Liontips
Locomotive vs Sochi: KHL Match Prediction
Yaroslavl's Lokomotiv concludes its home game series with a match against Sochi on September 28. The Yaroslavl team has taken sole possession of the top spot in the Western Conference and the league overall. Sochi, on the other hand, sits at the bottom of the KHL standings with only two wins to their name. The southern team has proven to be a challenging opponent for the railwaymen, managing to earn points in both encounters last season against Igor Nikitin's squad. Will the visitors be able to pose a threat to the favorite? Discover our predictions for this matchup.
Command Analysis
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Russian FederationCurrent Form
Lokomotiv continues its five-match stretch in Yaroslavl. Initially, Alexander Yelesin's team triumphed over Lada with a score of 2-1, but later lost two points against Salavat Yulaev after an overtime defeat of 2-3, despite leading 2-0 at one point in the match. After a brief break, the Railwaymen got back on track, claiming victories against Severstal 4-1 and Avangard 3-2. They have solidified their position at the top of the KHL standings with 15 points from nine games.
The club from the capital of the Golden Ring remains the most reliable team in the league. On average, Lokomotiv concedes just 1.22 goals per game during regulation time, and Daniil Isaev is recognized as the best goaltender in the championship based on ice time.
Injuries and Suspensions
Dmitry Simashev and Denis Alexeyev remain sidelined with injuries.
Interesting Betting Trends
- Lokomotiv has not won a single third period in the current season.
Igor Nikitin’s squad tends to resolve their games in the first 40 minutes, often relaxing during the closing stages.
- The Yaroslavl team wins 54.9% of face-offs.
The home side excels in puck possession, routinely taking control in crucial moments.
HC Sochi
Russian FederationCurrent Form
Sochi has struggled to end its losing streak, now at four consecutive matches. The southern team has had a rough time on the road, losing all games away. Kirill Raskazov's squad was defeated by Ak Bars in Kazan (2-5), fell to Siberia in Novosibirsk (2-4), and before heading to Yaroslavl, they failed to cope with Bars' defense in Kazakhstan (0-1). Currently, the club sits at the bottom of the league table with four points after eight games.
Sergey Zubov has not managed to strengthen the defense. The team is conceding an average of 3.75 goals per game, while goalkeepers Sergey Ivanov and Yegor Zavragin have saved 89.3% of shots on goal. However, it's hard to fault the goalies, considering opponents average 35 shots on the Sochi net. On the offensive side, Timur Khaifzov leads the team with six points (5+1).
Injuries and Suspensions
Amir Gareev, Michal Kristof, and Roman Manukhov will not be playing in the upcoming match in Yaroslavl.
Interesting Betting Trends
- Sochi averages eight minutes of penalties per game.
Zubov's team incurs many penalties and only neutralizes 80.6% of opponent attempts.
- Sochi converts just 14.3% of opponent penalties.
The team has scored on only four out of 28 power-play opportunities.
Trends
Bet 1st Period: Total Under 1.5 Goals
In six out of nine games involving «Loko», fewer than two goals were scored in the first period.
1.80Bet 2nd Period: Sochi Will Not Score
«Lokomotiv» has kept a clean sheet in the second period in four out of the last five games.
1.55Tip and bets
Lokomotiv is the most consistent team in the league this September, rightfully leading the conference and the overall standings. The Yaroslavl squad demonstrates impressive discipline in defense, allowing just over one goal per game on average. The Sochi team has decent head-to-head statistics against the Railwaymen, but with such a weak defense, the guests will find it challenging to secure a favorable outcome. We believe that Alexander Yelesin's team will adequately prepare for this matchup. We anticipate a confident victory for the hosts in regulation time and suggest a wager on a minor negative Asian handicap for the first period.
Prediction: Lokomotiv to win with an Asian handicap of -1.5 at 1.60
Bet on Total Goals
Igor Nikitin has achieved his goals in three years with Lokomotiv, establishing a solid defensive strategy for the team. The Yaroslavl squad doesn't score many goals, and when they take the lead, they tend to ease off on their offensive pressure. This Saturday, Sochi will find it challenging to get past Daniil Isaev, but they also won't fall apart. Let's bet on the total being under, which has hit in seven consecutive matches in this matchup.
Backing under 5.5 goals at 1.68
Bet on First Period Total
In the last two games at Arena-2000, two goals were scored in the first period; however, Lokomotiv only had one 20-minute span with over 1.5 goals in their previous seven matches. Sochi can also play defensively, as demonstrated in their recent match against Barys in Astana. We do not expect a fast-paced start, and foresee both teams struggling to find the net at least twice.
Taking the first period total at under 1.5 goals with odds of 1.80
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