Welcome. Game starts at 19:00.

Slovan Bratislava
Slovan have come back on the winning track after last game's win against Severstal 3:2, following 4 consecutive losses on the road trip. It still didn't help much, although they're getting nearer the preceding, 12th Severstal in the West, with a record of 8-6-17 and 36 points, two less than Severstal.

Best players:
Michel Miklik 23 (10+13)
Milan Bartovic 21 (9+12)
Michal Vondrka 16 (7+9)

Goalies:
Jaroslav Janus – 20 G, 8 W, 88.7 SVS%, 3 GAA, 2 SO
Miroslav Kopriva – 13 G, 3 W, 90.6 SVS%, 2.60 GAA

Last games:
Barys – Slovan 6:1
Avangard – Slovan 4:2
Slovan – Severstal 3:2.

SKA St. Petersburg
Pretty much everything is known about SKA. They top the standings overall being untouchable with a record of 21-6-6 and 73 points, 5 ahead of second Dynamo Moscow and 14 more than 3rd placed Dinamo Riga.

They have the league's best known player, Ilya Kovalchuk, who broke the contract with the New Jersey Devils prior to the start of the KHL season to come play back home in Russia.

They're in great form and look unstoppable having connected 5 wins in a row, mainly at home, but they win on the road as well.

Best players:
Ilya Kovalchuk 30 (12+18)
Roman Cervenka 29 (8+21)
Viktor Tikhonov 25 (15+10)

Goalies:
Alexander Salak – 21 G, 14 W, 94.2 SVS%, 1.56 GAA, 3 SO
Ilya Ezhov – 10 G, 7 W, 92.6 SVS%, 1.88 GAA, 1 SO.

Last games:
SKA – Neftekhimik 2:1
SKA – Atlant 4:1
Lev – SKA 3:4 SO.

A divisional clash, the best against one of the worst, but still in hunt. Could Slovan pull of a miracle? We'll see at 19:00 CET, 22:00 MSK, 13:00 EDT.

Miroslav Satan should be back in the lineup for today's game as he signed a new contract with Slovan, which he initially declined before the season kicked-off.

Starting lineups:

HC Slovan Bratislava: Janus (Godla) – Sigalet, Sersen, Miklik, Bliznak, Vondrka – Skoula, Netik, Mihalik, Bartovic, Olvecky – Stajnoch, Mojzis, Satan, Hudacek, Radivojevic – Mikus, Matousek, Stastny, Dano, Brejcak

SKA St. Petersburg: Ezhov (Nalimov) – Kalinin, Tikhonov, Kuteikin, Cervenka, Skachkov – Kovalchuk, Ketov, Semenov, Ryasensky, Shipachyov – Alexandrov, Kucheryavenko, Ponikarovsky, Dallman, Panarin – Makarov, Sigaryov, Yudin, Burdasov

Referees: Belov, Kiselyov – Gordenko, Tomilov.

SKA go on the offense first after winning the faceoff, but Janus deflects the shot from the right.

Slovan try to organize an offense but can't find the gap to shoot through as SKA cover them tightly.

Miroslav Satan leads the attack on the right, tries to find a feed in the slot, but the opposing players collide and both end inside Ezhov's goal, so the net comes loose and we have a stoppage.

Slovan take the initiative lately and find themselves in the offensive zone pretty often, but Ezhov is able to stop them and keep the score levelled.

After spending some time in the neutral zone with the puck, Slovan miscommunicate executing an offense and send the puck to the opposite end for icing.

Another clearance from the zone by Slovan, but this time it's too slow so it barely makes it to Ezhov.

SKA want to take the puck into the zone, but can't keep possession inside as the Slovaks quickly react sending the puck out.

Burdasov with the puck by the right boards and dekes out a few players but can't find help from his team mates so decides to take a shot through the scramble from the right circle, though it gets lost in the way.

SKA dump the puck into the zone, but can't make it first to it.

Libor Hudacek drives the puck over the left wing and turns looking for a feed, finds Miroslav Satan in the slot, but he can't score on the one-timer as Ezhov is ready for it.

The crowd is chanting "Miro Satan!".

Miroslav Satan takes another attack down the ice going to Ezhov on the right, but as he makes the shot, Ezhov is ready and makes the glove save.

Slovan dominate, but SKA also have their chances, as they drive the puck to the net, Janus is uncertain and drops it in the crease, though they can't score on the bounce.

SKA ice the puck going on the offense and we'll have the faceoff deep before Ezhov.

A miscommunication passing the puck in the neutral zone by Slovan leads to an opportunity for SKA as Viktor Tikhonov fires one up from right in front of the right circle, but doesn't get it right and the puck flies away to the netting behind Janus.

Nothing significant going on, the puck is taken coast-to-coast with maybe one serious shot in the last minute, coming from SKA, but no problem for Janus.

Mojzis will start a new offense from behind the net waiting for his team mates to set up after changing lines, but neither team can get possession enough to lead any serious attack.

Offside called against SKA as they enter the zone on the right, so the faceoff comes out to the neutral zone.

One minute left in the first period.

Burdasov sends a beautiful pass from the right circle to the opposite side, but the onskating forward can't get a good grip and send it behind Janus.

Slovan keep the puck inside SKA zone and look for a feed, but can't get it right in the slot.

Ilya Kovalchuk tries his luck from the slot as he turns and fires, but it's deflected aside by Janus.

Slovan miss a 3-on-2 opportunity as they pass a bit too much and then the shot gets deflected up high, but stays in play right behind Ezhov's goal.

Kalinin and Tikhonov pass the puck around in their own zone and then at once send it down the ice for Evgeny Ketov who receives it and drives to the net taking a shot at the edge of the left circle inside, Jaroslav Janus is focused and forces a stoppage.

A slight initiative by SKA, though they can't get a proper shot on net to beat Janus.

Hand pass called against SKA so they have the faceoff in their end.

SKA still with the initiative and attack violently, Slovan desperately defending trying to get something on the counter.

Kalinin receives the pass from behind the goal line on the left side and fires from the blue, Janus makes the deflection to the right, but the danger is not over.

SKA don't look shocked, but on the contrary they've just got some inspiration and go on the attack, though Kovalchuk can't find a good feed in the middle.

Tomas Matousek fires as he enters the zone on the right, Ezhov holds on after making a glove save and we'll have a faceoff in SKA zone.

Ivan Nalimov tries his luck from the outter edge of the left circle, but sees his shot wide of right Janus' post.

SKA in the zone, they fire a barrage from all spots, but nothing gets so serious that Janus couldn't keep it away. Some pushing and shoving following the previous play and the refs got beaten in the scramble, we'll see if it will push for any penalties.

Ezhov makes a glove save as the shot from the right blueline is fired hard, but not accurate enough.

SKA still better even 4-on-4, but Slovan still get their chances, most of them missing the net wide.

Both teams are playing at full strength.

Peter Olvecky takes the puck behind the net and out wide to the right, turns and takes a wrister towards Ezhov, the puck flies high, hits the netting, and since it touched no one, the refs pull the faceoff out to the neutral zone.

We'll have a penalty, but I don't think it's clear to whom or why. We'll get info soon.

Slovan clear the danger away and SKA will have to restart from behind their own net. Good penalty kill during the first minute.

Ilya Kovalchuk picks up the puck just before the blueline and takes it in, but the diagonal pass to the right side finds no one, so SKA change units.

Slovan back at full strength as Olvecky skates back onto the ice.

Martin Stajnoch got hooked behind SKA's net and falls to the ice in front of the referee, but the hand stays down.

The last minute of play in the second period.

Libor Hudacek skates into the zone with the possession of the puck, aims for the near post and puts Ezhov to a test, but he passes it with flyaing colours and deflects the shot aside.

SKA take the puck into the zone, more precise dump it, but can't win the race as Slovan are able to get possession and kill some more time.

With :54 left on the penalty, Slovan clear the puck and don't allow SKA to organize withing the zone.

Dmitry Kalinin takes the shot against Janus after Evgeny Ketov fed him from the left wing by the blue, and lined up with it fires a one-timer, Janus is there to make the glove save.

Slovan is back at full strength. Now, can they keep the tempo to the end of this period and get some points out of it?

Kovalchuk wants to get the puck into the zone but the pass gets intercepted at the blueline.

Slovan clear the puck to the opposite side and SKA have to regroup, but the high forecheck prevents them from organizing properly. Great pressure by Slovan.

Netik wants to lead the counter for Slovan with help coming from the middle, but loses possession as he enters the zone on the left, by the boards.

Seems like Evgeny Skachkov was a bit too quick into the zone as he's whistled down for offside, and the faceoff will take place in the neutral zone.

Alexander Ponikarovsky takes the puck into the zone, on the right stops and wants to pass, but there is no one to pass to and he loses possession, but SKA can keep it.

Slovan defending, SKA ineffective down the ice could be the summary of the third period so far. Slovan clear a lot of pucks, SKA can't organize or produce on the offense.

Evgeny Ryasensky dumps the puck in, Slovan win the race, but couldn't clear the zone, so they get pressurized, before finding a way to send the puck a long way.

Slovan haven't had much of the offense this period as they usually defend and clear the zone. On the clearance now, they ice the puck, so will have the faceoff in their zone.

Michal Vondrka gets the chance to take the puck into the zone over the left side, and slips and falls to the ice with the intention to stop, so this possession is lost.

At last a shot by Slovan, Michal Miklik fires from the left.

Michal Vondrka wins the faceoff in the zone and circles Janus' net, gets hooked, so we have a delayed penalty.

Slovan pass the puck around looking for an empty, uncovered spot to shoot, and Ezhov has to be focused to keep the puck away.

Ezhov makes two quick saves keeping the score tied, and SKA clear as many pucks as possible. No one wants to concede in a hard-fought game like this.

Janus is forced to dive for the puck and hold onto it despite being in the powerplay, so SKA will kill some more time with the faceoff inside Slovan's zone.

Panarin fires off the faceoff on the left side, Janus deflects to the right and Slovan pick up the puck.

Cervenka skates back onto the ice meaning we're back to 5-on-5 hockey.

Today's attendance is 10055.

Nothing of significance in the last minute, both teams struggle to keep possession and mainly dump the pucks or playi in the neutral zone.

Kucheryavenko keeps the puck behind Janus' net and at once, coming out to the right, sends the feed to the lot, but no one can get on it properly and cause problems to Janus.

Two minutes to go.

Ketov fires from outside the zone, Janus deflects to the right but still within the slot, and the picked shot is wide to the left, Slovan clear the zone.

Slovan try to organize inside the zone but only pass back and forth, so we're probable to go into overtime.

Slovan circle the net and take the shot from the right circle turning, Ezhov could hardly see or locate the puck, but somehow makes the deflection into the slot and SKA take over.

Tomas Netik tries his luck from the left wing, from the outter edge of the circle, Ezhov deflects the puck into the protective net and we'll restart deep inside SKA zone.

SKA fire two quick shots at Janus, he deflects both with a lot of luck and keeps Slovan still in play.

Bartovic goes agains Ilya Ezhov straight through the middle, executing a shot from the middle of the slot, Ezhov is ready and focused, deflects the puck and overtime continues.

Evgeny Ketov leads the battle for the puck before the slot, in the end wins it and fires one up, but Janus is there to make the pad deflection and keep Slovan alive.

One minute left in the overtime period.

Slovan circle around the zone with lots of space and look to tire down SKA, finding a couple of paths to shoot.

Ilya Ezhov keeps the net untact with a couple of saves, as Slovan are eager to score.