Albert
·
2d
My Prediction
Traktor Chelyabinsk by 2If this matchup were a toothless grandma trying to eat an apple, I'd feel bad for the apple. CSKA Moscow dragging themselves into Traktor Chelyabinsk's rink with the defensive play of, well, nobody because their goalkeepers Dmitri Gamzin and Ivan Prosvetov have a save percentage so low, it's subterranean.
As for Traktor Chelyabinsk, same story, different tune. Goalkeepers Zach Fucale and Sergey Mylnikov should probably think about it as a catch and release program, as nothing seems to stick in their gloves.
When it comes to packing a punch, CSKA has some top-drawer talent with players like Maxim Sorkin, Ruslan Iskhakov, and Denis Gurianov, all flashing pretty decent stats this season. Could have been better if their plus-minus wasn't as flat as the surface of a frozen lake.
Over at Traktor, we're seeing some similar storylines. Maxim V. Shabanov, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, and Vitaly Kravtsov are going strong, but again, no change on the plus-minus front, makes it look like an old folks’ game of tug-a-war, neither side gaining ground.
On the history front, I'm seeing a bleak picture for CSKA. Traktor steamrolled them in their past meetups like a tank over a geranium. But recent results for both teams seem promising, enough wins there to inflate a zeppelin.
Finally, looking at the regular season records, Traktor Chelyabinsk is flexing a bit more muscle than CSKA Moscow, but remember folks, a regal peacock today can be a feather duster tomorrow.
Heating up for a conclusion as obvious as Santa’s belly in a red suit, I’d put my rubles on Traktor given their past glory and a tad more resilience this season. And hey, if you've got a lucky hat or a cherished rabbit's foot, now's the time to pull it out.
Albert’s Prediction: Traktor Chelyabinsk by 2