CSKA vs Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Prediction 13 September 2026
π CSKA wrap up their first home stand with a clash against the reigning Gagarin Cup holders. The Moscow side have already experienced both a commanding shutout win over Torpedo and a painful defeat to Admiral, while Lokomotiv remain perfect, yet to drop a single point. The coaching battle adds another layer of intrigue: Igor Nikitin faces the team with whom he once lifted the Gagarin Cup, while Dmitry Kvartalnov returns to the arena of the club he previously managed. Recent head-to-head meetings between these sides have been razor-thin affairs-on two consecutive occasions, sixty minutes werenβt enough to separate them.
Head-to-Head
π Last regular season, these teams faced off four times-and Lokomotiv came out on top in every single meeting. In fact, Lokomotivβs winning streak in this head-to-head now stands at six games. Over the course of last season, however, there was a noticeable shift in scoring trends. The first two clashes saw an average total of 5.5 goals per game, but in the next two, both sides managed just two goals apiece in regulation. On both occasions, the score was locked at 1-1 after 60 minutes, meaning the winner had to be decided beyond regulation time.
Head-to-head statistics CSKA - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
CSKA Moscow Team Overview
CSKAβs start to the season has been rather inconsistent. The team have managed just one win from their opening three games, but they did so in convincing fashion against Torpedo, posting a 3-0 shutout as Dmitry Gamzin recorded his first clean sheet of the campaign. However, the Moscow club failed to build on that result, falling short in their other two outings-including a loss to Admiral right after their victory over Nizhny Novgorod. So far, CSKA are struggling to consistently generate offense up front.
Against the Far Eastern side, CSKA again struck first-Dmitry Buchelnikov converted on the power play, scoring for the third consecutive game. The Red-and-Blues managed to erase a 1-2 deficit, but couldnβt close it out: Admiral netted the game-winner on the man advantage and sealed the result with an empty-netter. The contest ended 2-4. Thereβs also some concern surrounding Buchelnikov, who picked up an injury during the game; at this stage, thereβs no update on his status ahead of the clash with Lokomotiv.
Match Results: CSKA Moscow
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Team Overview
The reigning champions have enjoyed a much calmer start in terms of results. Lokomotiv have won all three of their opening games, kicking things off with a commanding 5-1 victory over Traktor. Since then, they've conceded just one goal apiece against the Shanghai Dragons and Severstal. Defense has been a cornerstone of their early success-Daniil Isaev has allowed only three goals across those three fixtures. The power play has also been a factor: the team have scored with the man advantage in three straight games.
The clash with Severstal demanded patience before Lokomotiv found their breakthrough. The Yaroslavl side trailed until the 56th minute, when Maksim Shalunov converted the team's first power play of the night. In overtime, Egor Surin sealed the win with a solo effort, making it 2-1. After the match, Dmitry Kvartalnov acknowledged that his team frequently turned the puck over and struggled to break down their opponents, but he highlighted their resilience. Kayumov and Berezkin remain sidelined through injury.
Match Results: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
β‘οΈ Key Players
Alex Cotton and Dmitry Buchelnikov have each tallied three points over CSKAβs opening three games. Cotton has picked up three assists, while Buchelnikov has found the net three times. Pavel Karnaukhov has contributed two points with a goal and an assist.
Egor Surin leads Lokomotiv with five points in three games-scoring three goals and providing two assists. Georgy Ivanov and Alexander Radulov both have three points to their names, each recording one goal and two assists.
π₯ Goaltenders
Dmitry Gamzin has started all three games for CSKA, stopping 62 of 68 shots for a .912 save percentage and a goals-against average of 2.01. He has one win and one shutout to his credit.
Daniil Isaev has also played every game for Lokomotiv, backstopping the team to three straight victories. He has turned aside 72 of 75 shots-good for a .960 save percentage-and boasts a goals-against average of 0.98, conceding just three goals.
βοΈ Editorial Prediction
Lokomotiv have kicked off the season in a manner that suits a low-scoring bet. After putting five past Traktor, the Yaroslavl side have since held their opponents to just one goal in back-to-back games, while scoring three and two themselves. Daniil Isaev boasts a 96% save percentage and has conceded only three goals across three outings. The under 5.5 goals line has hit in four of Lokomotivβs last five matches.
CSKA present a similar picture: in two of their three league fixtures so far, the total goals failed to reach six, and they even kept Torpedo off the scoreboard entirely. The head-to-head history further strengthens the case-seven of the last eight meetings between these teams have finished under 5.5 goals, with the previous two encounters going to overtime after 1-1 regulation draws. My pick is under 5.5 total goals.
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Betting Tips: CSKA Moscow - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
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