Sibir Novosibirsk vs AK Bars Kazan Prediction 22 March 2025
📢 Can the "Snowmen" secure a playoff spot from seventh place? In the final game of the regular season, Vadim Epanchintsev's squad faces one of the Eastern Conference powerhouses, Ak Bars Kazan. The Siberians not only need to defeat Ak Bars but also hope for two slip-ups from Admiral to avoid facing Chelyabinsk Traktor in the first round of the playoffs.
Head-to-Head
This season, the teams have faced off three times. Kazan claimed one victory (6-3), while the Siberians secured two wins (6-3; 1-0). Let's highlight Ak Bars forwards Alexander Barabanov and Artem Galimov. Barabanov netted a brace in the October game and added two points in early March. Galimov made a mark with a hat-trick against Sibir in their March matchup. For the "Snowmen," we spotlight goalkeeper Denis Kostin. Thanks to his 22 saves, the Siberians celebrated a narrow 1-0 win.
Head-to-head statistics Sibir Novosibirsk - AK Bars Kazan
Sibir Novosibirsk Team Overview
Vadim Epanchintsev's squad had been riding a three-game winning streak, but at a crucial moment, they fell to Salavat Yulaev Ufa (1-3). Now, there's a strong chance the "Snowmen" will remain in eighth place in the East and face Traktor Chelyabinsk, as their main rivals, Admiral Vladivostok, have two games left against Neftekhimik. The "Sailors" need to earn a total of 2 points across these two matches to ultimately surpass Sibir in the standings. It's worth noting that Sibir's second-leading scorer, Vladimir Butuzov, is out for the rest of the season and will definitely miss the game against Kazan. Injured Kirill Rasskazov and Fedor Gordeev will also be absent for the "Snowmen." Sergey Shirokov was missing in the clash against Salavat Yulaev, and the veteran forward might be given a rest in the final regular-season game to better prepare for the playoffs.
Match Results: Sibir Novosibirsk
AK Bars Kazan Team Overview
The club from Tatarstan has had a strong regular season and currently sits fifth in the East. Everything hinges on Avtomobilist on the final day of the regular season: if the Yekaterinburg team secures at least one point against Metallurg Magnitogorsk, they will claim the fourth playoff spot, denying Kazan the home-ice advantage in the first round. Should the "Bars" defeat the "Snowmen" and Avto lose, the "Bars" would take the fourth position based on tiebreakers. On Thursday, Anvar Gatiyatulin's squad thrashed Barys Astana 8-0, underscoring Kazan's serious intentions and their desire to open the playoffs at Tatneft Arena. Forward Alexander Barabanov was outstanding against Astana, notching two goals and two assists.
Match Results: AK Bars Kazan
🏒 Projected Lineups
Sibir: Kostin - Murphy, Alanov - Beck, Andreoff, Leipsic
Ak Bars: Bilyalov - Marchenko, Lyamkin - Galimov, Safonov, Barabanov
🥅 Goalkeepers
In the match against Salavat Yulaev, 27-year-old Anton Krasotkin was between the pipes for Sibir. For the upcoming game, the coaching staff is likely to opt once again for 29-year-old Denis Kostin. The goaltender boasts solid stats: 46 games, 6 shutouts, and a goals-against average of 2.26.
Ak Bars' main goalie Timur Bilyalov made 19 saves in the game against Barys Astana, securing his third shutout. He has firmly established himself as the top choice over Amir Miftakhov and is expected to be Kazan's starting netminder in the playoffs. Timur's season stats are impressive, with a goals-against average of 2.18 and a save percentage of 92.7.
Editor's Prediction
Both teams still have a slim chance of improving their standings in the table. In recent home games, the Snowmen have seen six or fewer goals scored. The potential return of the more reliable Denis Kostin to Siberia's last line of defense supports our insights. We eagerly anticipate the final game of the regular season, but expect a low-scoring affair and consider under 6 goals as the optimal bet for this matchup.No comments
Betting Tips: Sibir Novosibirsk - AK Bars Kazan
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