Yuzhniy Ural vs Dizel Penza prediction
Yuzhniy Ural
Southern Urals managed to claw their way out of a slump at the tail end of February, securing three victories. However, it came too late: their playoff hopes are dashed. The primary goal for the team now is to climb above the 20th spot, though it won't be easy, as they trail by a daunting 9 points. Kicking off their home series, they overcame AKM with a 4-2 win but couldn't maintain the momentum, falling to Ryazan VDV, 1-3. Noteworthy also are the points they picked up against Neftyanik, a top contender in the regular season, with a commendable 4-3 scoreline. However, in the second period, the "bulls" conceded three goals and couldn't stage a comeback.
Dizel Penza
The situation for Diesel is teetering on the edge; the team has lost its stride in terms of racking up points, suffering several defeats. They are in danger of losing their playoff spot. Coming into this match-up, the team from Penza has managed only two wins out of their last six games. Diesel's successes were limited to a sound 3-0 win over humble Olympia and a tight 3-2 victory against Gornyak-UGMK, a top-ten opponent. However, they couldn't crack Chelyamet, losing 4-6. Despite leading by two goals in the opening period, Diesel failed to seal the deal. The challenge continued with a tough 0-2 loss to powerhouse Magnitnaya.
Prediction
It's important not to overlook the fact that Diesel ranks among the top ten in road games, having garnered nearly 57% of possible points away from home - an impressive feat. On the other hand, Southern Urals fail to shine on their own ice, collecting just 43% of points. Moreover, it's worth noting that the "ferrets" have lost four out of their last five head-to-head encounters, being handed a heavy 0-4 defeat this season. We're inclined to bet on Diesel securing the win in regulation time with odds of 1.95.
