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Aparnass The Hockey Writers

Published on Monday, February 23, 2015

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KHL Preview: Dynamo Moscow vs. Dinamo Minsk – Watch Live via Kiswe

Two potential playoff combatants, Dynamo Moscow and Dinamo Minsk face off on Tuesday in one of a slate of 13 games on a busy final regular season day in the KHL.

Moscow currently sits second in the Tarasov Division and third overall in the Western Conference, but a regulation loss paired with a Jokerit regulation win would sink the historical powerhouse down to the four-seed, and an entire series with Tuesday’s foe looming in the first round. For Minsk, who will go into the playoffs as the Bobrov Division’s third best team, and the fifth-seed overall in the West, the only thing at stake will be whom they oppose as underdogs in that first round. With a regulation win Tuesday, Minsk would set up a rematch with the same Moscow side. With any other result, a confrontation with division rival and KHL-newcomer Jokerit — led by scoring phenom Steve Moses — awaits.

For those without a stake in the result, the match still features plenty of intrigue. Dynamo Moscow is trying to establish dynasty status following Gagarin Cup wins in both 2012 and 2013. Last year, despite its best regular season result since 2005, the team was upset in the first round of the playoffs, making this post-season, and the matchup that presents itself, quite critical. Moscow is led by former Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins forward Kaspars Daugavins, who has recorded a team-leading 37 points in 55 games so far this year. It also features former NHL stick-handling wizard Nikolai Zherdev, whose poor shooting percentage (7.4%) and injuries (47 GP) have led to a disappointing six goals and 22 points.

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Dynamo OT win over CSKA livestreamed in Trekker Live mix view

For Dinamo Minsk, success isn’t so much in the rearview mirror as on the horizon. The team has only qualified for the playoffs twice since joining the KHL, ceding in the first round on both occasions. Former NHLer Lukas Krajicek anchors the squad defensively, while former Maurice Richard Trophy winner Jonathan Cheechoo powers its attack. Cheechoo, who played for both the San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators, is third in team scoring with 47 points in as many games, trailing only Matt Ellison (56 points in 57 games), a former Philadelphia Flyer and Chicago Blackhawk, and Charles Linglet (56 in 52), who never made the NHL but played a number of years in the American Hockey League and has since excelled in Russia.

This final game of the regular season will be broadcast live for Canadian viewers in the Trekker Live mobile app.  To get Trekker Live, and the game, for free just click the icon below.


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