Ak Bars vs. Salavat Yulaev: Prediction for the KHL match (March 17, 2021)

"Ak Bars" qualified for the playoffs from the first place in the Eastern Conference, so they got a convenient opponent in the first round of the Gagarin Cup. Recall that Kazan club fought with "Torpedo" and prevailed over the opponent with a score of 4:0. In fact, "AK Bars" had some minor difficulties only in the opening match, in which they won in extra time.

In other meetings, Dmitri Kvartalnov's wards consistently scored four goals and always conceded no more than one goal in return. The main sniper of the team at the moment is Viktor Tikhonov, who scored three goals and gained four points on the "goal + assist" system.

"Salavat Yulaev" reached the playoffs in excellent shape and developed a winning streak at the end of the regular season. Of course, in the confrontation with "Traktor", the team was considered the favorite, but the series did not promise to be easy. However, having lost in the first match, the team drew the right conclusions and began to act more disciplined in defense.

In the next four meetings the club from Ufa did not concede more than two goals, and they even consistently scored three goals. But nevertheless, the defense of Tomi Lamsa's team does not look as "reinforced" as that of "Ak Bars". Over the course of the season, "Salavat" preferred to play open and productive hockey, and usually, such clubs are unable to rebuild their game in the playoffs.