Deadlock in the finals: Who gains the edge today?
With the 2025 Gagarin Cup final tied at 1-1, Traktor and Lokomotiv head to Chelyabinsk for a pivotal third game. Lokomotiv rebounded from an opening loss with a dominant 4-1 victory in Yaroslavl, neutralizing Traktor’s top scorer Maxim Shabanov and overwhelming Zach Fucale’s net with 46 shots. Alexander Radulov leads the charge on a hot streak, while key injuries and milestones loom. Both teams are now hunting momentum in a finely balanced showdown with the Cup on the line.
16:30: Traktor vs Lokomotiv
Series stand
1-1 (2:1, 1:4).
About the game
With a strong reaction, Lokomotiv hit back to tie the 2025 Gagarin Cup final with a big win in game two. It’s the third series in a row that the Railwaymen have responded after dropping the opener and it means the action moves to Chelyabinsk with the teams tied at one win each. After falling behind early with Charles Robinson getting full advantage of a rare defensive mistake, the Railwaymen won the battle for the slot in front of Zach Fucale and scored three goals from close range before Nikita Kiryanov put it in the empty net to seal the deal in a 4:1 home win in a packed arena in Yaroslavl. After last season’s sweep at Metallurg’s hands, Lokomotiv skated to victory in a Gagarin Cup final game for the first time since 2009 – and return to win in the grand finals. The Railwaymen found they key to stop Maxim Shabanov – Traktor’s leading scorer was hardly noticeable in game two – loading Zach Fucale with 46 shots. On the other side of the rink, Daniil Isayev made 20 stops. The series now moves to Chelyabinsk in a stall condition. Traktor may have to do without Robinson and Andrei Svetlakov, who didn’t finish game two in Yaroslavl.
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Radulov, who just celebrated his 750th point in the league, is on a three-game scoring streak, with 6 (3+3) points over that span.
Injury list
Lokomotiv: Stepan Nikulin
Milestone alert
Traktor’s forward Vitaly Kravtsov may reach 200 KHL points (currently at 198).
Traktor’s forward Alexander Kadeikin may record his 200th KHL assist (currently at 199).
Traktor’s defenseman Artyom Blazhiyevsky lines up for his 600th league appearance.
Lokomotiv’s forward Maxim Shalunov may reach 400 league points (currently at 398).
Lokomotiv’s forward Alexander Polunin may record his 100th assist in the KHL (currently at 99).
