HC Yugra - Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Prediction for VHL playoff match

HC Yugra has glided through the first two rounds, only to find themselves struggling in the semifinal against furious Dinamo Saint Petersburg, nearly getting eliminated. 

To begin with, in the round of 16 Vadim Yepachitsev team effortlessly beat Dinamo Krasnogorsk, granting their opponents only one victory – 4:1 (4:1, 5:1, 4:3 OT, 0:2, 5:3). In the quarterfinal, Mammoths faced the solid Khimik from Voskresensk, but the latter were unable to get a win even with the help of Spartak troopers – 4:0 (6:3, 2:1, 4:3 2OT, 4:3). But Dinamo had to play all seven games, and only the decisive shot from Kyrill Pilipenko in the last match has sealed the outcome of the series – 1:0 in the game and 4:3 (0:2, 1:0 OT, 3:0, 3:6, 3:1, 1:2, 1:0) in the series.

Metallurghas been consistently strong as well and conceded just three games to their opponents. In the first round, Evgeniy Popikhin's team steamrolled over Zvezda Moscow, simply destroying them at home and winning the streak with the final score of 4:1 (4:1, 6:2, 5:4 3OT, 3:4, 7:2). Steelmakers met no resistance from Dizel, who handled the series to Metallurg in the minimum number of matches – 4:0 (4:2, 5:2, 6:2, 4:1).

No one expected a pleasure cruise against Rubin, but Metallurg surprised everyone with the ease they showed playing at home against the team from Tyumen. However, in the sixth, decisive game, Metallurg only claimed victory in overtime – 4:2 (3:2 OT, 2:3 OT, 5:0, 6:1, 3:6, 4:3 OT).