Which team will reign supreme in the Eastern Conference?
Preparing for the Final Game Week Showdown
Gear up for an thrilling KHL regular season finale as Lada greets Yekaterinburg's Avtomobilist on December 24 at the Tolyatti "Lada Arena" for a home clash starting at 4:30 PM Moscow time.
Let's delve into the teams' recent performance and predictions:
Lada
This season, Lada has stunned the hockey community with its tenacious play, holding onto the momentum set from the tournament’s beginning. Formerly a VHL team struggling to reach the finals, Lada is now among the KHL frontrunners. The team’s current core consists of veteran KHL players.
At one point, Lada even took the lead in the Eastern Conference standings, although it couldn't maintain the lead and remains among the top teams. Lada is one of the few teams in the league that hasn't faced major slumps, managing a consistent performance through two-thirds of the regular season. After the championship break, Lada played two consecutive home games against Sibir Novosibirsk, winning three out of four possible points. In the first game, Lada lost in overtime 1-2, but avenged the defeat with a 4-1 victory the next day. The team currently sits in third place in the East, trailing the leading Metallurg by four points with 53 points.
Avtomobilist
Avtomobilist's pragmatic hockey under coach Nikolai Zavarukhin elicits mixed reactions. On one hand, the Ural team is within playoff range, and barring any significant setbacks in the second half of the season, Avtomobilist appears primed to secure a playoff spot. On the other hand, Avtomobilist's hockey doesn’t seem likely to excite casual viewers, with the team ranking seventeenth in the league in goals scored, despite possessing a formidable offensive lineup.
After the break in the championship, Avtomobilist, due to the calendar, played two home games. The overall result can be considered quite satisfactory. One point was earned in the game against Chelyabinsk Traktor, where after a 2-2 tie in regular time, the Chelyabinsk team won in overtime. Two full points were earned in the next match, as the Ural team claimed a come-from-behind victory over Kazan Ak Bars. After going down 1-0 in the second period, the Ural team, thanks to the efforts of Zborovskiy and Shirokov, managed to secure the win. At present, Avtomobilist has 49 points, placing them seventh in the Eastern Conference standings.
Statistics
Over the past six games, Avtomobilist has managed to score exactly two goals in regulation time. In 2.5 games, they concede 1.62 goals on average. The last time they scored more than two goals in a game was on November 14. Since then, they have not scored more than two goals in ten consecutive games. They scored two goals against Lada in the home game on November 25, with the game ending in an overtime Ural victory, as both teams settled for a 2-2 tie during regulation time. In total, the teams have encountered each other 16 times in the KHL, with Lada winning 7 times and Avtomobilist securing 9 victories.
Betting Coefficients (As of Dec 16, 2022)
Despite being the host team, Lada is considered the underdog by bookmakers, who have set the odds for an Avtomobilist victory at 2.27. If you're expecting a Lada win, you can bet on it at 2.75. A draw can be wagered at 3.9. It's worth noting the totals offered by BK Liga Stavok, which favor a lower scoring game: O (4.5) - 1.97, U (4.5) - 1.78.
Lada - Avtomobilist
P1 2.27 X 3.9 P2 2.75
Prediction
Prepare for a game with minimal goals. Avtomobilist has been playing quite defensively recently, even in home games. Lada's offensive might isn't strong enough to break the Ural defense. We expect a cautious game with few goals. Our pick for the match is Total Under 4.5 with a coefficient of 1.78.
During the upcoming game between Lada and Avtomobilist in Chelyabinsk, expect a game with few goals, as Lada's offensive might may not be enough to break Avtomobilist's defensive play. The teams have met 16 times in the KHL, with Avtomobilist winning 9 games and Lada winning 7. Despite being the host team, bookmakers consider Lada the underdog, setting the odds for an Avtomobilist victory at 2.27, a Lada win at 2.75, and a draw at 3.9. The betting total favoring a lower scoring game is O (4.5) - 1.97, and U (4.5) - 1.78.
