CSKA Moscow - Amur Khabarovsk predictions and free betting tips [15/11/2023]

The Continental Hockey League regular tournament 2023/2024. This unmissable match of the day brings two teams head to head, who thus far have underperformed compared to pre-season expectations. CSKA will host Amur from Khabarovsk in Moscow.

CSKA Moscow

CSKA's current lineup seems to have faltered for the first time in two years. On the one hand, this is surprising, as the league's finest players continue to play together under the same coach; it's baffling as nothing has really changed. However, another essential aspect to consider is the "fat cat" syndrome, which is often talked about. It's simply unrealistic to outperform every team for two seasons in a row, and still find fresh motivation for the third season. Last season, CSKA made their way to the playoffs more challenging than necessary and still emerged victorious. However, this time around, things have gotten even worse. CSKA desperately needs some fresh blood.

Whether Egor Fateyev can be considered this is debatable, but the transfer of Kolby Williams from Admiral certainly has the potential to invigorate the team, which is necessary given CSKA's struggle to make the top four. Currently, CSKA sits at the sixth place in the Western Conference, with 32 points from 29 matches, thanks to 12 victories in regular time, three overtime victories, and two defeats, while losing the other 12 without any points gained. As for the goals, CSKA is in the fifth-place in the conference, but they are tied in the third spot with SKA regarding goal concessions.

Amur Khabarovsk

Another team currently struggling is Amur. Despite a significant transfer window spending spree, which saw several team leaders brought in, results haven't matched expectations. The team's strength has undoubtedly improved, but the performance and consistency in results remain unchanged. Amur can deliver a flawless match one day and capitulate the next, making it unpredictable, with the results highly dependent on the leaders' mood.

This volatility has left Amur in ninth place in the conference. After 29 games, they have 30 points thanks to 11 regular-time wins, a shootout win, and six one-point losses. They've lost the remaining 11 matches without securing any additional points. Additionally, Khabarovsk is second to last in terms of goals scored in the eastern conference with just 67, but their defensive record is a bit better - seventh in the conference with 77 goals conceded.

Head to Head Battles

CSKA and Amur have faced each other in 32 matches, with CSKA claiming 24 victories while Amur has won the remaining eight. This season, CSKA secured a shootout victory with a 3:2 score.

Predictions

It's intriguing that the odds for CSKA's victory, given the current situation, are quite high. Betсity is offering odds of 1.72 for a CSKA win, while the odds for an Amur victory stand at 4.40. These odds present an excellent opportunity to back CSKA due to the competitive odds for such a match.

Total

However, I place more faith in the Total Over (4.5) at 1.70. In their previous match, the teams didn't hit this total in regular time. So, purely based on probability theory, the chances of hitting this total in this match are much higher.