I'd like to enlighten you all on the upcoming Kontinental Hockey League matchup, featuring Avangard Omsk taking on Traktor Chelyabinsk. Now, let's dig a bit deeper into the details.
Neither team seems to have a functioning wall in goal this season. With Pavel Khomchenko for Avangard Omsk and Zach Fucale for Traktor Chelyabinsk, both goaltenders are yet to throw themselves in front of a puck this season, saving as many goals as a garden gnome would. Safe to say, it's hard to predict anything from these stats.
For the guys up front, Avangard Omsk is leaning on the trio of Semyon Chistyakov, Linden Vey, and Damir Sharipzyanov for offense. Chistyakov lately netted 3 goals and handed out 5 assists, while Vey and Sharipzyanov chipped in with 1 and 2 goals respectively. Can't say it's a particularly menacing troika but they can play a little.
Over on the other bench, Traktor Chelyabinsk has their trust in Maxim V. Shabanov, Alexander Kadeikin, and Steven Kampfer. Shabanov and Kadeikin have been lighting the lamp regularly with 4 and 6 goals respectively over the last month. Kampfer, on the other hand, is doing the dirty work with 6 assists, despite having the scoring prowess of your local peewee player.
When it comes to past few rodeos between these teams, Traktor Chelyabinsk seems to relish the challenge, coming out on top more often than you’d find a dentist in a bucket of candy.
Despite a rather disappointing run from Avangard Omsk with a regular season record of 5-10, Traktor Chelyabinsk undoubtedly brewed a stronger potion, boasting an impressive 10-4 record. Add to that their recent string of victories, it looks like they eat winning for breakfast.
All things considered, if you were expecting some twist in the tale here, well, I'm afraid you're likely to be as disappointed as a turtle on a treadmill.
Albert’s Prediction: Traktor Chelyabinsk by 3