doing a great job shutting down Riga powerplay

Chance for Riga right off faceoff, but get shot blocking, and puck is cleared down

SKA is continually forced to dump puck in, Riga playing conservative now, hoping to force some mistakes by SKA so they can capitalize.

Riga trying to trap up the neutral zone now

SKA with another shot on net right off the faceoff

Nepryayev walks over the blue line and unleashes shot, directed out of play by Jucers

Prucha throws a cross crease pass that Jucers got a piece of, almost sneaks in, but puck comes loose and cleared by Riga

Riga is now even strength

Redlihs with a shorthanded rush to end the period, but Ezhov walls up on his post and makes the save.

1 minute left in play, SKA is now on powerplay

teams are 4 on 4

Now Riga is getting a penalty

Riga panicking with puck right now and not making simple passes, struggling to set up their powerplay

Shorthanded chance for SKA, Ramstedt threads a pass through to Makarov but can't control the pass.

Penalty to SKA coming up, great chance for Riga coming up, just as SKA was starting to find their momentum

Awkward angle shot from below the faceoff circles is turned away by Ezhov

5 minutes left in the period, and the intensity level has been raised by both clubs. Players are moving noticeably faster and checks are being finished.

Riga fighting back now, applying pressure to SKA

The intensity has picked up now for both clubs, bodies are starting to fly around the ice as players are finishing checks

Just as penalty was ending, puck pops out to Giroux at side of the net and he just shoots it wide. On the ensuing rush for SKA, Riga takes a penalty for tripping

SKA keeping the puck out of their end, good job penalty killing

Riga wastes no time on the powerplay, right off the draw, getting a shot that Ezhov directs out of play

Call behind the play, penalty to SKA coming up

Riga on their heels now as SKA is stepping up the pressure

Faceoff win right to Dallman, Dallman unleashes a shot that Jucers smothers with his chest for another faceoff

SKA showing a little more life with their second line lead by Ramstedt. Applying more pressure on Riga, Riga is forced to ice the puck. Faceoff to the left of Jucers

Tikhonov gets a weak shot off on Jucers, Jucers gloves it for a faceoff

Riga coming up early with big chances

Earlier in the play, Ezhov made a save, but the puck trickled through him, Ramstedt came in and shot the puck out before it could cross the line

Indrasis walks into the slot for a shot, but is laid out hard

Riga struggling to get puck out of their end, but SKA not managing any shots against. Another faceoff in Riga zone, to the right of Jucers

1 minute left in period

Giroux with the best chance tonight, rushing into SKA zone, but just as he let shot off, Kalinin gets his stick in the way and deflects the puck into the stands

Both teams showcasing their neutral transition game, but not showcasing much for offensive chances right now

Riga applying a very passive, 1-2-2 forecheck, giving SKA too much room to make their passes.

SKA's 1-2-2 neutral zone forecheck proving a challenge to Riga as they are forced to continually dump the puck in, and SKA quickly transitions it out of their zone.

Off the faceoff, SKA wins it and gets a shot but Jucers smothers up the puck

Riga ices the puck

SKA still applying lots of pressure and have held possession of the puck for most of the period so far

Riga has killed the penalty, both teams even strength

Riga giving SKA's point lots of room to move and make attempts

Dallman shot from point, blocked

Riga clears the puck out twice now, SKA struggling to get set up on their powerplay

Penalty coming up to Riga

SKA is right back on the attack now, their first line is out of Prucha, Martensson, and Thoresen

SKA responds by sending out their checking of Artyukhin, Nepryayev, Burdasov

Riga sustaining pressure now in SKA zone, great save by Ezhov

Giroux making his presence known getting the puck to Sotnieks and getting a shot on net. Saved by Ezhov

SKA going right back on the attack after killing their penalty

Shot by Pervyshin from point, turned away by Jucers

SKA is even strength

Another faceoff win for Riga, but no chance to net

One timer shot, high and wide of Ezhov

Riga quick win on faceoff, but shot from point does not get through to net

Penalty coming up to SKA

SKA applying an agressive 1-2-2 forecheck on Riga

SKA applying pressure right off faceoff and getting two chances at the net

Hello and welcome to today’s Western Conference, Bobrov Division match that has Riga hosting league leading SKA. This is the second time the clubs have met this season with Riga winning 4-3 on October 31, 2012. The clubs have a met a total of 19 times in the history of the KHL with SKA claiming 12 victories.

SKA will be playing with a depleted roster as Kovalchuck (New Jersey), Tarasenko (St. Louis) and Bobrovsky (Columbus) have returned to their respective NHL clubs. Trying to fill the holes, SKA has recently signed Finnish forward Teemu Ramstedt and Russian forward Alexander Vasilyev. Ramstedt comes via SM-liiga’s Espoo Blues where he was leading his club with 34 points. Vasilyev was acquired from HC Donbass for a 3rd round draft pick in 2015 and will most likely report to HC VMF St. Petersburg in the VHL before getting a call up to SKA.

Riga is currently sitting 12th in the 14 team Western Conference. They are looking for their first win of 2013 and are riding a three game losing streak. Riga’s leading goal scorer is one of the most decorated AHL forwards in the last three years, Alexandre Giroux. The 4-time AHL All-Star, two time AHL goal and point champion, and two time Calder Cup Champion, has 15 goals through 41 games.

Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.