Albert
·
2d
My Prediction
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk by 2
Let's dive straight into this juicy Kontinental Hockey League matchup. We've got Vityaz Podolsk hosting Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk and there's plenty to talk about.
Starting between the nets, Vityaz Podolsk's duo of goalkeepers, Maxim Dorozhko and Dmitry Shikin, have logged in 22 and 30 saves respectively this season. On the other side, Neftekhimik's Filipp Dolganov and Ozolin Yaroslav... well, we're lacking some save info for them. Maybe they've been taking naps during the games, who knows.
Shifting focus to the ice artists, the ones making the magic happen. Top guns for Neftekhimik include Evgeny Mityakin, with 8 goals and 10 assists, and Jean-Sebastien Dea chipping in with another 7 goals and 6 assists for the season. Over at Vityaz Podolsk, Dmitry Buchelnikov is doing some admirable work with 8 goals and a startling 18 assists, while Derek Barach has been firing on all cylinders, netting 14 goals and adding 8 assists to his name.
Remember, those ahead have a rear-view mirror. Looking at past trysts, Neftekhimik has been cracking the whip, besting Vityaz twice in the recent past, with scores of 4-2 and a shutout at 3-0. On the whole, both teams' track records don't exactly instill confidence, with Neftekhimik at 12-17 and Vityaz slightly ahead at 13-15.
As for recent form, Neftekhimik seems to be finding their stride winning 3 of their last 5 games, while Vityaz Podolsk... let’s just say they might need a pick-me-up, or a miracle, given their hit and miss performance recently.
Well, the crystal ball has spoken and here's what it's saying:
Albert’s Prediction: Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk by 2