Traktor Chelyabinsk vs Metallurg Magnitogorsk Prediction 18 March 2026
🔊 As these two Ural clubs face off, they come with different objectives. Traktor need a win to stay in the hunt for a top-5 spot in the Eastern Conference or at least secure sixth place. Meanwhile, Metallurg are aiming to score at least one goal to set a new league record for scoring. Ideally, they'd like to score more to ensure this record stands for years to come. For more insights on the game expectations and team statistics, read our editorial's prediction for this KHL regular season matchup on March 18th here.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past three seasons, Traktor and Metallurg have clashed 13 times: the team from Chelyabinsk won five matches, while the team from Magnitogorsk claimed victory in eight. Heading into their next Ural derby, the Continental Cup holders boast a streak of six consecutive wins against the "Polar Bears."
Head-to-head statistics Traktor Chelyabinsk - Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Traktor Chelyabinsk Team Overview
Heading into the matchup against the top team of the regular season, the South Ural club arrives with a streak of two consecutive victories-over Torpedo (3-2 OT) and SKA (2-1). Yevgeny Koreshkov's team could finish anywhere from 5th to 7th in the standings, but the most likely scenario sees them securing sixth place and facing Ak Bars in the first round of the Gagarin Cup.
At home, Traktor have lost only three games while winning ten in 2026. In terms of home game regulation win percentage (53.1%), only two clubs in the East perform better. The "Polar Bears" also boast impressive scoring averages at the V. Belousov Traktor Ice Arena, netting 3.44 goals per game.
Due to injury, Chelyabinsk's main goaltender Sergey Mylnikov will not play for the rest of the season. Defenders Grigory Dronov and Sergey Telegin missed the match against SKA, but Andrey Pribylsky and Yaroslav Fedoseyev made the lineup.
Match Results: Traktor Chelyabinsk
Metallurg Magnitogorsk Team Overview
Metallurg, who have already secured the Continental Cup as the best team in the regular season, have won their last four games. Andrei Razin's squad kicked off their winning streak with a shootout victory against Traktor (3-2), followed by triumphs over Salavat Yulaev (2-1 OT), Sibir (2-1 OT), and Avtomobilist (4-3).
On the road, Metallurg have claimed three consecutive wins, allowing less than a goal per game on average. While their overall away statistics this season are slightly less impressive, they remain solid with an average of 3.59 goals scored per game and 2.59 goals conceded.
Metallurg's injury list still includes one of their top scorers, first-line forward Dmitry Silantyev. In their home game against Avtomobilist, defenseman Makar Khabarov returned to the lineup, replacing Alexander Siryatsky, along with forwards Nikita Mikhailis and Alexander Petunin.
Match Results: Metallurg Magnitogorsk
⚡️ Key Players
Leading the charge for Traktor are Joshua Leivo with 62 points (25 goals, 37 assists) and Mikhail Grigorenko with 55 points (23 goals, 32 assists). Vitaly Kravtsov has scored in three consecutive games, while Leivo and Grigorenko have contributed points in three of the last four matches.
Metallurg's top scorer title is up for grabs between the league's leading playmaker Vladimir Tkachev, who has amassed 70 points (12 goals, 58 assists), and the championship's top sniper Roman Kantserov with 64 points (36 goals, 28 assists). With two games remaining, Magnitogorsk need to find the net at least once to set a new KHL regular season scoring record with 250 goals.
🥅 Goalkeepers
In the absence of Sergey Mylnikov, the coaching staff and fans are placing their faith in goaltender Dmitry Nikolaev. So far, he hasn't disappointed-he has stopped 96.4% of shots in March, boasting a goals-against average of 1.17. His likely backup for the playoffs will be Saveliy Sherstnev, who has only 12 KHL career appearances.
For Metallurg, Alexander Smolin will be the primary choice in playoff games. In March, he played four and a half games, saving 94.4% of shots with a goals-against average of 1.57. Ilya Nabokov, in his three partial games this spring, has a save percentage of 91.5% (GAA 2.24).
Editor's Prediction
Despite Dmitry Nikolaev's near-flawless performance in goal for Traktor, Metallurg remain an attacking force regardless of their form or motivation. Bookmakers see the hosts as clear favorites, offering decent odds for the home team to score at least two goals. Metallurg are on the brink of setting a new KHL record.
Moreover, the "Foxes" have netted at least two goals in eight consecutive head-to-head encounters, and their average scoring on the road speaks volumes-3.59 goals per game. We believe in Magnitka's record-breaking potential and their high-scoring hockey style. Our pick is Metallurg's individual total over 1.5 goals.
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Betting Tips: Traktor Chelyabinsk - Metallurg Magnitogorsk
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