OMSK (Interstat) — Avangard will host Metallurg M on Monday in a Kontinental Hockey League game at Omsk Arena. Avangard enters with a 4-4 record. Metallurg M is 7-2.

Metallurg M has won three of its past four games, including a 2-1 home victory over Ak Bars Kazan in its most recent outing. Goaltender Alexander S. Smolin made 38 saves on 39 shots in that win. He also stopped 32 of 35 shots in a 4-3 win at Salavat Yulaev Ufa, made 23 saves on 25 shots in a 6-2 win over Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk and turned aside all 26 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over Barys Astana. Smolin stopped 30 of 32 shots in a 3-2 win at Ak Bars Kazan and made 18 saves on 20 shots in a 4-2 win over Amur Khabarovsk earlier this season.

Smolin made 46 saves on 49 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss at Avangard earlier this season. Metallurg M also received recent production from Valery Orekhov, who had an assist and six shots on goal against Ak Bars, and Artyom Minulin, who scored a goal with four shots and one hit in that game. Metallurg M has also posted a 2-1 overtime win over Amur Khabarovsk and a 3-2 shootout win at Ak Bars Kazan.

Avangard is coming off a 2-1 overtime win at Spartak Moscow. Ivan Prosvetov made 24 saves on 25 shots in that victory. Prosvetov also stopped 25 of 26 shots in a 4-1 home win over HC Sochi and made 32 saves on 34 shots in a 2-1 loss at Traktor Chelyabinsk. Mikhail Gulyayev and Yegor Afanasyev each scored in the overtime win over Spartak. Gulyayev added three shots and one hit, while Afanasyev recorded one shot and two hits.

Avangard has also recorded a 3-2 overtime win over Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg and a 4-1 home win over HC Sochi. Its other recent results include a 5-1 loss at Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, a 2-1 loss at Traktor Chelyabinsk, a 2-1 loss at Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and a 4-0 home loss to Salavat Yulaev Ufa. The teams met earlier this season, with Avangard earning a 3-2 overtime win over Metallurg M.

Metallurg M’s recent wins have come with a mix of offense and timely goaltending. Avangard has alternated strong defensive efforts with tougher road results. The home team will try to use Omsk Arena to its advantage, while the visitors will lean on Smolin and a balanced attack. Both clubs continue their schedules after this matchup.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Avangard 3, Metallurg M 2.