A former defender for Spartak and Sochi, Nikita Shchitov, believes Spartak can hand Severstal another setback in the next round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs. His remarks were shared for a betting context and are presented here as an interpretation of public sentiment around the series.
“I want to highlight that Severstal stayed composed on the ice and did not panic,” Shchitov commented. “They are likely to shake off the seven-goal setback quickly and approach the next game with a refreshed mindset. Regardless of the outcomes elsewhere, Spartak can ease the pressure and lose the upcoming match, but the key for the red-and-white is to remove this factor from the equation.”
Shchitov added that Spartak should not assume Severstal has surrendered. In the upcoming game, Cherepovets is expected to attempt a strong response in front of their home crowd and make amends for the previous results.
On March 4, Spartak defeated Severstal 7–3 in the third game of the series. Among the contributors for Spartak, Alexander Belyaev and Alexander Pashin produced two-goal performances, reinforcing the team’s momentum in the matchup.
Following that result, the series score stood at 2–1 in favor of the Muscovites. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Cherepovets on March 6 to continue the clash for a place in the next round.
CSKA remains the current Gagarin Cup champion. The club secured its seventh championship by triumphing in the final series against Ak Bars Kazan on the 100th anniversary of its founding, in late April 2023.
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