Sibir Novosibirsk vs Severstal Cherepovec Prediction 23 August 2025
📣 Day four of the Blinov Cup brings us a clash between teams from Novosibirsk and Cherepovets. The squad from Vologda Oblast remains unbeaten in the tournament so far. Can Vadim Epanchintsev's side put up a worthy fight against the in-form "Steelmen"? Let's delve into our prediction.
Head-to-Head
Last season, the "Snowmen" and the "Steelworkers" faced off twice, each securing a decisive victory. In September, Taylor Beck and Vladimir Butuzov led their team to a 5-2 win. A month later, the Cherepovets defense stifled the leaders of Novosibirsk's attack, with Alexei Kruchinin and Ruslan Abrosimov driving the "Steelworkers" to a commanding 4-2 victory. Neither team holds a clear historical advantage, setting the stage for another clash of equally ambitious sides.
Head-to-head statistics Sibir Novosibirsk - Severstal Cherepovec
Sibir Novosibirsk Team Overview
The "Snowmen" kicked off their preseason training on August 16, engaging in a high-scoring hockey match against Krasnoyarsk Sokol. The game was decided in overtime when Pyanov scored off assists from Butuzov and newcomer Farrance just before the end of the five-minute period. It's clear that Novosibirsk are pleased to have Vladimir Butuzov back in action after his injury at the end of last season. On August 17, Novosibirsk dominated Dynamo Altai with a 4-0 victory, but struggled against KHL opponents, losing two matches at the Blinov Cup. Over the summer, the "Snowmen" parted ways with goaltender Denis Kostin and most of their foreign players. Their replacements include goaltender Louis Domingue, defensemen Farrance and Priskie, as well as former Vityaz and Salavat Yulaev player Scott Wilson.
Match Results: Sibir Novosibirsk
Severstal Cherepovec Team Overview
The "Steelworkers," led by Andrey Kozyrev, performed well last season, but the team once again fell short of their goals. For two consecutive years, the "Yellow-Blacks" have faced Moscow Spartak in the playoffs and struggled to advance to the next round. On a positive note, the dynamic trio of Aymurzin, Ilyin, and Pilipenko will once again delight the fans in Cherepovets. The players have already made their mark at the Blinov Cup. This summer, seasoned player Alexey Kruchinin left Cherepovets to return to Nizhny Novgorod. The team also parted ways with Mikhail Kotlyarevsky, who was part of a trade deal involving Nikita Korostelev. Among the incoming transfers, the signing of Canadian defenseman Thomas Gregoire stands out (he notched 24 points in the 2019/2020 season for the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL). Severstal have been assembling an intriguing young roster for several seasons now, and they began making waves as early as August.
Match Results: Severstal Cherepovec
🏒 Projected Lineups
Sibir: Domingue - Priskie, Alanov - Soshnikov, Tkachev, Wilson
Severstal: Samoylov - Gregoire, Caldis - Pilipenko, Aymurzin, Ilyin
🥅 Goalies
The league newcomer, 33-year-old Louis Domingue, known for his stints with the Rangers and Pittsburgh, has spent most of his career in the AHL. In 2022, Domingue played six games for the Penguins in the playoffs but struggled with a goals-against average of 3.65. In a recent game against Avangard Omsk, Domingue put in a solid performance, allowing only two goals in regulation.
At 28, Alexander Samoylov emerged as the primary goalie for Cherepovets last season. In 42 games, he posted a respectable goals-against average of 2.45. However, in the playoffs, Samoylov managed just one victory. In a recent matchup against Lokomotiv, the netminder unexpectedly recorded a shutout and even added an assist to his stat line.
Editorial Prediction
For Saturday's game, our primary bet is on a total under 4.5 goals. Seasoned coach Andrey Kozyrev is focusing on tightening up the defense this preseason, and so far, it's working for the Steelmen, who have conceded just two goals in two matches. Meanwhile, the team from Novosibirsk isn't exactly lighting up the scoreboard; veteran Sergei Shirokov has been their top scorer after netting against VHL teams, while their foreign players seem out of sync. Let's not overlook the solid goaltending duo the Snowmen boast by KHL standards. Considering all these factors, a low-scoring game seems to be the most likely scenario for the upcoming match.No comments
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