Ak Bars Kazan vs Traktor Chelyabinsk Prediction
🔊 One of the most intriguing playoff matchups in the first round of the Kontinental Hockey League. Naturally, the consistently strong cup contender Ak Bars are considered favorites, especially given Traktor's loss of their starting goalie. However, the Chelyabinsk team enters the playoffs as the reigning Gagarin Cup finalists. Will this Eastern Conference pairing deliver a thrilling contest? We delve into the statistics and trends ahead of the first game in the 2026 Gagarin Cup Round of 16 in Scores24's prediction.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past three seasons, Ak Bars and Traktor have clashed 12 times: the Kazan club claimed victory in eight matches, while the Chelyabinsk side won four. The head-to-head record in Kazan is a nightmare for Traktor, as Ak Bars have triumphed in ten consecutive games.
The last playoff encounter between these clubs was in 2018. The Eastern Conference final series went to the Kazan club, who swept all four games with scores of 2-1, 4-3, 2-1 OT, and 3-1.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Ak Bars Kazan Team Overview
Anvar Gatiyatulin's team secured third place in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, boasting the league's highest number of regulation-time victories with 38 wins. Throughout the season, Kazan averaged 3.12 goals per game while conceding 2.49.
Special teams will be crucial in the playoff matchups. Ak Bars rank fourth among Eastern Conference teams in power play conversion, with a rate of 21.3%, but their penalty kill stands at only eighth, with an efficiency of 80.5%.
On home ice, the Kazan club won 64.7% of their games. At the Tatneft Arena, their average goals scored is higher than their overall average, with 3.38 goals per game. However, their defensive performance at home raises concerns, as they allow 2.62 goals per game.
Match Results: Ak Bars Kazan
Traktor Chelyabinsk Team Overview
The Ural club finished sixth in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, winning only 48.5% of their games. The Chelyabinsk team's average scoring stats fall short compared to their hosts, with 3.01 goals per game. However, their defensive play raised concerns, conceding an average of 2.87 goals.
When it comes to power play efficiency (18.7%), Evgeny Koreshkov's team ranks fifth among Eastern Conference teams, which is a decent statistic. Traktor also shows similar numbers in penalty killing efficiency at 80.2%.
On the road, the Chelyabinsk club won just 35.3% of their matches. Their scoring average away from Southern Ural is significantly lower than their overall average, with only 2.58 goals per game. Meanwhile, their goals against remain steady at an average of 2.91 per match.
Match Results: Traktor Chelyabinsk
Latest news
Ak Bars Kazan
💬 Ak Bars head coach Anvar Gatiyatulin: “Bilyalov missed some games due to an injury. He is now regaining his optimal form and has a couple more days to prepare. As I mentioned, we can fully count on Arefyev as well.”
❌ The injured players list for Ak Bars is empty. Starting goalie Timur Bilyalov has returned to the lineup ahead of the playoff games after recovering from an injury.
Traktor Chelyabinsk
💬 Traktor's head coach Evgeny Koreskov: "Ending the regular season with four home victories? Any win gives a psychological and emotional boost, adding inner strength. It's especially crucial towards the end of the championship."
❌ The most significant and potentially most crucial loss among all KHL teams heading into the playoffs is the injury to Traktor's first-choice goalie, Sergey Mylnikov. In his absence, Dmitry Nikolaev has stepped up as the main option. Interestingly, he has more playoff experience, with 27 games under his belt. Arseniy Koromyslov is expected to recover in time for the playoffs, while Grigory Dronov's participation in the first game remains uncertain.
⚡️ Key Players
The standout scorer and playmaker for Ak Bars in the regular season was Kirill Semyonov, who tallied 56 points (18 goals, 38 assists) across 68 games. Nathan Todd seized the goal-scoring lead in the final regular-season game from Alexander Barabanov, netting 22 goals. Alexander Khmelevsky is in fine form heading into the playoffs, having scored in 5 of his last 6 games.
The main offensive hope for the Ural club rests on their most productive player in the regular season, top scorer and assist leader Joshua Leivo, who amassed 65 points (26 goals, 39 assists). Mikhail Grigorenko, with 59 points (24 goals, 35 assists), also enters the playoffs on a four-game scoring streak. Vitali Kravtsov set a new club record for points in a season with 235.
🥅 Goalkeepers
Timur Bilyalov is expected to be Ak Bars' starting goaltender in the playoffs after returning from injury. Over the season, he posted a save percentage of 91.9% with a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.35. Maxim Arefyev will likely get his chance in the first round too, showing consistent results with a 92.9% save rate and a GAA of 2.06 in fewer games.
For Traktor, both the coaching staff and fans would prefer to see Sergey Mylnikov between the pipes in the playoffs, but he's sidelined for the rest of the season due to injury. Dmitry Nikolaev took full advantage of his opportunity at the end of the regular season, recording a save percentage of 94.3% with a GAA of 1.89. Savelyi Shestnev, who is making his KHL debut this season, will serve as Nikolaev's backup in the playoffs.
Editorial Prediction
Ak Bars have not lost at home to Traktor for nearly six years, with the Kazan club extending their winning streak over the Chelyabinsk side in the capital of Tatarstan to ten games. Anvar Gatiyatulin's team boasts an impressive home record, winning two-thirds of all encounters there. Although in our Gagarin Cup 2026 preview we predicted an Ak Bars series victory, the games against the "Polar Bears" will be anything but a walk in the park. Given these trends, a home victory is expected from the hosts in this match-up. The editorial choice is a win for Ak Bars (including overtime).
Betting Tips: Ak Bars Kazan - Traktor Chelyabinsk
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