CSKA vs SKA St. Petersburg Prediction
📣 The first round of the playoffs is about to kick off, and we're in for a top-tier clash as CSKA take on SKA on Moscow ice. Historically, these teams have faced off in later rounds, but this time, one of them will see their journey end in the opening stage. How will this battle of familiar foes conclude? Find out in our prediction.
Head-to-Head
During the regular season, the "Army Men" clashed four times, exchanging two victories each. However, the edge went to the team from St. Petersburg, as both of their wins were secured in regulation time. The only high-scoring game took place on October 22 at the Ice Palace. At that time, Moscow's lineup still featured star forward Daniel Sprong, who has since moved to Avtomobilist during the season. When it comes to playoff encounters, CSKA holds the upper hand; the last time the Muscovites fell to the "Army Men from Neva" in the postseason was in 2014/2015. Overall, victories are nearly even: 54 wins for the hosts and 56 for the visitors. All signs point to a tense showdown ahead. We anticipate that this battle won't conclude in just four games.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
CSKA Moscow Team Overview
The Moscow team wrapped up a strong regular season, amassing 84 points and securing home-ice advantage for the first playoff round. During the first half of the season, Igor Nikitin's squad struggled with consistency, initially hovering around eighth place. However, by late January, they began a winning streak, capturing victories in nearly every game. Notably, the team embarked on an impressive eight-game winning run that extended until February 15. On average, Karnaukhov and his teammates netted 2.38 goals per game-a respectable figure given Nikitin's tactical approach-while Gamzin and the defense allowed an average of just 2.12 goals per contest. It's worth noting that in their last six regular-season games, the Moscow side consistently scored in the second period. For the first matchup against SKA, they will be without defenseman Provolnev and forward Moiseev.
Match Results: CSKA Moscow
SKA St. Petersburg Team Overview
A similar scenario unfolds for SKA: in the first half of the season, Igor Larionov's squad faced some challenges, but Golodobin and his teammates finished strong. After the addition of former Admiral Vladivostok coach Leonid Tambiev to the coaching staff, the team immediately went on a five-game winning streak. Later, the Latvian specialist's insights proved valuable on February 24 in a match against his former team (4-2). In their last ten games, the "Army Men from Neva" secured six victories, earning them the fifth spot in the West and allowing them to avoid facing teams from the top three. On average, Grimaldi and his attacking partners scored nearly three goals per game, while Sapego and his defensive colleagues conceded about 2.5 goals. It’s worth noting that defenders Murphy and Zaitsev are still listed as injured.
Match Results: SKA St. Petersburg
🏒 Projected Lineups
CSKA: Gamzin - Nesterov, Ebert - Buchelnikov, Karnaukhov, Drozdov
SKA: Pleshkov - Phillips, Sapego - Wilson, Plotnikov, Goldobin
🥅 Goalies
Dmitry Gamzin has been a standout for CSKA this regular season, appearing in 40 games with an impressive goals-against average of 1.49, securing 8 shutouts. His colleague Samonov is ready to step in at any moment if needed.
Artemy Pleshkov has shared the netminding duties almost equally with his partner Ivanov, ensuring both are ready to support each other at any time. In 31 regular season games, Artemy posted a solid goals-against average of 2.01.
⭐ Editorial Prediction
Despite the buzz surrounding top-tier "Army derbies," they rarely deliver a high-scoring affair. We anticipate a tactical battle with cautious play from both teams in the first period. Considering that the total for the first period under 1.5 goals has hit in 12 of CSKA's last 13 games, this will be our primary betting choice. Even in the most high-scoring October clash between these teams, the two-goal total in the opening 20 minutes was not surpassed.
Betting Tips: CSKA Moscow - SKA St. Petersburg
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