Ice Hockey predictions and free betting tips

The Continental Hockey League regular tournament 2023/2024, sees the third match of game day and a battle amongst the wealthiest Eastern teams. Avtomobilist, victorious from their game against SKA St. Petersburg, will host the Ufa Salavat Yulayev in Yekaterinburg. Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg The team from the Sverdlovsk region capital managed to create the sensation of the past few days. Avtomobilist was going through a nasty losing streak and found itself in a monstrous crisis. But then, against all odds, they took down SKA St. Petersburg. The winning game might've taken over into shootouts, and despite many game issues - negligence of the two-puck advantage - they managed to break SKA's winning series of 11 games straight. Following this victory, it became harder to reconcile Avtomobilist's previous three consecutive losses, particularly their brutal 2:5 defeat by Kunlun. Currently, after 40 matches, they've collected 44 points and sit in 7th in the table, due to 13 regular-time victories, seven beyond regular time, and four defeats with one bonus point. The remaining 16 matches saw Avtomobilist lose with no additional points. The team is the fourth in the East for conceded goals - 94 goals. Salavat Yulayev Ufa Ufa fans have been in ecstasy for the last two weeks as their team broke its alternating win-loss dynamic with a five-game winning streak. The team has been performing well, with Livo maintaining a steady scoring pace and picking up a point per game. When their offense struggles, Samonov steps in. Victor Kozlovs team is not doing so badly at all, as it seemed in September and November. Currently, after 38 matches, Salavat Yulayev has amassed 48 points and is 3rd in their conference. These points are due to 22 regular-time victories, two beyond regular time, and one overtime loss. The team conceded the least goals in the East - 74 goals, although their offensive performance is slightly worse, scoring 109 goals and holding the third position in the conference. Head-to-head Avtomobilist and Salavat Yulayev have faced each other 52 times in total. 29 matches ended in favour of the Ufa team, while the Avtomobilist claimed victory in 23 meetings. This season, Avtomobilist is leading in head-to-head meetings by 2:1. They won 2:1 and 1:0, whereas Salavat Yulayev won 4:1. Prediction Betsity favours Salavat Yulayev for this match, sporting odds of 2.44 for their win. On the other hand, the odds on an Avtomobilist victory stand at 2.70. It would seem the wise choice to back the Ufa team here, considering Avtomobilist's recent form, even taking their win against SKA into account. Total Goals Should you have doubts about Salavat Yulayev's victory, going for TU (4.5) at 1.84 looks enticing. Given that both teams concede very few goals, it is possible that, as in the first two matches of the season, they will not surpass the total of five goals.

07 December 2023

1st period Handicap 1 (-1)

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Ice Hockey

Russia - Vysshaya hokkeinaya Liga

Metallurg Novokuznetsk

07 December 2023

12:00

HK Chelny

Odds: 2.4Stake: 5/10

The VHL regular championship match between teams from different halves of the tournament table. Russian hockey fans are in for a showdown between Novokuznetsk's "Metallurg" and HC "Chelny". "Metallurg" (Novokuznetsk) The club from Novokuznetsk has participated in 32 official matches of the regular VHL championship of the 2023-2024 season. "Metallurg" has 37 points from 32 games, which allows the team from Novokuznetsk to take the 17th position in the tournament table of the VHL regular championship. T he Novokuznetsk club messed up the starting segment of the regular championship and now is trying to improve its position and secure a spot in the top-16. However, "Metallurg" is not yet able to enter the top-16 due to persistent losses. In recent meetings of the regular championship, "Metallurg" often loses and has managed to claim only 2 victories in 8 matches, beating only "Toros" and "Rubin" from Tyumen. HC "Chelny" (Naberezhnye Chelny) The club from Naberezhnye Chelny has played 32 official matches in the course of the current regular championship. In 33 matches of the 2023-2024 season, HC "Chelny" has scored only 15 points, which allows it to take only the 28th place in the tournament table of the VHL regular championship. The debutants from Naberezhnye Chelny did not enter the league in the best way and can afford to take a position only in the second half of the tournament table, surpassing only the opponents representing HC "Rostov". In 32 matches of the current regular championship, HC "Chelny" has scored only 6 wins, coming out stronger in meetings against "Zauralie", HC "Norilsk", "Tambov", "Diesel", "Omsk Wings" and "Dynamo-Altai". At the moment, HC "Chelny" has suffered 10 consecutive losses. Head-to-Head In the only face-to-face confrontation, Novokuznetsk's "Metallurg" won with a score of 8:1. Prediction "Metallurg" will win within regular time. The Novokuznetsk club is performing poorly and risks missing out on the playoffs for the Petrov Cup for the first time in several years, but even a weak version of "Metallurg" should be able to beat HC "Chelny". The VHL debutants have not yet fully settled into the league and are only getting used to the new level for them in their first season.

06 December 2023

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Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

The regular tournament of the Continental Hockey League 2023/2024. Fourth match of the game day and a match of some of the wealthiest teams of the Eastern Conference. Ak Bars will be hosting Avtomobilist in Kazan. Ak Bars Kazan The team from Kazan recently has been playing with uneven success, naturally, the club management doesn't appreciate it, therefore, trades, and reinforcements have already begun. For example, Henkel was traded for Barber, a forward was hired in place of the defender, the top point player of Barys. Yet the vacated position of a defender was taken by Mitchell. One of the most controversial NHL prospects in recent years, but with considerable potential - his 29 points in 19 matches in the Slovak championship from where he transferred to Ak Bars, speak volumes. Therefore, Kazan, with their already strong line-up, added two very strong foreign players, the main question is how Ak Bars will incorporate all these players, as there are still huge questions about this. Currently, Ak Bars is in fourth place in the conference, after 36 matches they have scored 44 points, thanks to 16 regular-time victories, six overtime wins and two more defeats therein. The remaining 13 matches were lost by Ak Bars without additional points. Meanwhile, Kazan is third in the East on the goals score 98. They're even better on defence, second in the conference and only 82 pucks. Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg And if it can be said about the club from Kazan that they have uneven success, even in recent matches, it seems the club from Yekaterinburg is facing a crisis, they went on a Far East tour, played three out of four matches there, and upon return, they faced three losses in four matches. The only win came in a match against Lada, where Avtomobilist was able to win only in overtime. Thus, the crisis of Avtomobilist is now evident, especially with an unfortunate defeat to Dynamo Minsk. Avtomobilist is currently in seventh place, after 37 games they have scored 42 points. The club from Yekaterinburg has claimed it by virtue of 13 regular-time wins, six beyond its limits and another four losses with one point. Avtomobilist lost the remaining 14 matches without any extra points. The club from Yekaterinburg has a strong defence, fourth-place in the conference 84 goals conceded. But they have problems with the attack, also 84 goals, but scored, and this is eighth place in the East. Head-to-Head Ak Bars and Avtomobilist have played 50 matches against each other. Ak Bars prevailed in these confrontations 33 times. Avtomobilist won 17 meetings. In this season, the teams have not yet faced each other. Forecast Here, everything is simple, Ak Bars is the favourite according to Pinnacle, the odds on their win equals 1.6. The odds for Avtomobilist equates to 2.42. In this case, we look at the tournament table, the form of the teams in the recent matches, the lineup and we pick Ak Bars' win simply because they are stronger now.

Odds: 1.6Stake: 5/10

win

+3.0

30 November 2023

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Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

Odds: 1.86Stake: 5/10

Continental Hockey League regular season 2023/2024. The second match of the game day and the clash of two squads fervently unwilling to land at the bottom of their conference. While one team manages to keep their head above water, the other urgently needs to leave the very bottom rung behind. Astana's Barys is set to host the Vityaz from Balashikha. Barys Astana The performance of the Kazakh club seems less than commendable. With the change of the main coach, there was an expectation for a surge in performance and an improved position for Barys, who were then perched at the ninth rung of the tournament ladder, potentially reaching for playoffs. Yet, reality has proved harsher than expectations. Currently, Barys is barely two points away from the bottom of the conference, a significant 10 points i.e., five matches away from the eighth spot. The point loss ranks Barys the last. The puzzling trade of Barbera for Henkel raises serious questions about the team's future. As it stands, Barys is plying the 11th spot on the league table, having garnered 27 points from 35 matches; thanks to five victories in regular time, five overtime wins, and seven losses earning single points. The remaining 18 matches ended in a loss for Barys, without any additional points. The Kazakhstan-based team lies second from the bottom concerning goals scored at 78, although it was in the upper half of the table just a month ago. The team also stands second from the bottom concerning goals conceded 106 goals. Vityaz Balashikha Vityaz's situation is slightly better than Barys' lately. In contrast to Barys, after replacing the head coach, Vityaz bounced back. Dmitry Ryabykin, following a failure with Avangard last season, considerably changed the team's approach to attack rather than defend which is evident in their offensive play. Yet, these temporal changes don't influence the present state of affairs regarding the scored goals. Currently, Vityaz takes the 11th spot in the Western Conference, after 35 matches with 28 points garnered from eight wins in regular time, four overtime wins, and four losses with one point each. The remaining 19 matches ended in a defeat for Vityaz, without any additional points. Moreover, Vityaz is the team with the fewest goals in the West, 72, yet, it's not the least in the league. Regarding conceded goals, it stands third from the bottom 119 goals. Head-to-Head In their face-off, Barys and Vityaz have fought 27 matches. Vityaz bagged 10 matches while Barys stole 17 encounters. This season, with a score of 3:2 in overtime, Vityaz proved stronger. Prediction Pinnacle almost can't pick a favourite for this match, with a slight edge toward Barys and odds of 1.80 for their victory while Vityaz is at odds of 1.98. My suggestion is to place your bet on Vityaz's victory. Simply because Dmitry Ryabykin's team seems to be in visibly better form. Therefore, taking Vityaz's clean victory at such odds is a reasonable bet.

27 November 2023

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Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

The third match of Continental Hockey League's regular tournament 2023/2024 will be a face-off between two teams that seem to be going through some rough patches, Avtomobilist from Yekaterinburg and Spartak from Moscow. After all, each team is in less than tip-top shape for its unique reasons, and both have issues to sort out. Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg The Yekaterinburg team is riddled with questions. Despite boasting one of the league's highest payrolls and pinning their aspirations on the season's first round year after year, the team seems to recurrently face some challenges. This season looked promising as the team fortified its goalkeeping lines and attained more stability in the centrals. However, troubling issues have surfaced. Oleg Li, a player who joined Yekaterinburg a couple of seasons ago to reboot his career and become one of the leaders, has been recently put on the waiver list. Generally, Avtomobilist has substantial issues in attacking; defence is slightly better but still remains lacklustre. They are currently ranked sixth in the league table with 42 points from 36 games, achieved through 13 wins in regulation time, six overtime and four loses with one bonus point. The remaining 13 matches ended in Avtomobilists loss with zero points accrued. The team, which conceded the second-highest number of goals (82), has failed to impress with their scoring, with just 83 goals to their name. Spartak Moscow Spartak, unfortunately, could not avoid squad problems and their ensuing dip in form. Following the injury to their key centre-forward Ivan Morozov, Spartak managed a couple of wins but fell flat against tournament leaders or even strong teams, suffering defeats to Lokomotiv, SKA and Metallurg. These latter three matches saw Spartak scoring only four goals. Its unclear when Spartak will recover from this slump, especially because Morozov won't be back from his injury until after the New Year. As such, Spartak needs to tap into internal reserves. They currently occupy the second spot in the Western table with 49 points from 36 games, thanks to 21 regulation time victories, two overtime triumphs, and three losses beyond regulation. The team lost the remaining ten games without accruing any extra points. That said, with 128 goals, Spartak remains the league's highest-scoring team. They, however, conceded a total of 96 goals, making them the fifth worst in the Western conference. Head-to-head Avtomobilist and Spartak have locked horns in 29 matches so far. Of these, Avtomobilist emerged victorious in 16 games, while Spartak clinched 13 victories. The teams have not yet faced each other in this season. Prediction Pinnacle bookmakers have interesting reactions to the teams' problems. As per their odds, Spartak, inspite of their issues, is the match's favourite, with the odds for their victory set at 2.01. Avtomobilist's victory odds, on the other hand, stand equalled at 1.80. Although risky, my recommendation is to stake on Avtomobilist's win. However, one has to bear in mind that in a match where both teams have issues, either side could potentially notch up a victory.

Odds: 2.01Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

27 November 2023

The regular tournament of the Continental Hockey League 2023/2024. The fifth match of the game day, also the concluding one on this not so large game day. It's indeed a clash of two systems, a meeting of a coach against his former club. CSKA in Moscow will play host to Lokomotiv from Yaroslavl. CSKA Moscow It appears that CSKA is finally coming out of the crisis they found themselves in the early November, having won five out of their last six matches. However, it can't be said that the team from Moscow is performing extraordinarily. Even in their last game against Dinamo Minsk, where they triumphed 4:0, the team came without their main players. Yet, the key thing is, even if their performance is not outstanding, they are still achieving the main goal victories. Because at this juncture, for CSKA, it's important to turn around their situation in the league table and break into top 4 in the conference, especially in the current playoff format where there will be cross-playoffs starting from the second round. Currently, CSKA is at the sixth position in the league table, with 40 points from 34 matches, owing to 16 victories in regular time, three wins beyond it, and two losses in overtime. The rest, 13 matches, CSKA lost without earning additional points. They are second in the conference with goals conceded 74. The goals scored picture isn't much better they share fifth place in the conference with SKA, with 101 goals. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl A similar situation concerning the way out of a crisis is presenting in Lokomotiv. Currently, Igor Nikitin's team has won four out of the last five matches, and it's worth mentioning that their collective results have greatly improved. However, if we start talking about the game, it's quite a lamentable situation. Igor Nikitin, as they like to say, has "built military barracks", so watching the current hockey is very difficult. Yet, as long as this style of hockey brings results, there won't be any particular objections, because results are there, and Lokomotiv is now vying for one of the first two positions in the conference. Currently, Lokomotiv is stationed at the third place in the league table; after 33 matches, the team from Yaroslavl has 44 points due to 19 victories in regular time, two in overtime, and another two defeats with one point. The remaining ten contests Lokomotiv lost without earning additional points. Lokomotiv is currently the least conceding team of the entire league 66 goals. However, they are facing a problem with scoring 84 goals and this is the third-lowest in the West. Head-to-Head CSKA and Lokomotiv have played each other 69 times. Of these, CSKA emerged victorious 40 times, with Lokomotiv winning the other 29. The record this season is currently 2:1 in favor of CSKA who won 3:0 and 2:1, and Lokomotiv triumphed 2:1 in their match. Prediction Despite the league table, CSKA is the favorite in this match, with their victory odds priced at 2.43, while Lokomotiv's win is priced at 2.90. Here I suggest taking a victory for CSKA, simply because the Moscow club currently looks more promising.

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Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

Odds: 1.78Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

27 November 2023

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Ice Hockey

Russia - Vysshaya hokkeinaya Liga

Zvezda Moscow

27 November 2023

13:00

Metallurg Novokuznetsk

Odds: 2.2Stake: 5/10

A regular VHL championship match kicks off between teams from the bottom half of the league table. Lovers of Russian hockey are in for a match-up between "Zvezda" and "Metallurg". "Zvezda" (Moscow) The CSKA Moscow reserve team has competed in 29 official matches of the regular VHL championship for the 2023-2024 season. The Red-and-Blues count 29 played matches and 33 points gathered, which allows them to occupy only the 19th place in the VHL regular championship league table. The Moscow club has significantly raised the bar of their results, compared to the previous season when "Zvezda" was one of the main outsiders of the league. Now, the team from the CSKA system is aiming for a playoff spot, lagging behind the 16th position by just 3 points, a gap that can be overcome with a few consecutive victories. In the last 4 regular championship meetings, "Zvezda" has been pleasing its fans. "Metallurg" (Novokuznetsk) The hockey players from Novokuznetsk's "Metallurg" have played 28 official matches of the regular VHL championship for the 2023-2024 season. "Metallurg" has gathered 33 points from 28 matches, which affords them the 16th place in the VHL regular championship league table for the 2023-2024 season. The team from Novokuznetsk had a dismal start to the championship and occupied the last place for some time. It was only towards the end of October that "Metallurg" began to perform consistently, yet it still cannot securely hold a spot in an area where teams make it to the Petrov Cup playoff. "Metallurg" currently holds 16th place and outpaces "Neftekhimik" only by additional indicators. "Metallurg" hasn't performed well in its recent regular championship matches, suffering 4 consecutive defeats. Head-to-Head "Zvezda" and "Metallurg" have faced each other in 20 official matches. 12 victories go the way of "Zvezda", while "Metallurg" has proven stronger in 8 confrontations. Predictions "Zvezda" will triumph in regular time. At present, the Moscow team outperforms their Novokuznetsk counterparts, who are still struggling to recover from their early championship failure. "Zvezda" has claimed four consecutive victories while "Metallurg" has suffered four losses in a row.

26 November 2023

Continental Hockey League regular tournament 2023/2024. Another opening match of a small Sunday game day and a battle between a team that currently wants to make the playoffs and a team who doesn't want to be the last in the conference. Amur Khabarovsk hosts HC Sochi. Amur Khabarovsk Andrey Martemyanov's team, currently swaying from side to side, can show a beautiful match, and then fail. Or they can issue a series of failed matches, and then on the contrary issue a series of victories. Talking about the present, Amur is now following a two-game winning streak, but Amur lost three out of the five fixtures prior to this. So, the team from Khabarovsk is now trying to recover the lost points and positions in a series of defeats. This is already Amur's fourth home match and before the new year, Amur will only leave the Far East for one match, albeit not far, to Omsk. Currently, Amur is ninth in the standings. After 34 matches, Amur has scored 34 points. These points were scored due to 13 victories in regulation time, one victory in shoot-outs, and another six losses with one point. The remaining 14 matches Amur lost without any extra points. Meanwhile, the Khabarovsk citizens are second from the bottom in terms of goals scored in the East - 76. The situation is slightly better in terms of goals conceded - 88. HC Sochi Without question, the weakest team at the moment. In their last 22 matches, HC Sochi won only three times and scored an additional two points due to losses outside regulation time. Well, what else can be said when you have 19 losses in 22 matches, there isn't much positive to take from that. Although HC Sochi is still not at the bottom, still managing to hang on thanks to the points they scored in the first matches of the season, when at one point they were even third in the standings. Now, however, HC Sochi has long been sitting at the bottom of the table and the club's problems are quite obvious. Currently, HC Sochi is 10th in the standings, after 35 matches they have 28 points, which they scored due to 10 victories in regulation time, three victories beyond it, and two losses in overtime. They lost the remaining 20 matches without gaining any additional points. Meanwhile, HC Sochi concedes the most in the West, and now in the whole league 127 goals. As for goals scored, the situation is a bit better 87 goals and the fifth place from the bottom. Therefore, HC Sochi currently needs to improve their defence badly. Head To Head Amur and HC Sochi have played 18 matches against each other. The teams shared the victories equally, with nine won by each side. So far this season, Amur has edged HC Sochi with a score of 3:1. Forecast The undefeated favourite of this match is Amur. Betsiti rates a victory for the Khabarovsk club at 1.73, whereas HC Sochi is rated at 4.60. It makes sense to bet on an outright Amur victory, they are just more powerful than Sochi's side at the moment. Looking at the recent matches, the squad, the play, just about everything, barring any miracle, like what happened with Lada. Total But I want to choose a higher coefficient, namely ITO1 (3.5) for 2.40. Amur tries to score a lot now, and HC Sochi concedes the most, so four goals in a home match is quite a real possibility.

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Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

Odds: 1.39Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

25 November 2023

The regular tournament of the Continental Hockey League 2023/2024 brings to us the opening match of the game day, or more precisely one of the two opening matches set to occur in the Far East. Admiral in Vladivostok will host Severstal from Cherepovets. Admiral Vladivostok The team from Vladivostok, still the worst team of the league, finds that even their recent victory over HK Sochi hasn't turned the tide. Notwithstanding, its worth noting that the Admiral is persistently fighting to change the situation. For instance, Libor Sulak has recently rejoined Admiral, who was the main field player last season. This season hasn't been stellar for Libor, but who knows, maybe the return to Vladivostok will stimulate the team to revive this defender's career. Moreover, after the departure of Kolbi Williams, Admiral urgently needed a new legionnaire-defender, so who might be better than an old-timer and the leader of your squad? Added to this question is the addition of Vasily Demchenko, who has arrived at Admiral to reboot his career, expected to lend depth in the goal line. At present, after 32 matches, Admiral ranks 12th and has 24 points, which they piled thanks to six victories in the main time, three beyond it, and also six one-point losses. They lost the other 17 matches without gaining any points. They have scored fewer teams in the East with 65 pucks, whereas in terms of admissions, Admiral alongside Avangard, comes fourth from behind with 91 pucks. Severstal Cherepovets Severstal certainly sat fairly confidently in the eighth spot on the table, leading the ninth spot by four points, but recent matches still prompt speculations. Four losses in the last five games; if we look further back at the latest eight games, then Severstal has seven losses with just one victory, suggesting a clear crisis under the command of Andrey Kozyrev. Nevertheless, its not fair to say they play poorly. In the same match against Amur, where they suffered a 2:6 loss, they attacked decently, though lacking the skill for execution, and defensively Severstal looked pretty sad. Now Severstal is eighth in the leaderboard, with 33 points from 34 games. These were obtained thanks to 12 main-time victories, two via shootouts, as well as five one-point losses. Severstal lost the other 15 matches without scoring any points. Despite struggling, Severstal is the second team in the West in terms of pucks scored 111. Concerning admissions, they are fourth from the bottom with 110 pucks conceded. Head-to-head encounters Admiral and Severstal have faced each other in 19 matches to date. This confrontation has led to Severstal claiming 10 victories and Admiral securing nine. The two teams haven't met this season. Prediction This might surprisingly be a good timing to risk and take the Admiral's victory, as Severstal seemed fairly weak in defence in the game against Amur. So Admiral, having already beaten HK Sochi, could potentially repeat this feat with Severstal. Total My inclination here is to select TO (5.5) for 2.32. Severstal has been involved in high-scoring games, both in terms of goals scored and conceded, while Admiral has occasionally turned in high-scoring games this season.

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Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

Severstal Cherepovets

Odds: 2.03Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

25 November 2023

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Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

Odds: 1.75Stake: 5/10

Continental Hockey League regular tournament 2023/2024. The concluding match of the game day and Dmitry Kvartalnov's meeting with his former collective. Many still believe that it is on his laid foundations CSKA won the last Gagarin Cups. Dynamo Minsk will be hosting CSKA from Moscow at home. Dynamo Minsk Dmitry Kvartalnov's current team isnt much different from his previous ones, same focus on work, same focus on defence, same dull play as before. Dynamo is performing at an average level now. For instance, in the last five matches, they've only secured a single victory. Yes, this match was the last in this series and Dynamo Minsk confidently outplayed Avtomobilist, not the weakest club on the East. But before that, four consecutive defeats Dynamo lost, for example, to Vityaz, which at the time of the meeting with Dynamo was at the very bottom of the tournament table. Now Minsk residents are in seventh place in the tournament table. After 32 matches Dynamo has 34 points due to 10 wins in the standard time, five beyond it, and four other losses with one point. The remaining 13 matches Dynamo Minsk lost without additional points. Dynamo is fourth from the end in terms of goals scored 86, along with HC Sochi. Dynamo is in a slightly better situation in terms of conceded goals in sixth place, having let in 81 pucks. CSKA Moscow Currently, there's a huge debate about what's going on with CSKA. Is it a crisis that can't be stopped without drastic decisions like trading leaders or changing the head coach? Others speaking about CSKA still think the army team's problems lay in their fatigue from victories and the belief that when the crucial matches start, CSKA, with its gigantic experience, will step up its game and sweep everyone in the playoffs. However, for CSKA to perform well in the playoffs, they need to be in a decent spot in the tournament table, but now they are only in sixth place. Although in the last five meetings they boast four victories and only one defeat in the army derby against SKA. CSKA has 38 points, after 33 matches, gathered due to 15 wins in the standard time, three beyond it, and two other losses in overtime. The remaining 13 matches CSKA lost without additional points. Interestingly, CSKA is already fourth in terms of goals scored in the West 97, but even better in terms of goals conceded, third place with Dynamo and 74 conceded pucks. Head-to-head Dynamo Minsk and CSKA Moscow have played 36 matches against each other. The army team has won 29 times while, the police force has only managed to secure seven victories. This year the teams haven't met yet. Prediction In some inexplicable way, bookmakers strongly believe in Dynamo Minsk. Even in what seemed to be an obvious confrontation with CSKA, they are not that serious outsiders, with an odds of 2.85, whereas for a CSKA victory, according to Betsiti, is a whole 2.38. Given such odds, one has to go for CSKA's victory. Total But if you don't want to go with either side winning, you could take ITO2 (2.5) for 1.98. CSKA can indeed score at least three goals against Dynamo, especially considering Dynamo's recent performance.

23 November 2023

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Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

Amur Khabarovsk

24 November 2023

09:00

Severstal Cherepovets

Odds: 2.07Stake: 5/10

The Continental Hockey League regular tournament 2023/2024's Friday gaming day brings a handful of matches, just three. Two of them will take place at the very beginning, in the Far East. First up, Amur in Khabarovsk will host Severstal from Cherepovets. Amur Khabarovsk The Khabarovsk club is struggling to break into the KHL's top tier. After nearly half of the championship games, they're not making the playoffs. Sure, one could always chalk it up to injuries, Broadhurst who got hurt in the early matches just can't seem to recover. Hohryakov is out for the season, being the team's second-line centre, and there's still a gaping hole where Nikontsev, a significant player for the team, should be. Still, terrible outings by Amur lately have been baffling, even with these setbacks. wo wins in the last five games, and among the three losses is even one to Admiral, currently the league's worst team. It seems that Andrei Martemyanov is still grasping at straws to rectify the situation. Watching Amur's matches these days is downright dismal. Consequently, Amur currently sits in 10th place in the standings with 32 points after 33 games, thanks to 12 regular time wins, one by shootout and six losses earning them a point. They lost the other 14 games in regular time. Furthermore, Khabarovsk ranks second from the bottom in the East for conceded goals a total of 70. Their 86 goals for put them in a slightly better position seventh in the conference. Severstal Cherepovets Andrei Kozyrev's team has also seen better days, with just one win in their last five matches, and it was against Vityaz. Moreover, only one of the lost matches earned Severstal an additional point. A big question now is when Severstal will pull out of this rough patch. On one hand, their game looks good. The team's scoring a lot and put up a good show, but the goalkeeping issue indeed complicates matters for the Cherepovets club. Yes, scoring a lot is good, but to win, you have to concede fewer than you score, which doesn't always happen. Currently, Severstal sits in eighth place in the West. After 33 games, Severstal has 33 points thanks to 12 regular-time wins, two by shootout, five losses yielding one point. They lost the other 14 fixtures without gaining any additional points. Severstal ranks second in the West for goals for 106, but they're only fourth from the bottom in goals against, only outdone by teams outside the top eight. Head-to-Head Amur and Severstal have played 28 matches against each other. Of these, 17 were won by the Cherepovets club, while Amur notched up wins in only 11 of these face-offs. This season, the two teams haven't met yet. Prediction Interestingly, despite all of Amur's problems, they are still favoured to win the match, with Betcity odds at 2.30. The odds for Severstal stand at 2.80. My tip here is to take Severstal for the win, the chances of it happening are fairly high, and such a coefficient is hard to pass up. Total If you don't fancy risking the outright winner pick, simply take the ITO2 (2.5) at 2.16. Severstal scores a lot and should be able to net at least three goals against Amur.

23 November 2023

Tina Charles Kayode

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Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk

Odds: 1.81Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

Continental Hockey League regular tournament 2023/2024. The opening match of the matchday and a battle for the playoffs in the East. Barys Astana is trying to overcome a protracted crisis, with Neftekhimik from Nizhnekamsk standing in their way. Barys Astana Is there a team currently experiencing a tougher crisis than Barys? Sure, the struggles of the club from the capital of Kazakhstan are understandable, being down to a weak selection of lower-tier player and a goalie issue. However, Andrei Skabelka managed to solve these problems at the start of the season, propelling Barys to contention for the playoffs. Now the primary goal is not to finish last in the East, a possibility that looks increasingly likely. Their last matches against Metallurg and Tractor not only evidenced defensive issues but revealed an impotency in attack. Currently, Barys sits 11th on the league table with 25 points from 34 matches, earned from five main-time wins, four beyond it and seven defeats with a point. They've lost the remaining 18 matches without additional points, the worst result in the East. They've conceded the most goals in the conference - 103 and are only third from bottom in terms of goals scored - 74. Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik is currently pushing for a playoff spot and the competition has heated up in recent weeks. After the season start, it seemed like Neftekhimik would remain at the bottom of the league table, but a successful October and playoff contention in November changed things. Despite ending their winning streak and starting to lose, the competition is still very high as their rivals have also gained momentum. Therefore, it's crucial for Neftekhimik to avoid defeats. Oleg Leontyev's contract extension for another three years would only double the motivation. For now, their task is to make the playoffs. They currently sit at ninth with 33 points from 33 matches, earned from 11 wins in normal time, three overtime victories and five with a point. The other 14 games Neftekhimik lost without additional points. And they are second from bottom in terms of goals conceded 102, and fourth from bottom regarding goals scored 77. Head-to-head Barys and Neftekhimik have clashed 36 times. 22 matches have been won by Barys whilst Neftekhimik has triumphed in only 14 encounters. This season, Barys has won twice, first 8-0 and then 6-5 in overtime. Prediction Bookmakers seem to have noticed Barys's problems. Betsiti favours Neftekhimik with odds of 2.45, while Barys is given 2.75. I suggest going for Neftekhimik's victory here, as they're quite in good form right now. Total If you're not confident in Neftekhimik's outright win, you could opt for ITO2 (2.5) at 2.03. Three goals against the current Barys side is achievable for almost any KHL team.

23 November 2023

Expert

Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

22 November 2023

14:00

HC Dinamo Minsk

Odds: 1.67Stake: 5/10

Continental Hockey League regular tournament 2023/2024. The second match of the game day might not seem to be the most illustrious one, but it would be really interesting to see how the teams would try to rebound after unsuccessful matches. Avtomobilist in Yekaterinburg will be hosting Dinamo from Minsk. Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg Avtomobilist has just arrived from the Far East, and it'll be fascinating to see how they will acclimatize. In a recent match against Traktor, for instance, Avtomobilist lasted just two rounds. In the third, Traktor dominated and looked much better. However, it can't be said that Avtomobilist is playing terribly right now, three victories out of four matches in the Far East is not the worst result, even if they did lose to Traktor afterwards. Avtomobilist has normalized after some erratic performances in the early season. They were very good at first, then very bad, and now they're in the middle, which is a standard place for this team. At the moment of writing this forecast, Avtomobilist is ranked sixth in the tournament table, after 34 matches they've got 13 victories in regular time, five beyond it, and an additional four losses with one point, totalling 40 points. They lost the remaining 12 matches within regulation. The team from Yekaterinburg has conceded the third most goals in the East 75, while also scoring a considerable 79 goals. Dinamo Minsk Is there a coach in the KHL who is more contended than Dmitry Kvartalnov? Probably not, although Sergei Fedorov comes to mind, yet it seems he receives slightly less flak. And let's be honest, the criticisms aimed at Dmitry Vyacheslavovich are deserved. If early in the season everything could be blamed on a tough away schedule, which then seemed to improve, it's now extremely hard to explain the defeats. At this point, they have already lost four consecutive matches, and their last win was against Sochi HC, which is in a crisis just as deep, if not deeper. So Dinamo urgently need to change something. Currently, Dinamo Minsk sits eighth in the tournament table. After 31 matches, Dinamo has 32 points, as a result of nine victories in normal time, five beyond it, and four additional losses with one point. The remaining 13 matches were lost by Dinamo Minsk without scoring additional points. Minsk's team is fourth from the bottom in the West in terms of goals scored - 82, however, the situation is slightly better in terms of goals conceded, being fifth from the bottom with an aggregate of 80 goals. Head-to-Head Avtomobilist and Dinamo Minsk have played a total of 27 matches against each other. Out of these, Minsk's team took 10 matches, while Avtomobilist won 17 matches. The teams have not met yet this season. Prediction Interestingly, Pinnacle sees Avtomobilist as a favourite for this match at 1.67, whereas Dinamo Minsk stands at 2.89. However, my suggestion is to bank on Avtomobilist's victory. After all, Minsk's problems are massive at the moment, while Avtomobilist isn't playing that poorly.

21 November 2023

Continental Hockey League regular tournament 2023/2024. The concluding match of the game day and a rematch of the first round of the prior Gagarin Cup playoffs. Of course, both Severstal and CSKA Moscow have changed significantly, with CSKA already boasting two cups, yet it's still interesting to see how Severstal from Cherepovets will challenge the visitors from Moscow. Severstal Cherepovets Spartak's leadership in the conference overshadows all other teams and their performances. When you have the league's most dominant team, others seem pale by comparison. Excluding Spartak, the battle for the leagues most assertive team would be disputed between Severstal's former coach and the team itself under the new coach. Indeed, despite Severstal's results raising questions, their game is one of the toughest in the league. Presently, Severstal ranks seventh with 33 points from 32 games, due to 12 regular-time wins, two by shootouts, and five one-point losses. They lost 13 matches without acquiring any extra points. Cherepovets' team is fourth from last in goals conceded (101 to be precise), but have scored thoroughly well, ranking second in the conference with 107 goals. CSKA Moscow What constitutes a crisis? Is Severstal's four losses in the last five matches a serious crisis? It might seem so, but for an average team, this seems routine. Here's CSKA's crisis: mid-season, they're out of the top-four championship spots and have already lost two army derbies. Currently, CSKA is in dreadful shape; despite three consecutive wins, they were against bottom table sides with very narrow victories. They only beat HC Sochi 3:1; the rest, Amur and Neftekhimik, were overcome 2:1. Then they lost to SKA 2:1. Presently, CSKA sixth with 36 points from 32 matches including 14 regular-time wins, three victories beyond, and two one-point losses. They lost the remaining 13 games without gaining points. CSKA are second in goals conceded (72, as well as SKA) only to Lokomotiv. However, they are in the fifth position in terms of goals scored with 94, same as SKA. Both arch-rivals progress through the season side by side. Head-to-Head Severstal and CSKA have faced off in 42 matches. CSKA dominated with 26 victories, while Severstal claimed 16 games. This season, Severstal emerged victorious with 2:1. Prediction Personally, for me, this is the most challenging prediction in the last two months. The clear match favourite CSKA has an odds of 1.53 by Painnacle, while Severstal has equal odds of 2.56. However, I'm uncertain which outcome to select. CSKA seems like the clear choice, but considering their recent performance and previous encounters, this creates some apprehension.

Expert

Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

Severstal Cherepovets

Odds: 1.53Stake: 5/10

win

+2.7

21 November 2023

The VHL regular championship match between teams from the second half of the tournament table is set to kick off. Russian hockey fans are in for a showdown between "Neftekhimik" and "Chelmet". "Neftekhimik" (Almetyevsk) "Neftekhimik" skaters have played 28 official matches in the VHL regular championship of the 2023-2024 season. The team from Almetyevsk has earned 31 points in these games, allowing them to only take the 17th place in the VHL regular championship standings, lagging behind "Metallurg" from Novokuznetsk in additional indicators. "Neftekhimik" is performing weaker than last season. This reflects on the Almetyevsk club's position in the tournament table; they were constantly in the 8-10 positions last season, confidently making the playoffs. This time, however, it's a fierce battle for the right to participate in the knockout matches. The Almetyevsk team needs to find stability in their game, which will be key to success. A series of 5 consecutive defeats leads nowhere good. "Chelmet" (Chelyabinsk) The duplicate squad of Chelyabinsk's "Traktor" has played 28 official matches in the VHL regular championship of the 2023-2024 season. The Chelyabinsk club has garnered 33 points from these 28 matches, allowing the black and whites to take the 13th place in the VHL regular championship standings. "Chelmet" is performing at the level of the previous season, comfortably making it to the Petorv Cup zone, but not the top 10 of the championship. "Chelmet" isn't securely set at 13th place and can drop even below the top 16 at any moment. The Chelyabinsk club is only two points ahead of their upcoming rivals who hold the 17th position. They have performed quite successfully in the recent 10 championship matches, with only 3 defeats incurred. Head-to-Head "Chelmet" and "Neftekhimik" have clashed in 27 official matches. "Chelmet" holds the upper hand with 16 victories, while "Neftekhimik" has come out stronger in 11 matches. Prediction "Chelmet" is expected to win within the regular time. It's a sorrowful sight looking at "Neftekhimik" in their recent matches; the Almetyevsk team seems unable to secure a victory, further deepening their psychological crisis. On the contrary, "Chelmet" rarely buckles and stands a chance to climb higher in the standings.

Expert

Ice Hockey

Russia - Vysshaya hokkeinaya Liga

Odds: 2.65Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

21 November 2023

1st period Handicap 1 (-1)

Expert

Ice Hockey

Russia - Junior Hockey League (MHL)

Omskie Yastreby

22 November 2023

11:00

Snezhnye Barsy Astana

Odds: 2.41Stake: 5/10

The puck drops for the regular match of the MHL Championship between teams from different divisions of the Eastern conference. Fans of Russian hockey can look forward to a showdown between the "Omskie Yastreby" and the "Snezhnye Barsy". "Omskie Yastreby" (Omsk) The youth composition of the Omsk "Avangard" participated in 22 official matches of the regular MHL Championship for the 2023-2024 season. With 22 played matches and 30 scored points, "Omskie Yastreby" holds the 4th position in the "Golden" division of the Eastern Conference, trailing the "Mamonty Yugry", who lead the league table, by 15 points. The Omsk team took a while to find their stride in this regular championship, allowing themselves to lose twice in a row to "Ladia" at the start of the season. Closer to mid-October, the situation stabilised, and the "Omskie Yastreby" started climbing the standings, trailing only their rivals in the "Golden" division. "Snezhnye Barsy" (Astana) The team, made up of the strongest young Kazakh hockey players, has played 26 official matches in the course of the current MHL regular championship. In 26 matches, "Snezhnye Barsy" scored 14 points, putting them in 7th place in the "Silver" division of Eastern Conference, just ahead of "Molot" and "Krasnoyarskie Rysi" by 1 point. Throughout the current regular championship, "Snezhnye Barsy" have managed only 5 victories, outplaying "Loko-76", "Tyumensky Legion" and the Permian "Molot". In recent matches of the regular championship, "Snezhnye Barsy" have been playing terribly, with their losing streak starting on October 2nd and continuing to date. Head to Head "Omskie Yastreby" and "Snezhnye Barsy" have faced off in 33 official matches. "Omskie Yastreby" has claimed 23 victories, while "Snezhnye Barsy" have triumphed in 10 encounters. Prediction "Omskie Yastreby" will emerge victorious within regulation time. At the start of the regular championship, "Snezhnye Barsy" might have had a chance to snatch some points, but now "Omskie Yastreby" have found a fantastic rhythm and are playing both productively and consistently against teams from the "Silver" division.

21 November 2023

Expert

Ice Hockey

Russia - Vysshaya hokkeinaya Liga

Odds: 1.86Stake: 5/10

21 November 2023

Expert

Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

Odds: 1.45Stake: 5/10

The KHL regular tournament 2023/2024. The opening match of a not overly extensive game set on Wednesday is set to be a battle in Novosibirsk. Home team Sibir, currently grappling with a noticeable crisis and injury problems, are to go up against a team whose decline is more severe, namely Sochi Hockey Club. Sibir Novosibirsk The Novosibirsk clubs situation is dire. Yes, it can be argued that their position in the table is somewhat better than it was in October. But in terms of their on-ice performance and injury crisis, Sibir are in a bad place. For their latest match against Metallurg, Prokhorov and Alanov were among the absentees, joining the already injured Murphy and Belousov. Four key players missing for a club already struggling with squad problems. These players are rumoured to be back for this match, but official confirmation is still pending. Sibir are currently riding a string of three defeats, though on the bright side, two of these losses were beyond regular time, earning them an additional point. Sibir currently sits eighth in the league table. Out of 33 matches, Sibir has gathered 33 points via eight regular-time wins, six beyond that and five losses, each earning a point. Sibir lost the other 14 games without gaining a point. With 96 goals conceded, Sibir is third from the bottom. They share the same position in terms of goals scored, along with Barys and Neftekhimik. Sochi Hockey Club In contrast to Sibir's crisis that can be attributed to injuries and selection issues, Sochi Hockey Club, despite starting the season brilliantly and even reaching third place in the conference, now finds itself in a difficult and disappointing state. Looking at their last five games, with four defeats and one overtime win, shows the extent of their woes. Even Matvey Michkov, who is earning points at an impressive rate, can't rescue the team from the table's depths. After 33 games, Sochi holds the ninth place in the table with 28 points, earned through ten regular-time wins, three beyond that, and two losses with a point. The team lost the other 18 matches in regular time. Sochi is second from the bottom in the conference in terms of goals conceded 119. However, after an impressive start, Sochi is eighth in terms of goals scored. Head-to-head Matchups Sochi and Sibir have faced each other in 21 matches. Eleven of these games ended in favour of the Novosibirsk club, while Sochi claimed victory in ten. This year, Sochi came out on top with a 4:2 score. Forecast Considering the prolonged crisis of Sochi, it's pretty obvious that Sibir is the favourite for this match, with odds of 1.72. Meanwhile, Sochi's odds stand at 4.30. So, the smart money is on a Sibir victory, simply because their crisis is less severe than Sochi's. Total If you're looking at a possible outcome other than the victory, ITO1 (3.5) at 2.33 worth a look. Yes, the chance for this outcome is very slight, but out of all the totals, it's the most realistic.

21 November 2023

Tomorrow's regular season AHL match will kick-off between teams of the Pacific Division. Hockey enthusiasts can start their morning with a confrontation between "San Jose Barracuda" and "San Diego Gulls". "San Jose Barracuda" The hockey players, who are part of the AHL under "San Jose Sharks" structure, have participated in 13 official matches in the 2023-2024 regular season. "Barracuda" have 10 points from those 13 games, ranking them in 8th place in the Pacific Division where 10 teams compete. The San Jose team is maintaining a similar level of performance as last season, which concluded with them finishing in the 8th place and unable to continue their quest for the Calder Cup. Throughout the current regular championship, the "Barracuda" players won only 3 games, proving stronger in matches against "Rockford", "Calgary Wranglers" and "Charlotte Checkers". All their victories were achieved in regular time. "San Diego Gulls" The San Diego team has played 13 official matches in the AHL 2023-2024 regular season championship. The players, part of AHL from "Anaheim Ducks", played 13 matches and amassed just 7 points, which positions the "San Diego Gulls" in the 10th place in the Pacific Division, at the bottom of the league table. In those 13 matches, "San Diego Gulls" registered only 2 victories. The "San Diego Gulls" managed to beat "Ontario Reign" in two consecutive matches in regular time, but then a long streak of losses began, which is ongoing. The San Diego club hasn't won in 11 matches straight. Head-to-head "San Jose Barracuda" and "San Diego Gulls" have faced each other in 77 official matches. "San Diego Gulls" have won 46 times, meanwhile, the club from the "San Jose Sharks" system was more powerful in 31 matches. Prediction "San Jose Barracuda" will win within regular time. The San Jose club has had a weak start to the current AHL season, occupying a spot outside of the Calder Cup competition, while their opponents are performing even worse. "San Diego Gulls", after two wins at the start, hasn't posted a victory for over a month, suggesting a regression in the team's performance.

Expert

Ice Hockey

USA - American Hockey League

Odds: 2.02Stake: 5/10

win

+5.1

21 November 2023

Expert

Ice Hockey

Russia - Kontinental Hockey League

HC Traktor Chelyabinsk

21 November 2023

14:00

HK Avangard Omsk

Odds: 1.65Stake: 5/10