CSKA Moscow vs Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL 2026-27 Predictions & Betting Tips - Champions to Stay Perfect
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to win, Under 5.5 total goals and CSKA Moscow under 2.5 team goals are the best bets, with the defending champions carrying the stronger defensive form into Sunday’s contest.
Lokomotiv have started their championship defence with three consecutive victories, scoring 10 goals and conceding only three. They have allowed exactly one goal in every match, demonstrating the same disciplined defensive structure that carried them to last season’s Gagarin Cup.
CSKA responded to their opening 3-2 defeat against Spartak Moscow by shutting out Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 3-0. Dmitry Gamzin stopped all 19 shots that reached him, while his teammates blocked another 16 attempts. That defensive commitment should help keep the total down, but CSKA’s attack faces a substantial step up against Lokomotiv.
Four of the teams’ five combined matches this season have stayed Under 5.5 goals. With Lokomotiv conceding only once per game and CSKA averaging 2.50 goals, another controlled contest looks more likely than an offensive shootout.
Key Stats and Betting Trends
- Lokomotiv have won all three matches this season, scoring 10 goals and conceding three.
- The defending champions have allowed exactly one goal in each of their opening three games.
- Four of the teams’ five combined matches have produced fewer than 5.5 goals.
- CSKA have scored five goals across two matches, averaging 2.50 per game.
CSKA Moscow Form
CSKA improved significantly after their 3-2 opening defeat against Spartak, recording a 3-0 home victory over Torpedo.
Dmitry Buchelnikov opened the scoring with a backhand finish during the first period. The match remained tight through the opening 40 minutes, with neither side taking a penalty, before Denis Guryanov converted CSKA’s first power-play opportunity in the third period. Pavel Karnaukhov completed the scoring into an empty net.
The most encouraging feature was CSKA’s defensive work. Gamzin saved all 19 shots on goal, while the skaters in front of him registered 16 blocks. However, CSKA did not produce a high volume of offence, and their third goal came after Torpedo removed the goaltender.
That makes CSKA under 2.5 goals an appealing angle against the strongest defensive opponent they have faced this season.
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Form
Lokomotiv have made a perfect start, beating Traktor Chelyabinsk 5-1, Shanghai Dragons 3-1 and Severstal Cherepovets 2-1 in overtime.
The champions were forced to work harder against Severstal, who held the territorial advantage during parts of the contest. Daniil Isayev produced several important saves and helped Lokomotiv survive a five-on-three penalty kill after Denis Yan had given Severstal the lead.
Maxim Shalunov equalised on the power play in the third period before Yegor Surin scored the overtime winner. Lokomotiv were without Artur Kayumov and Maxim Beryozkin but still found a way to extend their winning run.
Alexander Radulov also remains an important attacking influence. The veteran registered a goal and an assist against Shanghai in his 800th KHL appearance, but it is Lokomotiv’s organisation without the puck that provides the strongest betting case here.