On Thursday, March 13, Yekaterinburg's Avtomobilist will host Nizhny Novgorod's Torpedo at the Uralets-Arena in what promises to be an intense match within the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). With both teams having playoff aspirations, this matchup has significant ramifications for their standings.
Avtomobilist currently finds itself sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference, having accumulated 81 points from 63 games. Unfortunately for the Urals, their form has tapered off as of late, suffering four consecutive losses. Their latest outing saw them narrowly lose 3-4 to CSKA Moscow after conceding three goals during the second period, effectively ending their hopes of salvaging the game.
This string of defeats has seen the team struggle offensively, only managing to score six goals over the last four games. Despite their offensive frailties, forward Stefan Da Costa remains a bright spot, accumulating 55 points (14 goals, 41 assists) this season, leading the team’s offense. Meanwhile, injuries to key players, such as defenseman Jessie Blacker and forward Kurtis Volk, have heightened the challenges for Avtomobilist as they prepare for this upcoming match.
Meanwhile, Torpedo occupies the eighth spot in the Western Conference with 70 points following 64 games played. Nizhny Novgorod shows signs of bolstering their playoff run, recently edging out Vityaz with a 4-3 victory after facing losses against Avangard both at home and away this month. The team has historically struggled to convert opportunities, evidenced by their inability to secure goals during power plays this season.
What is notable is Torpedo's newfound offensive consistency, scoring at least two goals per game over their last twelve matchups. Forward Nikita Artamonov, with 38 points (22 goals, 16 assists) this season, has been key to their success. Despite facing losses, the team has shown resilience and a potential to capitalize on Avtomobilist's defensive lapses.
Prior meetings between the two have yielded mixed results, with Torpedo having gained the upper hand recently. The last encounter resulted in a convincing 3-1 victory for Torpedo back in September. This match will be pivotal for both teams as Avtomobilist needs every point to secure playoff positioning, especially against direct competitors like Torpedo.
Fans can expect live text coverage of the match starting at 17:00 Moscow time on the LiveResult.Ru website, with recorded broadcasts available later on KHL channels at 21:50 and 00:05 respectively.
Betting experts predict Avtomobilist will come out strong, needing to redeem themselves after their recent slump. Analysts suggest the odds could favor Avtomobilist as they fare significantly well at home, alongside the potential of them finally breaking through offensively. A proposed betting coefficient on Torpedo stands at 1.85, encouraging excitement for punters anticipating the match’s outcome.
Despite the competitive nature of the tournament, both teams will undoubtedly bring heightened motivation, making this clash one of the focal events of the KHL season. The stakes could not be higher, and fans are set for what could be another thrilling chapter in their storied rivalry.