Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk - HC Lada Togliatti predictions and free betting tips [30/01/2024]

Continental Hockey League regular season 2023/2024. The second match of the gaming day, which also concludes this short gaming day in the KHL. The second match in three days between these teams, which are currently in the cup's top eight. Neftekhimik in Nizhnekamsk will host Lada from Tolyatti. 

Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk

Could it be that Neftekhimik's crisis, after a quite successful start to 2024, has started again, as they have lost three matches in a row? If the matches with Traktor and Torpedo can be explained by a lack of skill and bad luck, the defeat from Lada in the last match was a total failure - 0 goals scored and two by Lada - that is something to forget about, especially when there is another match ahead with Oleg Bratash's team. However, Neftekhimik made 50 shots on goal, so you can't say the game was all that bad.

Currently, Neftekhimik are in the eighth position in the conference, having scored 57 points after 58 matches. These points were scored through 18 wins in regular time, five outside it, and another 11 losses with one point. The remaining 24 matches were lost by Neftekhimik without any additional points. Neftekhimik is still the most conceding team from the East. Their goal-scoring situation is slightly better, with the fifth-from-bottom spot and 134 goals.

Lada Tolyatti 

The club from Tolyatti deserves praise, with a high probability, they will definitely make the play-off, and this is the main answer to all their critics. Few believed that Lada could do it, but they are most likely already in the play-off. Moreover, they are striving to be in the top-4 of the East and they even have equality with the fourth place in terms of points, only lower in additional indicators. With three victories and seven out of ten points in the last five matches, as Oleg Bratash said, "two points don't smell bad", which means that the main thing for Lada now is the result.

At the moment, Lada is in the fifth position in the conference, having scored 70 points after 58 matches. These points were earned through 23 wins in regular time, six outside it, and another 12 losses with one point. The rest of the 17 matches were lost by Lada without additional points. The team from Tolyatti shares the fifth spot with Ak Bars for scored goals - 144. With conceded goals, Lada is also in the fifth position in the conference - 141.

Head-to-head meetings

Neftekhimik and Lada have played 29 matches together. Of these, Neftekhimik won 14, while Lada won one more match, that is to say, 15. This season, each team scored two victories. Neftekhimik won 4:0 and 4:3 in overtime. Lada won with the scores of 3:0 and 2:0.

Prediction

Here, I would take Neftekhimik's win since they should rally after their last failure, especially considering that Amur is close behind.

Total Predictions

However, I have more faith in the teams scoring a minimum of five goals in the match, that is, TO (4.5) at 1.90. Yes, only one out of four times did the teams exceed this total but after such a dry match, the teams might loosen up and score more.