Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk vs Avangard Omsk Prediction
🔊 After two games in Omsk, the series between Neftekhimik and Avangard in the Gagarin Cup heads to Tatarstan with the score tied. How has the extended overtime in the previous matchup impacted both teams? We delve into the statistical breakdowns and patterns to offer an insightful prediction from our editors for the third game of the first round of the Kontinental Hockey League playoffs.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past three seasons, Avangard and Neftekhimik have faced off 14 times: the Omsk club has claimed victory in 11 matches, while the Nizhnekamsk side has won three. In the current Gagarin Cup series, the teams have traded wins in Omsk: the hosts took the first game (4-2), and the visitors secured the second (4-3 OT).
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk Team Overview
The Nizhnekamsk club ranks sixth in terms of scoring, averaging 3.00 goals per game over the last two matches. However, their defensive stats are concerning, allowing an average of 3.50 goals per game, with only one team conceding more. Neftekhimik sits eighth in the tournament for shot conversion at 7.69%.
The Tatarstan club boasts the highest number of power-play goals (3) and one of the best power-play conversion rates at 33.3%. Their penalty kill is quite mediocre, successfully neutralizing only 66.7% of the six attempts against them. In the last two games, special teams played a crucial role, with 38.5% of the goals scored during power plays.
Match Results: Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
Avangard Omsk Team Overview
With an average scoring rate of 3.5 goals per game, the Omsk team shares the second spot with three other clubs. Avangard are most prolific in the first and third periods, yet they haven't found the net at all during the second period in their 40 minutes of play. In terms of average goals conceded (3.00), Avangard rank tenth in the KHL.
Avangard's power play success rate (33.3%) and penalty kill efficiency (66.7%) match their opponent's numbers. Their shot conversion rate of 10.14% places the Siberians among the top five teams in the Cup.
Match Results: Avangard Omsk
Latest news
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
💬 Neftekhimik head coach Igor Grishin: "The game was a bit different from a simple one, it was more disciplined, more tightly contested, with fewer scoring chances and fewer breakaway attacks. We tried to make fewer mistakes. I'm not sure what visually appealed more to the fans."
❌ Neftekhimik's injured list still includes forward Vladislav Barulin.
↔️ The Neftekhimik coaching staff made no changes to the lineup or on-ice combinations after the first game in Omsk. For the second consecutive game, Philipp Dolganov was in goal.
Avangard Omsk
💬 Avangard forward Vasily Ponomaryov: "It was the kind of game you'd expect in the playoffs. Playing through multiple overtimes is a thrill. Just like in the regular season, our opponents are seriously prepared for us; no one anticipated an easy series. The key is to approach the next game with a fresh mindset."
❌ According to the head coach of the Omsk team, forward Ivan Igumnov, who was injured in the last match, is out for the rest of the season.
↔️ The only change in Avangard's lineup after their home victory is a backup switch. Instead of 17-year-old Dmitry Ivchenko, they've named Andrey Mishurov as the backup goalie for Nikita Serebryakov.
⚡️ Key Players
One of the standout performers in the Gagarin Cup is Andrey Belozyorov, who scored Neftekhimik's first game-winning goal of this playoff (2+1). The top playmaker for the "Wolves" in the current campaign is Artyom Serikov, who has registered points in each of the last two games (0+2).
Konstantin Okulov and Nizhnekamsk hockey product Nail Yakupov have both put on impressive performances over two games, each tallying 2+1. Including regular season play, Okulov has extended his scoring streak to six games. Leading Avangard's assist chart are Semyon Chistyakov, Michael McLeod, and Andrew Poturalski, each with 0+2.
🥅 Goaltenders
Considering goals allowed, the goaltenders in this series rank around the top 10 in key metrics. Neftekhimik's goalie, Filipp Dolganov, has stopped 62 shots over two games with a save percentage of 91.2% and a goals-against average of 2.48.
Nikita Serebryakov, over 146 minutes of play, has faced 72 shots with a save percentage of 92.3% and a goals-against average of 2.46. While these efficiency numbers aren't the worst, they still fall short of the season's average figures.
Editorial Prediction
An unexpected home defeat wasn't part of Avangard's plans, and now Guy Boucher's team needs to secure at least one win in Nizhnekamsk. The head-to-head statistics favor the Omsk side, as Avangard have avoided defeat in regulation time in 16 of their last 17 encounters with Neftekhimik, winning half of those in regulation time as well. Considering that the Hawks have not lost in regulation time in 10 of their last 11 games, a victory for Avangard with a (0) handicap seems like the most reasonable choice.
Betting Tips: Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk - Avangard Omsk
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