League-topping offensive strategy unveiled in Ekaterinburg game.
Next week in the KHL action, Avtomobilist will face off against Spartak at home in Yekaterinburg on November 27th. The game takes place at the Uralets Arena with a kick-off time of 17:00 Moscow time.
Avolomobilist
the Yekaterinburg-based squad has been inconsistent, with impressive performances followed by lackluster ones. Despite boasting a star-studded roster on paper, Avtomobilist has struggled with consistency over the past few seasons, with undulating wins and losses. The current season is no exception. They started with four victories on the trot but have since regressed, alternating wins with losses.
Currently, Avtomobilist ranks seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, with 40 points, trailing the conference front-runner Metallurg by ten points.
Spartak
Spartak has been a standout team, particularly in their offensive prowess. With 127 goals in 35 games, they lead the league with Metallurg Magnitogorsk trailing by thirteen goals. However, Spartak's overreliance on their top line, consisting of Porchnev, Morozov, and Golodkov, could pose a problem. Recently, Morozov has been sidelined due to an injury, and the coaching staff is struggling to find an adequate replacement.
Without Morozov, Spartak has won only one game out of their last three. Their offensive struggles have become more evident in their last two away games, losing to Lokomotiv and SKA by 1 goal apiece. They will face some tough challenges in their upcoming away matches in Magnitogorsk, Yekaterinburg, and Ufa.
Past Encounter in Yekaterinburg
In their last three games in Yekaterinburg, Spartak has failed to score more than one goal against Avtomobilist, losing each time. Spartak's away record in Yekaterinburg in the last ten years is also subpar, with only two victories.
Bookmaker's Odds
Bookmakers slightly favor the home team, with a victory for Avtomobilist in regulation time priced at 2.29. Spartak's chances are slightly slimmer, with a win priced at 2.6. A draw in this matchup is available at 4.2.
Prediction:
Both teams have been hit or miss lately, but Avtomobilist enjoys the home crowd advantage, and Spartak is dealing with injuries. Replacing key players like Ivan Morozov and Dmitry Vishnevsky will be tough for Spartak. Given these factors, we expect Avtomobilist to secure a much-needed win in regulation with a coefficient of 2.29.
Avtomobilist, despite their inconsistency, with a questionable roster performance and a recent regression after a strong start this season, will play against the offensive powerhouse Spartak at home. The bookmakers suggest a slight edge for Avtomobilist, pricing a victory in regulation time at 2.29, with Spartak's chances slimmer at 2.6. Interestingly, Spartak's previous three games in Yekaterinburg against Avtomobilist resulted in losses, a trend that might persist given the injury to Morozov and their struggles to find an adequate replacement on the top line.
