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Traktor await the motivated SKA in poor shape

The home team are having problems with the roster, while the visiting team announce better play and improvements

Traktor must be more than happy the tour of five away games is over. During this period they managed to win only one game (against CSKA who were incomplete due to a lot if injuries), and lost four games quite convincingly.
   
Traktor mainly win games if they don’t allow many goals to the opponent, and their goalkeeper Michael Garnett has a big performance. The problem is, they received seven goals in Prague on Friday, and six in Bratislava on Sunday. Against Lev, Garnett played only half an hour (save percentage at 70.6 %). Against Slovan he spent the entire game on ice, but his save percentage was low at 82.9 %. 

Nevertheless, Traktor were in the lead with 3-0 at the end of the first period, and 4-1 in the middle of the game, but this wasn't enough to earn at least a point. During the last period, their defense fell apart. They were out-shot during this period 6-18 (22-35 during the course of the game). They earned 10 penalties, and received goals on three such occasions.

In the game against SKA, they will probably have to play without their best forward Evgenij Kuznetsov, and Lauris Darzins. They have decided to reinforce their team with a forward  Denis Abdullin who came from Kazan where he played only four games this season, and scored no points.  

Their problem today will be the suspension of their important defenseman Evgeny Katichev who was penalized for roughing a Slovan’s player at the end of the game.  

SKA still has the well-known problems with their motivation for games against weaker opponents. They have not lost a single game against an elite team in the league, they are only losing against teams they underestimate, and in the last round they underestimated Vladivostok.

Their home game series was not played well, they weren't as convincing, and everything depends on their motivation. Although coach Jalonen talks about their excessive desire, that’s hardly the problem. They took 45 shots on goal in their last game, which was 25 more than their opponent, and they lost the game eventually which was almost ridiculous, but that’s hockey. They were a much better team, but the outcome was different.  

- Of course we can’t be satisfied with the way we played our home game series. I am more satisfied with our away games, because over there we are looking for a certain balance in the game which leads to a better result. I’m sure we will respond to this accordingly, and prepare for the game against Traktor - said SKA’s coach Jukka Jalonen.

They need a victory in order to reclaim the first place, currently occupied by Dynamo with one game and two points more. SKA will be highly motivated, but we have to account for the unsuccessful series as well, and they will surely want to prove themselves against a quality opponent, which will be surely more motivating than the game against Vladivostok.

Defenseman Ryasensky is suspended for roughing, forward Ketov is also absent, but more important, their best player Kovalchuk and an important defenseman Dallman are back.  

Tractor's form isn't good, and lately they've been also having problems with injuries. They've gotten used to the absence of their top forward Kuznetsov, but , lately, they've been troubled by the absence of an important defender Katichev, which most likely has a significant influence on their defense. They lost against several weaker teams than SKA, with a significant score difference, they are conceding a lot of goals and their game is nowhere near as good as it was last year. Five defeats in the last six matches isn't something that exudes confidence, while absences are certain. SKA have problems with motivation in less significant matches, but this is not one of them. Traktor are a big name, so they won't have this kind of a problem. They played their best matches against the strongest opponents, literally crushing them, while, in the last round, they where defeated by Admiral. However, they were still the far better team in that match. These somewhat poorer results were probably caused by the absence of important players, and the important thing is -they will be complete today. Kovalchuk returned earlier than planned, whereas Ketov and Kuteikin will be back today. Moreover, the difference in quality between them and Traktor is currently enormous. If they win, they could return to the first place in the West, which is extremely important for them. Coach Jalonen said that this was a very important match, and the team would undoubtedly play the best they can. SKA have a better team even if Traktor's team had all the players at their disposal. However, without the two top players and in a poor form, I don't think they will pose a threat to the highly-motivated SKA.