TOLYATTI, Russia (Interstat) – The undefeated Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod will look to extend its perfect start to the Kontinental Hockey League season when it visits the struggling Lada Togliatti on Thursday at Lada Arena.

The game is a rematch of a contest played just six days prior, on Sept. 12, which saw Torpedo (5-0-0) edge Lada (1-3-0) by a 4-3 score. Torpedo enters on a high after shutting out HC Sochi 3-0 on Tuesday. Forward Sergei Goncharuk led the way in that victory, posting a goal and an assist.

Lada, conversely, is reeling from a 6-1 home loss to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on the same afternoon. It was the team’s second lopsided defeat in three games, having also fallen 6-1 to SKA Saint Petersburg on Sept. 14. Their lone win this season was a 4-3 victory over Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg on Sept. 8.

The statistical models heavily favor the visitors. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 2-1 victory for Torpedo, while its ELO rating system gives Nizhny Novgorod a 61.5% probability of winning.

Torpedo’s perfect record has been built on a series of narrow, hard-fought victories. Four of their five wins have been by a single goal, with two requiring overtime. They have shown a particular knack for late-game heroics and resilience.

Lada will need to find an answer for Torpedo’s momentum and tighten a defense that has allowed 16 goals in its last three games. Forwards Dmitry Kugryshev and Joshua Lawrence, who managed four shots in the loss to Lokomotiv, will be looked upon to provide offensive spark for the home side.

Following this contest, Torpedo continues a road trip with games against Red Star Kunlun on Monday and Dinamo Minsk on Wednesday. Lada’s homestand continues Sunday against a powerful SKA Saint Petersburg squad.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM local time.