RW Matvei Michkov (PHI, 7th overall, 2023 NHL Entry Draft) was out yet again due to illness on Tuesday, January 9th. With the manner in which HC Sochi’s game against Western Conference titans Dynamo Moscow played out, however, his presence likely would not have mattered. Dynamo completely controlled possession and the pace of gameplay and won 5-1, as Jordan Weal (ex-Philadelphia Flyer) tallied 3 goals and an assist. The “Leopards” have now dropped 14 games in a row, with their last victory coming against Amur Khabarovsk on November 26th. Head coach Dmitry Kokorev’s group will try again in an interconference road matchup with Metallurg Magnitogorsk (who they took to overtime in their last matchup against them on January 3rd) tomorrow.

SKA Saint Petersburg, meanwhile, took apart Western Conference minnows Vityaz Moscow Region 4-0 today (Wednesday, January 10th). Though the scoreless first period was competitive, the game completely tilted in their favor after that. Scoring their first three goals on the power play, they took advantage of their opponents’ lack of discipline, cycling and finishing well when Vityaz were on the PK. Arseni Gritsyuk (NJD, 129th overall, 20219) particularly shined, with two goals to his name (including the last one of the game, which was scored on even strength). Alexander Nikishin (CAR, 69th overall, 2020) also had two assists, one primary on Sergei Tolchinsky’s goal that opened the scoring as he both facilitated and completed their cycling and one secondary as he helped connect the dots on Gritsyuk’s last goal (further demonstrating the ex-Spartak Moscow/soon to be top four Hurricanes’ defenseman’s abilities in terms of vision and playmaking). Maxim Fedotov also had three assists, earning two secondary apples and the primary on Gritsyuk’s wrap-up goal. This one was never really in doubt.

The picture at the top of the West is tight currently as SKA sit in fourth but with only two points separating them from first place Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Loko notably have a game in hand on SKA Saint Petersburg, but SKA is also only one point behind third place Spartak Moscow and have a game in hand on them. Roman Rotenberg’s squad’s next game conveniently is against Spartak on Friday. We shall see if they take this opportunity to usurp them.