Albert
·
23h
My Prediction
Salavat Yulaev Ufa by 3
You know, I've really been eyeing this match up. On one side, we've got Salavat Yulaev Ufa, who are really just a force to be reckoned with on ice. Their star players this season have included Josh Leivo with his incredible 48 goals and 35 assists, and let's not forget about Scott Wilson and Alexander Chmelevski, both of whom have proved invaluable to Ufa's attack.
On the other corner of our rink, we've got Sibir Novosibirsk with their equally notable top-players. Taylor Beck, for instance, has been a real playmaker for Sibir, with 15 goals and almost triple the number of assists. Sergei Shirokov and Andy Andreoff have also really put on a show, making their contribution count.
However, and let's be clear, the goalkeeper situation for both teams seems a bit... vacant at the moment, as nobody appears to have made a single save all season. Remarkable, isn't it?
This rivalry between Ufa and Novosibirsk is an interesting one. Even though Novosibirsk surprisingly shutout Ufa in the most recent matchup, Ufa, more often than not, offers the beating. In fact, the last time these two locked horns, Ufa outscored Novosibirsk 15-3 in consecutive match-ups. Pair this with their impressive 45-21 record, Salavat Yulaev Ufa seems to have the odds in their favor.
Still, one cannot forget Novosibirsk's recent victory does bring some uncertainty back into the mix. Yes, I know it's only one win, but what a surprise that was! And let's admit it, we all love those.
Pull back the curtains and you see a game that could swing either way, but if I had to place my bets, I'd expect Ufa to tip the scales in their favor. With stronger performance records, they come out ahead, despite Novosibirsk's recent win.
Albert’s Prediction: Salavat Yulaev Ufa by 3