Alright, listeners, let's dissect this upcoming match between Avangard Omsk and Traktor Chelyabinsk. This one is expected to be nerve-wracking, with our data points suggesting some intriguing trends ahead.
The netminding situation is a rather curious one. The puck seems to have an uncanny affinity to dodge their gloves. Ilya Proskuryakov and Pavel Khomchenko for Avangard, and Sergey Mlynikov and Zach Fucale for Traktor have posted save percentages of zilch this season. Make of that what you will; our guess is as good as yours.
Diving further into the rosters, on the Avangard Omsk side, Damir Sharipzyanov and Linden Vey have proved to be deadly, both with impressive stats this season. Semyon Chistyakov, too, with a nice tally of 4 goals this season, can't be overlooked.
As for Traktor Chelyabinsk, they’ve got Mikhail Kotlyarevsky who's been in good touch with 4 goals, and Maxim V. Shabanov, also contributing well with two goals and couple of assists this season.
The historical rivalry suggests a tight game. In their last four meetups, Traktor edged out Avangard twice, while they shared the spoils in two other games.
If we gaze at the regular season records, Traktor holds a slightly positive outlook with a 4-4 record, while Avangard is at a less heartening 3-6.
As for recent trends, well, neither of the teams has anything to cheer about. Avangard has been riding a losing streak, with the most recent letdown against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Traktor, too, hasn't found their footing recently, stumbling against Salavat Yulaev Ufa.
All things considered, I’d bet on a Traktor victory, albeit with a tiny margin. Expect this show to be closer than a subway at rush hour.
Albert’s Prediction: Traktor Chelyabinsk by 1