Naumenkov gives Ufa the edge

The first game in this year’s KHL playoff semi-finals went to Salavat Yulaev with a 3-1 win in Yaroslavl.

Late goals deliver road win for Salavat Yulaev

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 1 Salavat Yulaev Ufa 3 (0-1, 1-0, 0-2)

(Salavat Yulaev leads the series 1-0)

Third-period goals from Mikhai Naumenkov and Alexander Chmelevski saw Salavat Yulaev to a surprise win in the opening game of the 2025 Gagarin Cup semi-finals. Regular season champion Lokomotiv was the firm pre-game favorite and, indeed, was rated odds-on to win it all this year before the start of play. However, Viktor Kozlov’s team absorbed a huge amount of pressure to win the opening game of the series in Yaroslavl.

However, confidence in Lokomotiv did not reflect the regular season results between the teams. Both meetings ended in 3-2 overtime wins for Salavat Yulaev, giving the visitor some statistical solace before their first ever KHL playoff clash. In the absence of influential imports Josh Leivo and Nathan Todd, that was a welcome encouragement.

Lokomotiv had its own injury worry for this one, with Igor Nikitin unable to call on Slovak forward Richard Panik. Daniil Tesanov returned in his place. Both teams continued with their usual goaltenders, Daniil Isayev for the host and Semyon Vyazovoi for the visitor.

As in the series with Avangard, Isayev was beaten by the first shot he faced. This time, Danil Alalykin was the scorer, breaking into Lokomotiv territory and firing a shot to the top shelf. After that second-minute marker, the teams played cautiously. Lokomotiv had more possession but struggled to fashion genuine chances. Even two looks at the home power play did not bring much in the way of goalmouth action. Alexander Yelesin had the best chance for the Railwaymen in the first period but he could not make the most of a good set-up from Byron Froese.

Things improved for Lokomotiv after the intermission. There wasn’t exactly a flood of chances, but the play was increasingly in front of Vyazovoi’s net. And when Salavat Yulaev took another penalty, the home team struck. In the final second of the power play, Rushan Rafikov’s long-range effort got past the goalie to tie it up on 24 minutes. After that, Loko continued to have the better of the play – albeit in a hard-fought battle for territory. Salavat Yulaev was held to just one shot in the middle frame.

And it seemed that the pressure was getting to the visitor early in the third. Salavat Yulaev made repeated errors, struggling to get the puck clear of its zone. Loko spent several promising shifts on the attack but was let down by the final shot.

It wasn’t until the final 10 minutes or so that Salavat Yulaev managed to move play away from its net – but that proved time enough to settle the outcome. A power play helped to build momentum, then Naumenkov’s first goal of the playoffs put Ufa back in front with Alalykin getting an assist. Lokomotiv struggled to find a way back and in the last minute, after Isayev made way for a sixth skater, Chmelevski wrapped it up with an empty-netter.