Metallurg Magnitogorsk - Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg predictions and free betting tips [05/04/2024]

Gagarin Cup 2024, KHL Playoff. Semi-final. The series' score is 1:0. The second semi-final presents itself as the Ural derby, the exact series that ought to be extremely epic and fascinating. However, so far, it's a bit off the mark, outdone by the first semi-final across the board.

Metallurg Magnitogorsk 

The Magnitogorsk club has uniquely revamped itself this playoff. If this was a team incapable in defence and which bet on attack during the regular season – having scored the most pucks in the East only to predominantly play in their half, it now plays in defence, hoping that the goalie pulls off everything possible while they manage to score something in attack.

The questions remain, as, in the first series of this match, Metallurg attacked more until they scored a puck and got stuck near their goal, endeavouring to not concede more pucks than their opponents would throw in.

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg

Contrary to the team from Yekaterinburg, the long break has reportedly negatively impacted them. Avtomobilist grappled to start this first semi-final match and began to resemble its early playoff games only towards the end of the match. Additionally, I would point out that the team from Yekaterinburg was surprisingly poor defensively, seeing how much "Metallurg" created in terms of moments, it seems to me, even his attacks were not there. Practically three or four times the team from Magnitogorsk failed to hit an empty goal.

It was only then that the team from Yekaterinburg managed to score the first puck, which could not influence the outcome of this match in any way. Now, it's incredibly interesting how Avtomobilist will play the second match of this series. Towards the end, it seemed that they found the necessary rhythm and will most likely tear into the second match.

Head to head matches

Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg have had 73 matches together. Of these, Magnitogorsk has secured 46 victories, while the Yekaterinburg club has won 27 matches. This regular season, Metallurg won three times – 4:2, 4:0 and 2:1 in a penalty shootout. Avtomobilist won one meeting – 3:2 in overtime. In the first match of this series, Metallurg won – 2:1.

Prediction

I would continue to gamble and bet on the underdog; it has to work out sometime, and as it seems to me, it is closer to happening in this match.

Total score prediction

However, if we take the total score, I would choose TU (4.5) at the odds of 1.92. Considering the game both teams are playing, this seems to be the most plausible outcome of any match in this series.