KHL: Neftekhimik v Sibir betting preview and tips

KHL, 4pm Thursday

Neftekhimik and Sibir are running out of time to force themselves into the playoff places as the KHL regular season winds down.

Bookmakers are struggling to split the teams and it's easy to understand why as the outfit with the worst home record in the Eastern Conference host the side with the second-weakest away record.

Sibir's current three-game road trip got off to a disappointing start as they were hammered 5-2 in Astana on Monday, dealing a blow to their playoff hopes.

That result ended a run of five games in which the Novosibirsk side picked up at least a point, including a 1-0 home win against Western Conference powerhouses SKA.

Neftekhimik return to Nizhnekamsk energised after a two-game road trip yielded maximum points.

They will need help from results elsewhere, but their recent performances will give Neftekhimik belief they can reach the post-season for the second straight year.

Neftekhimik are hampered by the absence of their leading goalscorer Juuso Puustinen through injury, but Marat Khairullin has stepped up his game recently scoring four goals in his last five matches - as many as he managed in his first 49 games of the campaign.

It could be a cagey, low-scoring contest, but the home side are taken to prevail in regular time.

Recommendation
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
1pt 6-4 Betway

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