Avangard vs Salavat Yulaev: predictions for first match of KHL East Final

UFA, 29 March 2019. /Bashinform News Agency, Natalia Ovcharuk/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/.

In Balashikha, the ending of the Eastern Conference of the KHL starts. Avangard hosts Salavat Yulaev. Even though bookmakers consider the home team as a definitive favorite of the series, it’s too early to ignore Salavat Yulaev.

It took nine matches for Bob Hartley's players to reach the final of the East. Experts note that the Canadian specialist has gathered a good team: good specialty teams and an attacking line. In the series with the Ufa team, the leader Ilya Mikheyev will not take part: the forward is on the list of injured players.

The team of Nikolay Tsulygin reached the final of the conference in eleven meetings. The Finnish goalkeeper Juha Metsola is called one of the main trump cards of the Bashkir club: the goalkeeper is the best in the save ratio of the current playoffs. Anton Burdasov (injury) and Alexander Burmistrov (disqualification) will not help the team in the first two matches of the round.

According to experts, the main thing for Salavat Yulaev is to withstand the onslaught of the “hawks” and, after the first 20 minutes, dictate its own play.

The beginning of the “Avangard” - “Salavat Yulaev” match is at 21.30 Ufa time on March 29. Live broadcast will be available on the BST TV channel.