Former Russian national team head coach Vladimir Krikunov has offered his analysis of the Gagarin Cup final series between Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and Ak Bars Kazan.
When asked which team has a better chance of winning the cup, Krikunov said it’s difficult to pick a clear favorite. He noted that Ak Bars has made a remarkable adjustment during the playoffs, with goalie Timur Bilyalov playing surprisingly solid after an inconsistent regular season. Comparing the two teams, Krikunov believes they are evenly matched in terms of goaltending and defense. However, he sees a slight edge for Lokomotiv in offensive firepower.
On the other hand, Krikunov pointed out that Ak Bars had a longer break before the finals, allowing them extra time to rest and prepare specifically for these games. Lokomotiv, meanwhile, will need to recover quickly before the series opener on May 11. He expects them to manage that, but stressed that the series will be highly competitive and interesting.
Krikunov concluded that fans can look forward to an exciting battle between two well-prepared teams.
