CSKA vs Metallurg. Who will win the first trophy of the new season?
Traditionally, the new season in the KHL opens with a match between the two best teams of the past season. This time, the Opening Cup 2022 will be played by the winner of the Gagarin Cup, CSKA Moscow, and the best team in the League according to the results of the regular season, Metallurg Magnitogorsk. The opening game of the championship will be held on September 1 in Moscow, on the ice of the CSKA Arena.
The army team triumphantly finished last season, winning the League's main trophy, the Gagarin Cup, for the second time in its history. Of particular value to this victory is the fact that for the army coach Sergei Fedorov it was a debut on the coaching bridge of the KHL club, which immediately ended in triumph. In the summer off-season, the army team did without personnel shocks, deciding not to radically change the winning line-up. The only serious loss seems to be the possible departure of the main goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov overseas, who, after signing a contract with Philadelphia, risks being out of big hockey for at least a year. Alexander Sharychenkov from Salavat Yulaev is called to replace the first number of CSKA and the Russian national team, who, in a dispute with the Swede Adam Reideborn, will have to win his place at the gates of the capital's team.
The army team came out of vacation rather late, so there were not so many control fights in August. A major defeat 1-6 from Dynamo Minsk can be attributed to the playing composition, which was far from optimal. The positive aspects include the performance of CSKA at the traditional Moscow Mayor's Cup, where Sergei Fedorov's wards became the first, defeating the Chinese Kunlun in the final.
Metallurg
Last season Magnitogorsk can confidently bring itself into the asset. An ideal regular season, following which Metallurg became the best in points scored in the League, was replaced by an equally successful Gagarin Cup, where the Urals were one step away from a double triumph, leading in the final series with a score of 3-1. It is logical that Metallurg's transfer campaign turned out to be targeted. Edward Paskual was discharged from Yaroslavl to help 39-year-old Vasily Koshechkin, so the team's goalkeeper line is complete. Also, the line of defense was missing Grigory Dronov, who went to conquer the NHL, and Mikhail Pashnin, who moved to SKA.
During the summer off-season, Metallurg took part in two major tournaments. The home cup of Romazan failed the Urals, having won only one victory with two defeats. Metallurg played noticeably better at the Cup of the President of Kazakhstan, where he took the final second place, losing in the decisive match to local Barys 2-3.
Our Expert Predictions & Analysis on CSKA vs Metallurg
CSKAThe army team triumphantly finished last season, winning the League's main trophy, the Gagarin Cup, for the second time in its history. Of particular value to this victory is the fact that for the army coach Sergei Fedorov it was a debut on the coaching bridge of the KHL club, which immediately ended in triumph. In the summer off-season, the army team did without personnel shocks, deciding not to radically change the winning line-up. The only serious loss seems to be the possible departure of the main goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov overseas, who, after signing a contract with Philadelphia, risks being out of big hockey for at least a year. Alexander Sharychenkov from Salavat Yulaev is called to replace the first number of CSKA and the Russian national team, who, in a dispute with the Swede Adam Reideborn, will have to win his place at the gates of the capital's team.
The army team came out of vacation rather late, so there were not so many control fights in August. A major defeat 1-6 from Dynamo Minsk can be attributed to the playing composition, which was far from optimal. The positive aspects include the performance of CSKA at the traditional Moscow Mayor's Cup, where Sergei Fedorov's wards became the first, defeating the Chinese Kunlun in the final.
Metallurg
Last season Magnitogorsk can confidently bring itself into the asset. An ideal regular season, following which Metallurg became the best in points scored in the League, was replaced by an equally successful Gagarin Cup, where the Urals were one step away from a double triumph, leading in the final series with a score of 3-1. It is logical that Metallurg's transfer campaign turned out to be targeted. Edward Paskual was discharged from Yaroslavl to help 39-year-old Vasily Koshechkin, so the team's goalkeeper line is complete. Also, the line of defense was missing Grigory Dronov, who went to conquer the NHL, and Mikhail Pashnin, who moved to SKA.
During the summer off-season, Metallurg took part in two major tournaments. The home cup of Romazan failed the Urals, having won only one victory with two defeats. Metallurg played noticeably better at the Cup of the President of Kazakhstan, where he took the final second place, losing in the decisive match to local Barys 2-3.
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