The battle for the 2026 Gagarin Cup kicks off!

Four pairs open today, with eight teams beginning their chase for the Gagarin Cup. In the East, Avtomobilist faces Salavat Yulaev, while Ak Bars meets Traktor. In the West, Severstal and Torpedo clash for the first time in playoff history. The classic series between CSKA and SKA reaches its 10^th edition, with CSKA leading the all-time playoff record 6–3, in a heavyweight opening slate across the KHL playoffs tonight.

17:00: Avtomobilist (4^th E) vs Salavat Yulaev (5^th E)
Series stand
0-0

Series history
2010: 1^st round meet-up. Salavat Yulaev defeated Avtomobilist 3-1.
2019: 2^nd round meet-up. Salavat Yulaev defeated Avtomobilist 4-1.

About the game
Avtomobilist celebrated three wins over Salavat Yulaev in the regular season, against one victory for the Ufa team (4:1, 4:2, 1:4, 6:2).
Avtomobilist’s forward Daniel Sprong enters the elimination stage on a three-game scoring streak, with 7 (4+3) points over that stretch.
Salavat Yulaev’s goalie Semyon Vyazovoi is on a 64:05 shutout streak.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Sheldon Rempal is on a four-game scoring streak, with 5 (3+2) points over that span.
Salavat Yulaev’s forwards Yegor Suchkov and Alexander Zharovsky are on an identical four-game scoring streak, with 4 (2+2) points.

Injury list
Avtomobilist: Evgeny Alikin, Anatoly Golyshev, Brooks Macek, Denis Osipov, Denis Romantsev.
Salavat Yulaev: Alexander Chyorny, Alexander Komarov, Prokhor Korbit, Gleb Kuzmin.

Milestone alert
Avtomobilist’s defenseman Dmitry Yudin may dish out his 100^th career assist (currently at 99).
Avtomobilist’s goalie Vladimir Galkin may record his 10^th KHL shutout.
Salavat Yulaev’s forward Pyotr Khokhryakov may reach 100 KHL assists (currently at 99).
Salavat Yulaev may celebrate its 100^th win in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.

19:30: Ak Bars (3^rd E) vs Traktor (6^th E)

Series stand
0-0

Series history
2012: 2^nd round meet-up. Traktor defeated Ak Bars 4-2.
2013: 3^rd round meet-up. Traktor defeated Ak Bars 4-3.
2018: 3^rd round meet-up. Ak Bars defeated Traktor 4-0).

About the game
Ak Bars celebrated three wins over Traktor in the regular season, against one victory for the Black-and-Whites (5:3, 3:2, 0:4, 1:0).
Traktor’s goalie Savely Sherstnev is on a 105:03 shutout streak.
Traktor’s forward Mikhail Grigorenko is on a four-game scoring streak, with 8 (4+4) points over that stretch.
Traktor’s forward Vitaly Kravtsov is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.
Traktor’s forward Joshua Leivo is on a three-game scoring streak, with 7 (1+6) points.

Injury list
Traktor: Sergei Mylnikov.

Milestone alert
Ak Bars’ forward Alexander Chmelevsky lines up for his 300^th league appearance. He has 111 goals and 123 assist through his KHL career.
Ak Bars’ goalie Timur Bilyalov may record his 40^th KHL shutout.
Ak Bars’ forward Artyom Galimov may score his 200^th career point (currently at 199).
Ak Bars’ defenseman Alexei Marchenko lines up for his 100^th appearance in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
Traktor’s defenseman Michal Cajkovsky may reach 200 points in the KHL (currently at 199).

19:30: Severstal (3^rd W) vs Torpedo (6^th W)
Series stand
0-0

Series history
It’s the first time the two sides meet in the elimination stage.

About the game
Severstal celebrated three wins over Torpedo in the regular season, against one victory for the Nizhny Novgorod side (5:3, 7:6, 3:2 OT, 1:2).
Torpedo’s defenseman Bogdan Konyushkov had at least an assist in each of his previous four matches, totaling four helpers.
Torpedo’s forward Yegor Vinogradov is on a three-game scoring streak, with 4 (3+1) points.
Torpedo’s forward Vladimir Tkachyov is also on a three-game scoring streak, with 3 (2+1) points.

Injury list
Severstal: Ruslan Abrosimov.

Milestone alert
Torpedo’s forward Dmitry Shevchenko may score his 100^th KHL point (currently at 99).

19:30 CSKA (4^th W) vs SKA (5^th W)
Series stand

0-0

Series history
2012: 1^st round meet-up. SKA defeated CSKA 4-1.
2014: 1^st round meet-up. SKA defeated CSKA 4-0.
2015: 3^rd round meet-up. SKA defeated CSKA 4-3.
2016: 3^rd round meet-up. CSKA defeated SKA 4-0.
2018: 3^rd round meet-up. CSKA defeated SKA 4-2.
2019: 3^rd round meet-up. CSKA defeated SKA 4-3.
2021: 3^rd round meet-up. CSKA defeated SKA 4-2.
2022: 3^rd round meet-up. CSKA defeated SKA 4-3.
2023: 3^rd round meet-up. CSKA defeated SKA 4-2.

About the game
The teams split the season series with two wins each, claiming one victory at home and one on the road (4.3, 1:4, 3:2 SO, 0:3).
CSKA’s forward Prokhor Poltapov is on a four-game scoring streak, with 4 (1+3) points over that stretch.
CSKA’s forward Maxim Sorkin is also on a four-game scoring streak, with 6 (2+4) points.

Injury list
CSKA: Danila Moiseyev, Vladislav Provolnev.
SKA: Igor Larionov, Trevor Murphy, Nikita Zaitsev.