Avtomobilist vs SKA St. Petersburg Prediction 20 March 2025
📢 How will the clash between teams aiming to solidify their spots in the top eight conclude? On Thursday, Avto host the Army Men from Neva. Both teams still have tournament objectives to achieve and are determined to finish the regular season in higher positions within their respective conferences.
Head-to-Head
This season, the teams have faced off just once. In October of last year, the team from St. Petersburg proved stronger than their Yekaterinburg counterparts on the ice at the "SKA Arena" with a 5-2 victory. The standout performers of the match were forward Arseniy Gritsyuk, who scored twice in the third period, and defenseman Anthony DeAngelo, who contributed two assists. The Russian player recently returned from injury and is back in action for the "Army Men from the Neva," while the American defenseman has crossed the Atlantic and now plays for the New York Islanders. In 2024, their meetings have been high-scoring affairs, with fewer than five goals scored in only two out of six games.
Head-to-head statistics Avtomobilist - SKA St. Petersburg
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg Team Overview
Nikolai Zavarukhin's squad currently sits fourth in the Eastern Conference with 85 points. With three games remaining, they have the chance to earn 6 more points and overtake Metallurg Magnitogorsk, who are in second place. This could secure a more favorable opponent in the first round of the playoffs. Their recent away trip through Magnitogorsk, Moscow, and Kazan was disappointing, as they failed to secure a single victory. Such short-term slumps can happen as players start focusing on the upcoming playoffs. However, their current home series has been more successful, with victories in two out of three games against Torpedo and Sochi. In the match against Sochi, Stefan Da Costa, Anatoly Golyshev, and Nikita Tryamkin were rested. They are expected to be available for the clash against the team from St. Petersburg, as there have been no reports of injuries for these players.
Match Results: Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
SKA St. Petersburg Team Overview
The "Red and Blues" have enjoyed a stellar home run, securing three victories in as many games against Metallurg, Dinamo Minsk, and Sochi. Roman Rotenberg's squad currently sits sixth in the Western standings, with the potential to climb into the top four or drop to seventh. Forward Arseniy Gritsyuk has been a standout, consistently racking up points in every game since his return. Defenseman Alexander Nikishin also deserves recognition for another impressive regular season performance, tallying 17 goals and 29 assists. There's speculation that the 23-year-old might sign with Carolina in the spring of 2025. However, the "Army Men from Neva" will be without forward Evgeny Kuznetsov in their upcoming match. Kuznetsov scored two goals and added two assists in February before sustaining another injury.
Match Results: SKA St. Petersburg
🏒 Projected Lineups
Avtomobilist: Galkin - Tryamkin, Ebert - Golyashev, Da Costa, Macek
SKA: Zavragin - Nikishin, Zemenok - Zykov, Vorobyov, Akolzin
🥅 Goalkeepers
Avtomobilist's coaching staff are likely to stick with 24-year-old Vladimir Galkin. On Sunday, he conceded three goals against Sochi and was substituted for Yevgeny Alikin during the game. Nonetheless, Galkin has impressed this season, securing three shutouts and boasting a goals-against average of 2.26.
SKA's goalie, Yegor Zavragin, has been outstanding in his last five outings. He allowed two or fewer goals in each of March's matchups and recorded a shutout in Friday’s game against Sochi. The 19-year-old is highly anticipated to make his playoff debut soon, with hockey fans eager to see him in action.
Editorial Prediction
The upcoming match promises to be a fierce battle for points, as both clubs still have issues to resolve in their respective conferences. The "Army Men from Neva" find themselves in a tougher spot, realizing with each game the necessity of accumulating crucial points. Both teams share similarities, having recently endured a streak of four consecutive losses, but now riding a wave of victories. Roman Rotenberg's squad has delivered more convincing performances, defeating the resilient Minsk Dynamo, long-time rivals CSKA Moscow, and former champions Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Additionally, the Yekaterinburg side has failed to beat St. Petersburg at home during regular time in their last six encounters. Based on these trends and statistics, the most reasonable bet for the upcoming match is a double chance on SKA (X2).No comments
Betting Tips: Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg - SKA St. Petersburg
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