Eastern titans clash: Avangard vs Ak Bars set the stage
Five action-packed KHL games headline today’s schedule, with the spotlight on the classic rivalry as Avangard hosts Ak Bars in the Eastern Conference. Metallurg looks to build on its home win against Salavat Yulaev, while Lada and Avtomobilist open their campaigns following ambitious summer moves. In the West, Torpedo faces SKA after both teams had dramatic openers, and Shanghai Dragons aim to ride the momentum from their home crowd against Admiral. Every matchup is set to deliver excitement.
The matchday starts with a classical Eastern matchup with Avangard facing Ak Bars. The Kazan franchise lost its first game in Magnitogorsk (3:4 SO) and is now looking forward to winning its first game. However, the Omsk franchise will want just the same. Avangard won four of five games in the preseason, with defenseman and captain Damir Sharipzyanov scoring 6 (3+3) points to lead the team in the preparation stage. The Omsk side never lost in regulation in the preseason, just like Severstal – the only team to repeat the feat. Moreover, it will be a milestone game today for the Hawks.
After a nice home win over Ak Bars, Metallurg returns to hockey facing Salavat Yulaev. Magnitka got some valuable help from newly-signed Ruslan Iskhakov, whose attempt in the post-game shootout settled things on Saturday. Salavat Yulaev has instead lost its opener in Nizhny Novgorod, despite being up 3:2 in the third period. A long season is most likely waiting for Salavat Yulaev, so it would be nice for Ufa to pick up a game to avoid losing ground early in the season.
In the last Eastern game of the matchday, two teams will have their start of the 2025-2026 campaign: Lada and Avtomobilist. The Togliatti side underwent profound changes this summer, and had a decent showing this preseason, with four wins in eight games. Avtomobilist also collected four wins in the preparation stage, but needed only six matches. The Yekaterinburg side also had a busy summer, with several interesting signings, including former Avangard’s top scorer Reid Boucher, relentless Roman Gorbunov from Dinamo Minsk, and skilled defenseman Yaroslav Busygin – last year with Vityaz. With two ambitious and renovated teams meeting in Togliatti, it will be hard to predict a winner. Moreover, Lada collected its last home win over Avtomobilist on August 25, 2017 – more than eight years ago (3:1).
The action then moves to the Western Conference for two games. Torpedo faces SKA trying to build a winning streak, while SKA ends a short road trip as Igor Larionov’s squad seeks revenge after losing the opener to Shanghai Dragons (4:7). The Nizhny Novgorod side collected a nice home win over Salavat Yulaev on Saturday (4:3) and the team will try to build some momentum after the victory.
Another team trying to build momentum is the Shanghai Dragons. The Chinese franchise had an exciting 7:4 home win over SKA on Saturday, powered by doubles coming from Nikita Popugayev and Gage Quinney. Moreover, in today’s showdown against Admiral, it will also be interesting to have a look at the crowd after more than 15,000 witnessed the team’s win over the other St. Petersburg based team on Saturday. Today, the opposition is Admiral, who starts the 2025-2026 on the road before returning to Vladivostok for the Sept. 15 game against Sibir. The Far East franchise had three wins in six matches in the preseason, with Semyon Koshelev leading the way with four goals and one assist. It won’t be easy for the Sailors to start the season with a win.
16:30: Avangard vs Ak Bars (0-0-1)
About the game
Avangard kicks off its 2025-2026 campaign with the first match of a five-game home series.
Ak Bars ends a two-game road trip after a loss in Magnitogorsk on Saturday (3:4 SO).
Milestone alert
Avangard plays its 1,200th game in the KHL.
Avangard’s goalie Nikita Serebryakov may record his 20th league shutout.
Ak Bars’ forward Dmitrij Jaskin may reach 300 points in the league (currently at 297).
17:00: Metallurg (1-0-0) vs Salavat Yulaev (0-1-0)
About the game
Metallurg is in the middle of a three-game home series and defeated Ak Bars on Saturday (4:3 SO).
Salavat Yulaev ends a two-game road trip and lost to Torpedo also on Saturday (3:4).
Injury list
Salavat Yulaev: Alexei Vasilevsky.
Milestone alert
Salavat Yulaev’s defenseman Sergei Varlov lines up for his 100th league appearance.
18:00: Lada vs Avtomobilist
About the game
Lada plays a single home game to start its 2025-2026 campaign, while Avtomobilist is at its first game of a three-match road trip.
Injury list
Lada: Andrei Altybarmakyan.
Avtomobilist: Curtis Valk.
Milestone alert
Lada’s forward Danil Bashkirov lines up for his 300th KHL game.
19:30: Torpedo (1-0-0) vs SKA (0-1-0)
About the game
Torpedo is in the middle of a three-game home series and defeated Salavat Yulaev on Saturday (4:3).
SKA ends a two-game road trip following a loss to the Shanghai Dragons also on Saturday (4:7).
Injury list
SKA: Andrei Pedan, Nikita Zaitsev, Ivan Zinchenko.
Milestone alert
Torpedo’s forward Vladislav Firstov may reach 100 points in the KHL (currently at 99).
Torpedo’s forward Alexei Kruchinin may net his 100th league tally (currently at 99).
SKA’s defenseman Trevor Murphy may reach 200 points in the league (currently at 198).
19:30: Shanghai Dragons (1-0-0) vs Admiral
About the game
The Shanghai Dragons are in the middle of a three-game home series and defeated SKA on Saturday (7:4).
Admiral starts a three-game road trip to kick off its 2025-2026 campaign.
Milestone alert
Shanghai Dragons’ forward Borna Rendulic may record his 100th KHL point (currently at 99).
