Lokomotiv wins the Gagarin Cup again

A 3-2 victory in Kazan in game six seals back-to-back championships for Lokomotiv Yaroslav. Two goals from Yegor Surin and another from Maxim Shalunov secured the decisive victory for Bob Hartley’s men, settling the series against Ak Bars.

Surin double seals title repeat

Ak Bars Kazan 2 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 3 (0-2, 0-0, 2-1)
Lokomotiv wins the final 4-2

It’s back-to-back glory for Lokomotiv after victory in game six sealed another Gagarin Cup for the Railwaymen.

The Yaroslavl club changed head coach in the summer, with Igor Nikitin leaving to be replaced by Bob Hartley, but the winning habit remained intact. Hartley led Lokomotiv to its second KHL title, building on the 2025 triumph. He also becomes the first Canadian to win two Gagarin Cups, having previously led Avangard to glory in 2021.

Thursday’s clinching win was built on two first-period goals from young Yegor Surin. Midway through the third, Maxim Shalunov added a third and it seemed that the game – and season – was over.

But Hartley and his team had to endure a nervous conclusion to the game as Ak Bars fought back hard in the closing stages. Goals from Nathan Todd and Nikita Lyamkin eroded the lead, and with almost three full minutes to play the home team had time to save the game.

Lyamkin had one last blast to try to beat Daniil Isayev and drag the game into overtime, but Lokomotiv closed out the win to claim the trophy.

The visitor could hardly have asked for a better start to the game. In the first period, Ak Bars was held to just two shots at Isayev. And at the other end Surin, still only 19, scored twice. The first came after four minutes: Pavel Kraskovsky’s battle, Nikita Kiryanov’s deft feed from behind the net, and the teenager out in front to supply the finish.

In the 14th minute, the same trio combined once again. Kiryanov’s big shot slammed into the boards, Kraskovsky stuffed the rebound into Timur Bilyalov’s pads and the puck broke kindly for Surin to claim his second of the night.

That goal did little to ease Ilya Safonov’s frustrations. The home forward had already sat out a penalty then, a minute before the second goal, saw a glorious chance to tie the game go begging when he redirected agonisingly wide from close range.

The pattern of play changed in the second period. For Ak Bars, there was no choice and the home team began to step up its offense. A penalty on Byron Froese helped generate some Kazan momentum, but the game was evenly contested. And despite more shots and possession, Ak Bars still found it was on the receiving end of the better chances on the night. Alexander Radulov went close early in the frame, Bilyalov made a big save to deny Shalunov close to the intermission.

In the third, Lokomotiv largely abandoned any thoughts of extended offense. Instead, it was happy to absorb pressure and look to hit on the counter. Ak Bars was free to roam the perimeter, but found it hard to get inside and really test Isayev. There were shots, but few clear chances.

And the inevitable happened in the 53rd minute when Lokomotiv got on the counter. Maxim Beryozkin’s press created the opening and Shalunov raced away to slot a backhand shot past Bilyalov for 3-0.

Back home beside the Volga, the championship parties were starting early. But Ak Bars refused to give up. As early as the 54th minute, Gatiyatulin called Bilyalov to bench and threw all his chips onto the table.

Incredibly, it almost worked. There was an anxious moment when Artur Kayumov slid a shot wide of the empty net, but there were two home goals in less than three minutes to bring the game back to life. Todd redirected a Lyamkin shot home to bring hope, then Lyamkin himself banged one in from the point while Safonov screened Isayev. Mitch Miller’s helper on that play sealed his status as the playoff scoring leading with 23 points.

But he couldn’t help his team stay in the race for the big prize. There was one last chance as Lyamkin launched another thunderbolt, but Lokomotiv held on. The hooter confirmed a second successive championship for the Railwaymen; the repeat of the inaugural 2009 Gagarin Cup final produced a different outcome from the original.