Barys Astana vs SKA St. Petersburg Prediction 12 February 2026
🔊 SKA, climbing out of a slump, are set to visit the "Snow Leopards" for their first game in a week. Can Barys finally defeat the "Army Men from the Neva" for the first time in nearly five years? We break down this KHL regular season matchup and offer a prediction for the game on February 12.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past five KHL seasons, Barys and SKA have faced off eight times: the club from Kazakhstan has won twice, while the Russians have taken six victories. Notably, SKA's winning streak against the "Snow Leopards" stands at six games, and Barys have not managed to defeat SKA at home since 2021.
Head-to-head statistics Barys Astana - SKA St. Petersburg
Barys Astana Team Overview
The Kazakh club has entered the "star" break on a high note, snapping a six-game losing streak with a decisive win over Admiral in Vladivostok (4-1). The "Snow Leopards" currently sit in the penultimate, tenth spot in the Eastern Conference with 42 points. Their advantage over the "Sailors" has stretched to five points, while their gap behind Amur has narrowed to three.
On home ice, Barys are one of the league's most inconsistent teams. Over the past two months, the Kazakhs have managed just one win in eight games in Astana. Among Eastern Conference teams, only Neftekhimik have conceded more at home than Barys (83 goals allowed), with 89.
Recently, Barys removed forward Mason Morelli from the injured list. The American missed four games but remains among the top three scorers for the Kazakh club. During the "star weekend," goaltender Adam Scheel and head coach Mikhail Kravets participated, although the World Stars under his guidance lost both games.
Match Results: Barys Astana
SKA St. Petersburg Team Overview
After the KHL All-Star Game break, SKA pulled off a comeback victory in Nizhnekamsk with a 5-1 win. This marks the third consecutive win for Igor Larionov's squad, a streak fans haven't seen since early December. SKA's position in the standings has improved, especially with slip-ups from Spartak and Dynamo Moscow. The "Army Men from the Neva" now sit seventh in terms of points lost, narrowing the gap to the top five to just six points.
On the road, SKA are the second-best team in the Western Conference by points. After suffering three losses in Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow, they bounced back with victories in Minsk, Cherepovets, and Nizhnekamsk. Notably, in 2026, the St. Petersburg team have yet to win four consecutive away matches.
The game in Tatarstan was a milestone for SKA defenseman Danila Galenyuk, marking his 300th league appearance. Following their win in Cherepovets and the All-Star break, Igor Larionov made two changes: Pavel Koledov returned to the defense, and Scott Wilson was brought into the attack. North American imports Brennan Menell and Brendan Leipsic were left out of the lineup.
Match Results: SKA St. Petersburg
⚡️ Key Players
Barys' top four scorers are all imports. Leading the charge for the Astana team in points are Michael Vecchione (32 points, 13 goals + 19 assists) and Reilly Walsh (32, 9+23). Morelli holds the second spot in the assists leaderboard with 18, while Jake Massie (20, 8+12) stands as the most productive defenseman.
For SKA, Marat Khairullin leads in scoring with 37 points (14 goals + 23 assists). The forward notched four or more points in a game for the first time since November 2024, posting 2+2 in Nizhnekamsk. The seasoned Sergey Plotnikov is edging closer to the 250-goal milestone in the KHL, now at 248 after a strong performance against the "Wolves."
🥅 Goalkeepers
Following a victory in Vladivostok, Adam Scheel (28 saves, 96.6% save percentage) also made an appearance at the All-Star Game in Yekaterinburg. His backup, Nikita Boyarkin, took a break over the weekend, but since New Year, the Kazakh has only one game with a save percentage above 90%.
In SKA's net, Artemy Pleshkov delivered another stellar performance for the second consecutive game, making 73 saves against Severstal and Neftekhimik with a 97.3% save percentage. Over the weekend, Sergey Ivanov earned a silver medal at the 2026 All-Star Game as part of the U23 Stars.
Editorial Prediction
With SKA hitting their stride and Artemy Pleshkov finding form, they could become a formidable force. Historically, games between the St. Petersburg squad and the team from Kazakhstan tend to reward SKA with two points. The Russian club's optimal condition and the Kazakh team's week-long break are two potential advantages that lean towards a SKA victory in regulation time.
No comments
Betting Tips: Barys Astana - SKA St. Petersburg
in 6 of last 7 home games (KHL).in 6 of last 7 home games (KHL).in 18 of last 19 games against SKA St. Petersburg (KHL).in 8 of last 9 home games against SKA St. Petersburg (KHL).in 9 of last 10 home games (KHL).in last 6 games against SKA St. Petersburg (KHL).in 14 of last 15 home games (KHL).
Other predictions
