Lokomotiv – CSKA, first match. Igor Nikitin will give a boost to Sergei Fedorov
Maxim Ermakov February 28, 2024, 14:15 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
The railroaders will win the meeting, but they will unknowingly make the army team see reason.
On February 29, the KHL Lokomotiv – CSKA playoff match will take place. The game starts at 19:30 Moscow time. Experts have already made a prediction: they consider the hosts as favorites: you can bet that the railwaymen will win with odds of 2.32. The chances of military equipment were estimated at 2.00. Tie bets are accepted at 3.95.
Bookmaker odds for the KHL Lokomotiv – CSKA playoff match on February 29, 2024
Analysts believe that the match between Lokomotiv and CSKA will not be productive: a total of more than 4.5 goals costs 2.00, and a total of less than 4.5 goals costs 1.80. You can bet that both teams will score over 1.5 goals for 2.02. If more than 1.5 goals are scored in each period, 7.50 will be played.
Analysis and forecast for the first match of the KHL playoffs “Lokomotiv” – CSKA (02/29/2024)
The KHL regular season is over and it’s time for the playoffs. The teams begin the fight for the Gagarin Cup, which promises to be very intense. On February 29, in the first match, Lokomotiv will host CSKA at the Arena 2000 Lokomotiv. The start of the match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Moscow time.
Another match awaits the fans:
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The Railways had an excellent regular season and finished third in the Western Conference standings. The team scored 93 points and was only five points behind Dynamo, who won the Continental Cup. In total, the Yaroslavl team won 44 out of 68 games, scored 174 goals and lost 139, the fewest in the KHL.
It was thanks to reliable defense that Igor Nikitin’s wards mainly achieved the desired results. Only in the last game of the regular season did Lokomotiv interrupt their four-match winning streak. During this time, the railwaymen beat CSKA (5-4 overtime), Salavat Yulaev (3-0), Ak Bars (4-2) and Neftekhimik (3-2 overtime). The Yaroslavl team lost to Avtomobilist (0:2).
The Loko coach admitted that he did not prepare his players because the team was already thinking about the playoffs. Of course, Igor Nikitin is right, but what if the army team also wisely selects the keys of the railway workers and uses his same methods: a strong defensive game?
CSKA had an extremely unsuccessful regular season and took sixth place in the Western Conference standings with 76 points. It is difficult to evaluate the capabilities of the military team in the playoffs. They remain a mystery and the guests will have to reveal their trump cards after the first match. Judging strictly by the championship, Sergei Fedorov’s players are not ready.
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The Red and Blue won the Gagarin Cup two years in a row. Most likely, they have simply lost motivation for the regular season. The CSKA coach is confident that his players in the playoffs will show character and hockey at a completely different level. There are many reasons to trust his words.
In total, the military team won 34 of 68 games in the regular season, scored 193 goals and conceded 166. The team was in full storm throughout the season. In the last five games they only won against Siberia (4-3 overtime) and Torpedo (2-1). The red and blue lost to Lokomotiv (4-5 extra time), Vityaz (1-2) and Dinamo Moscow (3-4 extra time).
The return of Ivan Fedotov did not give much confidence to the CSKA defense. The goalkeeper played 44 games this season, in which he only registered four goals, but had a save percentage of 91.56%, suggesting that he was very useful. It’s hard to argue with this, especially considering how often the Army team made mistakes on defense.
The CSKA coach also answered the question of when the killer instinct that was so lacking during the regular season will return to the team. Sergei Fedorov noted that in the playoffs there should be a turning point that will return CSKA to the champion. Why not?
Who will play who in the KHL playoffs:
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For the red and blue there is not much difference who they play with, but Lokomotiv is considered an extremely convenient rival for them. CSKA beat the railroaders in the last three playoffs. Twice the series reached seven games, but in 2022 the Muscovites beat the Yaroslavl team 4-0. I think the army team needs to lose the first meeting to understand that the jokes are over. Furthermore, Loko seems to have more success at home than CSKA away. Bets on home wins are accepted at 2.30.
Predictions and bets for the Lokomotiv – CSKA match on February 29, 2024
The turning point for the military team will be a series of matches with the railways. They will either wake up or lose their chances of fighting for the Gagarin Cup. Be that as it may, the first match will be in the hands of Lokomotiv. He is more stable, acts at home and will prepare very well for CSKA, taking into account the three failed playoff series with the Muscovites. Fedorov’s charges will wake up, but later.
Tender: Lokomotiv victory in 2.30.
