Liontips
Sochi - Ak Bars: forecast for the KHL match
Sochi will settle the score with Ak Bars at home on November 27. The Leopards have been showing rather mediocre results throughout the season, so it is logical that they are the underdogs in this match. Kazan has problems with goalkeepers, but in the last match they were able to deal with CSKA and are in a good mood. Will the Leopards be able to succeed in the upcoming match? You will find out from the forecast
Command Analysis
HC Sochi
Russian FederationCurrent form
Sochi still occupies the last place in the West and is only one point behind Kunlun, so in the near future it can lay claim to the tenth position, because it still has two games in reserve. However, it will be difficult to count on more this season, because the team has already significantly lagged behind the playoff zone and continues to show a very unstable game. It should be noted that within the framework of a long series of home matches, it managed to win two victories and suffered two defeats. Sochi first dealt with Red Star (6:5 OT), then lost to Barys (3:6) and Sibir (2:4), but in the last confrontation with Lada they again celebrated success with a score of 3:2.
Let us emphasize that many previous meetings with the participation of the "leopards" were productive, because they acted on counter courses and were not afraid to miss an extra puck. In the meeting with the Togliatti team, they had a great majority, and only thanks to the great implementation were they able to earn two points in regular time. Let us recall that then they took advantage of three attempts out of eight. Sergei Zubov team, in general, looks pretty good in the 5x4 format and currently has 19.2% implementation.
Sochi lacks reliability in defense, which is why it fails many matches against more skilled opponents. The club often has the worst start to its game, with 19:33 goals scored and goals conceded.
Disqualifications and injuries
Nikonov and Vengryzhanovsky will not take part in the match due to injuries.
Interesting trends for betting
- Sochi allows an average of 32 shots on goal
The Leopards are unable to cover most shots on goal
- Sochi has 80.6% neutralization of the opponent power play
Sochi players have been playing well in uneven lineups this season and have neutralized many of their opponents' attempts
Ak Bars Kazan
Russian FederationCurrent form
Ak Bars remains one of the leaders of the Eastern Conference and is currently in fourth place in the tournament table. The team can improve its position in the near future, because it is literally two points behind second place. However, recently the Kazan team has not been able to find stability and alternates victories with defeats. They lost at home to CSKA (0:3), then defeated Neftekhimik (2:0), and after losing to Severstal (5:7), unexpectedly for many, they took revenge on the Moscow army team on the road, beating them with a score of 2:1.
Incidentally, the goalkeeper in that match was the farm club goalie, Maxim Arefyev. Despite his inexperience, the goalie played at a high level and parried a total of 39 shots. Of course, most of the shots on his goal were not dangerous, but in some moments he really saved the team. It is still unclear whether one of the main goalies will be able to return to the ice in the near future, but most likely, Arefyev will again take his place in the goal in the upcoming meeting.
It is worth mentioning that the "Bars" have not been doing well away from home this season. Before this, they managed to win only six victories within 60 minutes in 14 games. But Ak Bars is great at playing in the minority, and is currently the best club in the league in this indicator, with 86.5% neutralization of the opponent majority.
Disqualifications and injuries
Babenko, Bilyalov and Miftakhov will not take part in the match due to injuries.
Interesting trends for betting
- On average, Ak Bars takes 34 shots on target
Kazan players try to play actively in the opponent zone and make shots from any position
- Kazan wins 53% of faceoffs
The Bars are doing well on the spot and taking most of the face-offs
Trends
Bet 1st period: total over 1.5 goals
In three out of five matches between the clubs, the first period was productive
2.00Bet 2nd period: home team to score
In three out of four matches, Sochi scored in the second period
1.85Tip and bets
We think that Sochi will be able to give a worthy rebuff to Kazan in the upcoming match. Firstly, it is still unclear what Ak Bars will have with the goalkeepers in the upcoming match. The fact that Arefyev played so well in the last match does not mean that he will always play like this. Secondly, previous matches between the clubs often went in favor of the Leopards. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that away from home this season, victories in regular time are very difficult for the Leopards, so it makes sense to take the hosts' handicap.
Forecast - Sochi win with Asian handicap (+1.5) for goals at 1.90
Bet on individual total
Ak Bars has demonstrated mediocre performance in most of its previous matches and usually could not break down the opponent defense more than once or twice. Only in one case out of five did Kazan score five goals, but in the remaining matches they had problems converting their chances. Sochi, of course, is not noted for its classy defense, but at home they should not concede four times, especially since Ak Bars itself will pay more attention to defense.
We bet on Ak Bars individual total under 3.5 goals for 1.69
Total Bet
Ak Bars' previous matches were not particularly productive, especially if we do not take into account the confrontation with Severstal. On the road, Gatiyatullin team tries to play a more closed hockey and allows few dangerous moments near their goal. Sochi also avoids playing on the counter courses in matches with similar teams and pays more attention to defense. We think that in the upcoming match we will see a minimum number of goals.
We take the total under 5.5 pucks for 1.75
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