Neftekhimik vs Avtomobilist. Championship outsider against guests from the Urals

The next game week in the KHL will end with a match in Nizhnekamsk. On October 8, the local Neftekhimik, on the ice of the arena of the same name, will welcome guests from Yekaterinburg - the Avtomobilist hockey club.

• Expert Predictions Analysis
• Statistics
• Odds
• Game Totals Prediction

Our Expert Predictions & Analysis on Neftekhimik vs Avtomobilist

Neftekhimik

The second team of Bashkiria again fails the start of the season, immediately settling at the bottom of the standings. Although, if we look for any positive, then compared to last season there is a certain positive trend. A year ago, Neftekhimik started with ten defeats in a row, but gradually corrected the situation, managing to finish the regular season in the top eight of the cup. Now Oleg Leontiev’s team already has three victories, but they have accumulated three times as many defeats – ten.

The last time Neftekhimik won was on September 27, beating Khabarovsk Amur at home with a score of 2-1. This was followed by a voyage to Magnitogorsk, for double matches against Metallurg, which resulted in two defeats. It all started with a crushing defeat 3-8, the second match turned out to be more equal, but in the end Neftekhimik lost again 1-3. Now the team has 8 points and is in last place in the Eastern Conference.

Avtomobilist

The Ural club started noticeably better than its opponent in Sunday's match, winning at the start of the championship more often than losing. Quite unexpectedly, Avtomobilist is the best in the KHL in defensive play, conceding only 24 goals in 14 matches. This is primarily due to the arrival of goalkeeper Evgeniy Alikin to the team, who immediately became Avtomobilist’s main goalkeeper. After Jakub Kovar left the team, the Urals suffered for two seasons without number one, but now in Alikin they have found a worthy replacement for the Czech.

Avtomobilist gained an excellent momentum, stumbling only once in the last five matches, losing in Yaroslavl to the championship leader Lokomotiv 1-3. An alarming fact for Avtomobilist fans is the fact that at the moment six hockey players on the team are injured, including Barantsev, Blaker, Volk, Ebert, that is, players who largely determine the playing pattern of the Ural club. At the moment, Avtomobilist is on the outskirts of the top three in the East, occupying the current fourth place with 18 points scored.

Statistics

Already this season, the rivals have played each other twice. So far, only the home team has won, with Neftekhimik winning 1-0 in Nizhnekamsk and Avtomobilist responding with a 4-2 home win. Avtomobilist's zero goals in September is more of an exception to the rule, as the Uralians usually play efficiently in Nizhnekamsk, with an average of four goals per game over the last five seasons Individual Total 2 over (2.5) 1.69. The upcoming match will be the fiftieth anniversary game played in the KHL. Almost twofold advantage in victories on the side of the Uralians, Avtomobilist has 32 won matches, while Neftekhimik won 17 times. The puck difference of 144 to 120 is also in favor of the team from Ekaterinburg.

Odds from download 1xbet

Home ice does not make Neftekhimik a favorite in the eyes of the bookmaker, the odds for a win in regulation time for Avtomobilist are estimated at 2.01, while the odds for a win for Neftekhimik are 3.35. A draw with further overtime can be taken for 4.3. Judging by 1xbet quotes, experts believe in a productive outcome of the match: total more (4.5) - 1.58, total less (4.5) - 2.33. Install the 1xbet app and place a bet on the favorite!

Game Totals Prediction

Neftekhimik is once again having a hard time getting into the season, and the team has problems both on the offensive line and on defense. Avtomobilist has noticeably revised the game concept, playing cautious hockey at the start of the season, with an emphasis on defensive actions. Given the large number of injured hockey players, the Uralians are unlikely to take any risks in the upcoming game. We expect the teams to play pragmatic hockey, with an eye on defense. Our prediction is Total Under 5.5 with odds of 1.71.