CSKA vs Avangard Omsk Prediction
🔊 The third game of the series between CSKA and Avangard. The Hawks arrive in Moscow with a two-game lead. Let's delve into the statistical trends and the head-to-head history between these teams in the Russian capital to offer you the most insightful prediction for the third match of the second round of the Gagarin Cup, scheduled for April 12, 2026.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past three seasons, Avangard and CSKA have clashed eight times, with the Omsk side claiming victory in seven of those encounters, while the Moscow team managed just one win. The "Army Men" have been unable to defeat the "Hawks" in regulation time for 11 consecutive games, including friendlies. In official matches at home, CSKA have failed to beat Avangard in regulation time for four straight games. In the current series, both games in Omsk ended in favor of the hosts (3-0 and 3-2).
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
CSKA Moscow Team Overview
The Moscow club, for the first time in this playoff series, has lost two games and suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since early March. Despite this, the "Army Men" remain one of the highest-scoring teams in the competition. On average, CSKA players score 2.57 goals per game while conceding 2.14.
At home, Igor Nikitin's squad has been delivering high-scoring performances in the current playoffs. In each of their three Gagarin Cup encounters against SKA, the Moscow side conceded two goals but always managed to outscore their opponents. CSKA have not lost in regulation time in 21 of their last 23 home games. Their scoring prowess at "Megasport" in this playoff is impressive, with an average of four goals scored and two conceded in regulation time.
On the power play, the Moscow "Army Men" have netted three goals (a 16.7% conversion rate, ranking 13th in the tournament). They have conceded four times while shorthanded, with a penalty kill success rate of just 71.4%, placing them 14th in the current competition.
Match Results: CSKA Moscow
Avangard Omsk Team Overview
The Omsk club once again managed to secure a win with minimal effort. For their second victory, Guy Boucher's squad needed just three goals, though this time their opponents managed to get past Nikita Serebryakov. In three of their last four matches, the Omsk team conceded at least twice per game. Avangard's scoring prowess in the current playoffs is also impressive, averaging 3.29 goals scored and 1.86 goals conceded in regulation time.
On the road, the "Hawks" remain unbeaten in four consecutive matches, including two playoff games. Their scoring average in away games during the Gagarin Cup stands at 3.5 goals scored and 1.5 goals conceded. In four of their last five away encounters, the "Hawks" allowed at least two goals.
With seven power-play goals, the Siberian club remains the most prolific team in this format of the tournament. Their power-play conversion rate of 30.4% is the best among the remaining eight teams in the competition. However, Avangard has conceded six goals while shorthanded, with a penalty kill success rate of 76.0%, placing them only 11th in the tournament.
Match Results: Avangard Omsk
Latest news
CSKA Moscow
💬 CSKA head coach Igor Nikitin: "In the last game, we focused on finishing but lost the battle. Today, we concentrated on the battle and faltered in finishing. We need to find the right balance by the third match. I don't think it makes a difference for Avangard whether they play at home or away. A top team shouldn't be affected by that."
❌ CSKA's injury list still includes defenseman Vladislav Provolnev, who hasn't played for several months, and forward Danila Moiseev, who has missed the entire season.
↔️ For the second game in Omsk, CSKA's coaches brought back forward Tahir Mingachev into the lineup, replacing Alexey Churkin in the fourth attacking line.
Avangard Omsk
💬 Avangard's head coach Guy Boucher: "We played with six defensemen and won. Overall, we've won games this season with that number of defensemen. Traktor reached the final with six defensemen, Bob Hartley won the Gagarin Cup using just four. It's not about the quantity, but the quality."
❌ Forward Ivan Igumnov is out for the rest of the season after sustaining an injury in the opening playoff games. Defenseman Semyon Chistyakov, who was injured in the first game against CSKA, missed the second match. The coaching staff is uncertain if the defenseman will return before the series concludes.
↔️ The only substitution Guy Boucher made before the second game was a forced one. Daniil Chayka replaced the injured Chistyakov on the roster as the seventh defenseman. Mikhail Gulyayev paired up with Artyom Blazhievsky.
⚡️ Leaders
CSKA's Nikolai Kovalenko has surged into the top scorers of the 2026 Gagarin Cup with a tally of 2 goals and 6 assists. Denis Gurianov, also among the tournament's top performers with 6 goals and 1 assist, has yet to score in the series. Maxim Sorkin, another key player for the Moscow team, has contributed 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in the playoffs.
Avangard's standout and the tournament's leading scorer is Konstantin Okulov, boasting 7 goals and 4 assists, topping both the scoring and sniper charts. Among the top performers for the Omsk side are Nikolai Prokhorkin (5 goals, 1 assist), Andrew Poturalski (2 goals, 4 assists), and Michael McLeod (1 goal, 5 assists). Okulov's point streak has reached four games, while Poturalski has recorded points in three consecutive matches.
🥅 Goaltenders
Dmitry Gamzin remains CSKA's first-choice goaltender. His impressive streak of 32 games conceding no more than two goals was recently snapped. Gamzin now ranks 14th in the tournament for save percentage at 92.4% and 11th for goals against average at 1.92.
Sergei Serebryakov, following a shutout, saw a slight dip in his stats with a save percentage of 93.1%, placing him 12th in the tournament, and a goals against average of 1.89, ranking him 10th. The "Hawks" goalie has finished six out of seven playoff games with a save percentage above 90%.
Editor's Prediction
The "Army Men" are still striving to find the right balance between physical and offensive hockey, and while their statistics show some changes, they aren't groundbreaking yet. Regardless of what Igor Nikitin says about the lack of home-ice advantage, playing in front of their own fans is always more enjoyable. Especially since in their last 23 home games, the Moscow team have only lost twice in regulation time, and in 21 of those games, the double chance (1X) option held true, meaning CSKA did not lose in regulation. We're opting for this outcome in the third game of the series.
Betting Tips: CSKA Moscow - Avangard Omsk
in 7 of last 8 games against Avangard Omsk (KHL).in 7 of last 8 games against Avangard Omsk (KHL).in 21 of last 23 home games (KHL).in 13 of last 14 games against Avangard Omsk (KHL).in last 8 home games against Avangard Omsk (KHL).in 8 of last 9 games (KHL).in last 11 games (KHL).in last 7 away games (KHL).
