The KHL matchup between Ak Bars and Salavat Yulaev on January 27 promises to be another thrilling chapter in their storied rivalry as the two teams collide for the fifth "green derby" of the current Gagarin Cup season. Each team has claimed victory on home ice twice this season, making this clash particularly significant as they battle for dominance and improved standings within the Eastern Conference.
After returning home from a grueling stint on the road, Ak Bars is feeling the strain. The Kazan team suffered from fatigue following back-to-back games against Eastern rivals, leading to their performance dip. They faced Sibir last week and were dealt a disappointing 0-1 loss, indicating issues with their offensive execution. Their head coach, Dmitry Yashkin, is under pressure to get his team back on track to fill the glaring gaps in their play as they strive to climb back up the conference ranks.
With 62 points, Ak Bars currently sits fourth in the conference, just two points shy of second-place Salavat Yulaev, which boasts 64 points. The tightly contested race means every game is pivotal as the playoffs approach. Ak Bars has shown they can win, collecting five wins from seven starts recently, yet their return home is overshadowed by aspirations to not just defend their honor, but also mount a serious challenge for higher playoff seeding.
Key to their success on the ice, Alexander Barabanov has solidified his reputation as one of the league’s leading scorers, sitting among the top ten with 42 points accrued this season (18 goals, 24 assists). His ability to find the net consistently, paired with fellow scorer Artem Galimov, who manages 22 goals and 19 assists, builds the team's offensive potential. Nonetheless, the health of their goaltending remains uncertain; Timur Bilyalov has taken over responsibility between the pipes recently, boasting 92.05% save percentage, but inconsistent performances from Amir Miftakhov could affect their defensive game substantially.
Despite Ak Bars' challenges, Salavat Yulaev is buzzing with confidence heading to Kazan after showing offensive prowess recently. Under Viktor Kozlov's guidance, they've landed three wins from five games, reversing earlier unimpressive form with standout performances against opponents like Sochi, where they blitzed them 8-1. Leading this resurgence is Canadian Josh Leivo, who has emerged as one of the league’s most dangerous forwards, currently leading with 59 points (38 goals, 21 assists). His remarkable scoring ability has been illuminated by ten goals scored just last five games!
The Ufa team’s consistent ability to put up points—averaging 3.15 goals per game—is bolstered by their defensive play as well, allowing just 2.38 goals against per game. Goaltender Alexander Samonov has been reliable, recording 92.61% save percentage this season alongside three shutouts, instilling more composure and stability to the backline. Salavat's formidable offense combined with their ability to stymie opposing attacks gives them the edge as they prepare to take on Ak Bars.
With injuries hitting both teams, Ak Bars will miss Ilya Safonov, Egor Babenko, and Mitch Miller, which could take its toll on their defensive structure. Salavat will also travel without Gleb Kuzmin and Sergey Varlov, but their recent form suggests they will manage these absences as they aim to replicate their scoring form evidenced from recent matches.
Betting trends indicate the first period could be quiet, with under 1.5 total goals expected, as four of the last five games between the teams have seen restrained scoring early on. Conversely, Salavat has demonstrated late-game resilience, scoring effectively against Ak Bars late, making them more than capable of pushing past the Kazan defensive lineup this time.
Experts are predicting Salavat Yulaev to carry their momentum, with odds favoring them to secure the win with the Asian handicap at 0 for 2.05. Given Ak Bars' defensive capabilities and Salavat's scoring prowess, many anticipate it will be worth keeping track of the total goals proposition, set at over 4.5 following statistical trends from their encounters this season.
The upcoming clash has all the makings of a classic, as both teams know what's at stake. With Ak Bars eager to bounce back on home ice and Salavat Yulaev confident and hungry for victory, fans can expect nothing short of high-octane hockey emerge from this highly anticipated matchup.