Chkhovskie Medvedye beat ХК Саратов 34:27 in the Russian Superliga on Friday. The hosts opened their campaign with a victory, while the visitors took their first points of the season from a draw earlier this month.
And here's the thing — we had called the home side to win, with 64 per cent confidence. The prediction held up, though it was never going to be a simple affair given Saratov's resilience in their previous outing.
The hosts camped in the final third for large stretches, converting pressure into goals. Saratov kept their side in it for periods, but the gap widened as the match progressed. By then, the result was beyond doubt.
Chkhovskie Medvedye arrive having lost their last two matches, including a 22:26 defeat to CSKA Moscow. Saratov came from a draw against Volgograd's Kaustik, showing they are not without fight. The visitors drew 29:30 away from home, which tells you they can grind out results.
The win moves the hosts into contention, while Saratov sit on one point from one game. A third-place finish is within reach if the pattern continues.