Salavat Yulaev Ufa vs Avtomobilist Prediction
🔊 Salavat Yulaev, after securing their second consecutive victory, have taken the lead in the series against Avtomobilist for the first time (2-1). Seven goals between them - an anomaly or a sign of things to come in future matchups? Let's dive into the statistical trends ahead of the fourth game in the first round series of the Gagarin Cup 2026 to offer you Scores24's prediction for the game on March 29.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past three seasons, Salavat Yulaev and Avtomobilist have faced off 15 times: the Ufa team claimed six victories, while the Ekaterinburg side secured nine. In the current series in Ekaterinburg, the teams exchanged shutout wins (2-0 for the Urals team and 1-0 for the Ufa squad). The first game in Bashkortostan ended with a victory for the hosts (4-3).
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Salavat Yulaev Ufa Team Overview
The Ufa club, after managing just one goal in 120 minutes of play in Yekaterinburg, finally delivered an offensive showcase. They significantly boosted their average scoring stats, although their 1.67 goals per game still ranks third from the bottom. When it comes to goals conceded, they have the same figure, but this time it ranks third from the top. Viktor Kozlov's team's conversion rate stands at a mere 5.49%, making it one of the weakest in the tournament.
The "Yulaevtsy" also find themselves at the lower end in power play efficiency, with only one successful attempt out of eight (12.5%). However, they excel in penalty killing, boasting a perfect 100.0% success rate in four attempts by opponents.
Match Results: Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg Team Overview
Avtomobilist's performance metrics mirror those of their opponents, with 1.67 goals scored and 1.67 conceded in the current series. However, their conversion rate is slightly worse, standing at 5.38%, which ranks third from the bottom among all teams in the tournament.
The "Drivers" remain one of only two teams yet to capitalize on a power play in the current tournament, a concern for the Yekaterinburg side. Though Salavat Yulaev hasn't given them many opportunities-just four power play chances for Avtomobilist. Their penalty kill efficiency is impressive, with an 87.5% success rate, placing them among the best in the league.
Match Results: Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
Latest news
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
💬 Salavat Yulaev's head coach Viktor Kozlov: "Sprong scores against us regularly? That's why he earns the big bucks. He's a skilled player, capable of scoring, with a strong shot. He's played in the NHL, even on a line with Evgeny Kuznetsov. It's a challenge for us. We're figuring out how to handle him."
❌ Salavat Yulaev's injury list grows as defenseman Alexander Komarov is joined by Evgeny Kulik, who is set to undergo surgery after the third game, likely leading to a series of missed matches.
↔️ Forward Evgeny Kuznetsov missed the third game of the series due to suspension but is expected to return for the fourth game. This led to two changes in the lineup: Danil Alalykin moved up to Kuznetsov's spot on the second line, and Denis Yan filled the vacant roster spot.
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
💬 Avtomobilist head coach Nikolai Zavarukhin: "Alikin had a minor injury. We'll discuss with the goaltending coach what to do next. I don't believe Galkin is at fault. He kept a clean sheet in the first game, conceded just one goal in the second, and kept us in the game today. The issue lies more with our forwards. We need contributions from all lines, not just one, to secure victories."
❌ Avtomobilist have no injured players on their roster.
↔️ Ahead of the third game, Anatoly Golyshev, a forward from the top line, KHL's top shot-blocking defenseman Kirill Vorobyov, and another defenseman, Nikita Ishimnikov, were left out of the lineup. Their spots were filled by Dmitry Yudin and Danil Malorosyianov, with Nikita Gorbunov joining the attack alongside the foreign players. Artem Kashtanov made his series debut.
⚡️ Key Players
In Salavat Yulaev's lineup, no single player has yet stood out in terms of scoring. Maxim Kuznetsov, Sheldon Rempal, Yegor Suchkov, and Vladislav Yefremov have each tallied two points over three games (1+1 each). The game-winning goals have been credited to Suchkov (away) and Kuznetsov (home). Including regular season games, Rempal and Suchkov have found the back of the net in 6 of their last 7 matches.
For Avtomobilist, Daniel Sprong has been a standout performer. The Dutchman has already netted four goals in three matches, topping both the scoring and goal-scoring charts of the Gagarin Cup. The forward has registered points in 14 of his last 16 games, including regular season matchups. Alexander Sharov has contributed with 0+2 and holds the title of top assist provider for the Yekaterinburg team in the current playoffs.
🥅 Goalkeepers
Despite a high-scoring previous match, both goaltenders remain among the top in key metrics. Semyon Vyazovoy has stopped 88 shots over three games (94.6% save percentage, 5th in the cup) with a goals-against average of 1.68 (6th in the cup).
Vladimir Galkin has also maintained impressive stats, sitting just behind Vyazovoy. The Avtomobilist netminder faced 86 shots from Ufa's side (94.5% save percentage, 6th in the cup) with a goals-against average of 1.69 (7th in the cup).
Editors' Prediction
Salavat Yulaev and Avtomobilist delivered one of the three highest-scoring matches in this year's Gagarin Cup playoffs. So how do these teams typically perform after games with over seven goals in the playoffs? Salavat Yulaev, for instance, have scored at least two goals in each of their next six series matches, while Avtomobilist have conceded twice in nine out of ten games following high-scoring encounters. The Ufa team have proven they can play not only solid defense but also execute effectively on offense. The editors' pick for the fourth match is Salavat Yulaev's individual total over 2 goals.
Betting Tips: Salavat Yulaev Ufa - Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
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