SKA Saint Petersburg - CSKA Moscow predictions and free betting tips [20/11/2023]

Continental Hockey League regular tournament 2023/2024. The cherry on the cake of a Monday gaming day, a military derby within the KHL. The match features two teams that have continuously played in the conference final, which has been cancelled this season. SKA in Saint Petersburg will be hosting CSKA from Moscow. 

SKA Saint Petersburg 

Can it be stated that SKA has overcome its crisis? If one considers the last five matches and the results from a victory perspective, one can certainly say that the situation has improved. This season, SKA had not had a five-match winning streak, and now it's happening. SKA now appears as a team that has finally found its game. Yes, the team's head coach, Roman Rotenberg, isn't yet attributing this to any particular style. But it's noticeable how much SKA has simplified its game, charging ahead, throwing and in case of success, sitting back in defence and guarding the goal. This is how SKA is currently playing. However, this style of hockey allows the team to occupy the fifth place in the standings, after 31 matches SKA has 36 points, which the army club has earned due to 16 main-time wins, two beyond it. The remaining 13 matches SKA lost without gaining extra points. Meanwhile, SKA is only sixth for scored pucks – 92 and third for missed ones – 71. 

CSKA Moscow

The same applies to CSKA, except it's too soon to talk about the end of their crisis. Yes, CSKA has won the last three matches, but it was such an uphill battle to secure those victories, with opponents being Neftekhimik, Amur and HC Sochi. Only the victory over the latter was more than one puck, on the other hand CSKA didn't let in more than one puck during these matches. Hence, at least CSKA has somewhat rectified the defence situation and approaches the derby in a situation where the team's form does look good, much better than it was a week ago. Considering that this will not just be a derby but also a match for the fifth place in the conference, CSKA will be very seriously tuned, especially after the slap on the wrist in the first derby of the season. Currently, CSKA is in the sixth place, and they too have 36 points after 31 matches. Thanks to 14 victories in main time, three beyond it and two defeats in overtime. The remaining 12 matches CSKA lost without extra points. Meanwhile, the Moscow armymen are slightly better than SKA in terms of difference, they are second for missed pucks – 70 and fifth for scored ones –93. 

Head-to-head

SKA and CSKA have played 106 matches against each other. Out of these 54 victories are credited to the Moscow armymen, while the Peterburgians have only 52 victories. This season, SKA has proven stronger than CSKA, winning with a score of 3:2.  

Prediction 

Pinnacle sees SKA as the favourite for this match. The odds for a victory for the club from the banks of the Neva are 1.94, whereas the odds for a CSKA victory are 2.00. Overall, one could say that these are justified odds based on the personal match and the teams' current form, but I want to take a risk and bet on CSKA for such a good coefficient. The teams are more or less equal and it's necessary to take a risk here.