HC Spartak Moscow - Metallurg Magnitogorsk predictions and free betting tips [30/03/2024]

The KHL playoff stage, Gagarin Cup 2024, quarterfinals. The series score is 2:3. Yes, the sixth match of this second round series will commence once all the semi-finalists have been determined. It may drag on for an additional day, which isn't necessarily a detriment for the neutral fan. Spartak of Moscow is set to host Metallurg from Magnitogorsk.

Spartak Moscow

The key question is, what's happening with the team in Magnitogorsk? You see, Spartak in Moscow is one team, but they seem a completely different squad when on the road. Spartak lost the match start, trailing 0:4. However, they rapidly reduced the goal difference to a single goal and came perilously close to equalising. Spartak, after a pretty good second part of the fifth match, will now play at home, where they have done exceptionally well.

Furthermore, Ilya Kovalchuk, who was missed in the fifth match, is likely to return, as is Alexander Burmistrov, who has only played in the team's victories this series. It's too early to definitively talk about line-ups but surely, Spartak is unwilling to lose the series at home.

Metallurg Magnitogorsk

Then we have Andrey Razin's wily side. If Metallurg fires on all cylinders, capitalising even on half-chances, and Nabokov stands tall in goal, they should have a great game. Yet, they failed to deliver in Moscow in the third match as they conceded heavily. They did not score at all in the fourth match. Now we face the sixth game following the fifth match, where Metallurg should honestly been beaten, and were frankly lucky.

Such twists are common in playoffs: a team wins a game it was supposed to lose and carries that morale wave into the next match. The question is what will Razin concoct to change the team's disappointing record in Moscow. I believe their chances are fairly slim.

Head-to-Head Matches

Spartak Moscow and Metallurg Magnitogorsk have faced each other in 33 matches. Of these, the Magnitogorsk club holds 25 victories, while the Muscovites have won eight times. In the current season, both victories belong to Metallurg - 3:1 and 6:2. The playoff scenario didn't change with Metallurg taking the first game 4:0 and the second 1:0. But in the third match, Spartak finally triumphed, winning 5:2. They also prevailed in the fourth match, taking it 1:0, while in the fifth outing, it was business as usual with the home team earning a 5:3 victory.

Prediction

I would personally lean towards a Spartak victory, I believe they should win at home.

Total Prediction

My total (total number of goals scored) prediction might come as a surprise - the even-numbered matches in this series have always been low-scoring, with three out of five matches falling in the low-range. So, my total prediction here is TU (4.5).