KHL Match Prediction: Salavat Yulaev Ufa vs Ak Bars Kazan
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Ak Bars KazanMore picks
- Period 3: No draw 1.35 pending
Salavat Yulaev host Ak Bars at Ufa Arena on November 12, with both clubs on 26 points in the Eastern Conference. Ufa sit third and Kazan fifth, with the hosts having played one game fewer. This meeting offers separation in a tightly grouped chasing pack.
Ufa: home defence offsets away losses
Recent form and scoring balance
Salavat have two wins and three defeats in five games, scoring 14 goals and conceding 11. Their three home fixtures produced two wins and a combined 9–4 score; both away games ended in defeat. Four of those five matches exceeded 4.5 goals.
Strengths and pressure points
- Scoring in all five games shows continuity in attack despite inconsistent results.
- Just two goals conceded across the last two home appearances contrast with seven in the two away fixtures.
- The season balance of 72 scored and 73 conceded leaves little defensive margin.
Changes to the available group
Alexander Alexeyev, Bogdanov, Artyom Gorshkov, Grigory Panin, Dean Stewart, Suchkov and Nikita Shcherbakov are unavailable through injury. Ruslan Pedan and Artyom Zemchenok debuted against Neftekhimik, while Alexander Zharovsky returned from Russia's youth national team. Viktor Kozlov linked the disrupted rhythm of that defeat to penalties and described this season's frequent infractions as a consequence of aggressive, risky play.
- Neftekhimikaway3:4
- Avtomobilist Yekaterinburghome3:2
- Lada Togliattihome5:0
- Shanghai Dragonsaway2:3
- Sochihome1:2
Kazan: scoring recovery, road concerns
Results and workload
Ak Bars also have two wins and three losses in five outings, with 15 goals for and 15 against. The latest result, a 5–2 home win over Torpedo, ended three successive defeats. Kazan had two clear days before this fixture, compared with Ufa's one; both must travel to Ufa after their previous games, although flight arrangements are unspecified.
Where the balance breaks down
- Both recent road games were lost, with four goals scored and eight conceded.
- Three of five matches finished above 4.5 goals, driven by games containing seven or eight.
- No clean sheet in that sequence means the attack has had to compensate every time.
Absences and attacking adjustments
Artyom Galimov will miss the game. Ilya Safonov is expected to sign a three-year contract after leaving Vancouver's system, but his participation is not confirmed. Artur Brovkin has a trial contract through December 10. Anvar Gatiyatulin has shifted training towards possession and passing, asking players to join attacks more freely without abandoning the team's structure.
- Torpedo Nizhny Novgorodhome5:2
- Traktor Chelyabinskaway3:5
- Sibir Novosibirskaway1:3
- SKA Saint Petersburghome3:4
- Amur Khabarovskhome3:1
Recent meetings favour Ak Bars
Kazan have won nine of the 15 official meetings over five years. The latest eight produced 43 goals, averaging 5.38 per game, with five exceeding 4.5. Ak Bars won both meetings this season, 4–3 and 2–1, each in Ufa: the venue has not prevented Kazan from taking these recent contests.
- 25.10.2026Salavat Yulaev Ufa1:2Ak Bars KazanKontinental Hockey League
- 16.09.2026Salavat Yulaev Ufa3:4Ak Bars KazanKontinental Hockey League
- 28.01.2026Ak Bars Kazan3:4Salavat Yulaev UfaKontinental Hockey League
- 20.12.2025Salavat Yulaev Ufa1:2Ak Bars KazanKontinental Hockey League
- 16.12.2025Ak Bars Kazan6:3Salavat Yulaev UfaKontinental Hockey League
What remains unconfirmed
Line-ups
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Substitutes: 35. Vyazovoy, 78. Denis Orlovich-Grudkov
Coach: Viktor Kozlov
Ak Bars Kazan
Substitutes: 82. Timur Bilyalov
Coach: Anvar Gatiyatulin
Our pick for the opening period
Our bet is Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No at 1.32. Salavat Yulaev are missing Alexander Alekseev, Bogdanov, Artem Gorshkov, Grigory Panin, Dean Stewart, Suchkov and Nikita Shcherbakov. Ruslan Pedan and Artem Zemchenok have returned to the blue line, but the defensive rotation remains disrupted. Ufa should therefore protect the slot and avoid an aggressive start.
Ak Bars also have reasons to keep the opening period controlled. After three consecutive defeats, the coaching staff changed the training process, focusing on puck possession and passing. The 5:2 win over Torpedo ended that losing run, making Kazan more likely to establish control before taking attacking risks. Ufa have scored in all five recent matches, but they have also conceded in four of their last five. The likely final score is 3:2, with at least one team kept scoreless in Period 1.
Conclusion
Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No at 1.32 is the preferred outcome. Ufa’s depleted defence should produce a restrained opening, while Ak Bars’ possession-focused adjustments reduce the chance of both teams scoring before the first intermission.
Chances by market estimate
Team form
- Neftekhimikaway3:4
- Avtomobilist Yekaterinburghome3:2
- Lada Togliattihome5:0
- Shanghai Dragonsaway2:3
- Sochihome1:2
- Torpedo Nizhny Novgorodhome5:2
- Traktor Chelyabinskaway3:5
- Sibir Novosibirskaway1:3
- SKA Saint Petersburghome3:4
- Amur Khabarovskhome3:1
Standings · Eastern Conference
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Neftekhimik | 26 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 71:71 | 31 |
| 3 | Salavat Yulaev Ufa | 25 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 72:73 | 26 |
| 4 | Traktor Chelyabinsk | 25 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 57:62 | 26 |
| 5 | Ak Bars Kazan | 26 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 60:63 | 26 |
| 6 | Avangard Omsk | 23 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 46:55 | 26 |
Head-to-head
- 25.10.2026Salavat Yulaev Ufa1:2Ak Bars KazanKontinental Hockey League
- 16.09.2026Salavat Yulaev Ufa3:4Ak Bars KazanKontinental Hockey League
- 28.01.2026Ak Bars Kazan3:4Salavat Yulaev UfaKontinental Hockey League
- 20.12.2025Salavat Yulaev Ufa1:2Ak Bars KazanKontinental Hockey League
- 16.12.2025Ak Bars Kazan6:3Salavat Yulaev UfaKontinental Hockey League
About the match
- 12 November · 09:00 New York
- Venue: Ufa Arena (Ufa)
Odds
odds before kick-off
A narrow home lean in the market
Ufa are modest favourites in regulation-time 1X2, rather than a clear market choice: their advantage over Kazan is 7 percentage points, while the draw remains a meaningful alternative. Over is preferred to Under at the 4.5-goal threshold, and BTTS (both teams to score) is strongly favoured. All listed lines have been broadly unchanged over the past 24 hours; there is no recorded move towards either side.
Our prediction
- Market
- Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No
- Odds
- 1.32
- Confidence
- Our estimate
- 70%
- Market estimate
- 70%
- Stake amount
- 100 $ · 1.32
- Potential win
- 32 $
- Odds at kick-off
- 1.32
- Status
- pending
