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A record-breaking playoff first round finished in style and the conference semi-finals are underway. Meanwhile, clubs and coaches who already finished their seasons are already looking to the future. Read on for the big news of the last seven days in the KHL.

The first round of this season’s playoffs is almost done, and we’ve seen records tumbling. The 15th KHL post season brought more games, more goals and more overtime than ever before. It also brought one of the biggest upsets in KHL history as an underdog secured its first ever series win. And that’s not the end of the story. Two series go to game seven on Tuesday to finish off an exhilarating start to the race for the Gagarin Cup.

The playoffs are underway, and this year’s are more competitive than ever. We’ve seen one big hitter lose a first-round game for the first team since 2014 and an underdog take the lead in a series for the first time in its history. Meanwhile, a new star is emerging and a Red Star is hoping to return home.

The regular season is done and 16 teams are preparing for their battles. All the post season action starts on Wednesday, and it promises to be another epic battle for the Gagarin Cup.

It’s the final week of the regular season, and the playoff race is nearing its climax. Two places remain, one in each conference, with five teams still in contention. Meanwhile, the KHL scoring race is even tighter, with six candidates for first place separated by just two points.

The battle for position in the KHL’s Eastern Conference is still tight at both ends of the table. However, there is greater clarity after a week that saw four teams secure their playoff places. Elsewhere, last week saw one of this season’s most productive players take his first steps into coaching.

There’s new name at the top of the KHL scoring charts, with a 31-year-old forward enjoying a best-ever year. Elsewhere, four more teams have secured their places in the playoffs, we’ve had two high profile coaching changes and a referee whistled his way through his 1,000th game in Russia’s top league.

Ilya Konovalov produced a once-in-a-lifetime moment to help Dynamo defeat Torpedo, while in the Eastern Conference we saw three teams jump from last place to the top eight in barely 24 hours. At the foot of the West, though, last week brought an end to Sochi’s post season prospects and saw the departure of head coach Sergei Svetlov.

Last week saw the first team book its place in this season’s KHL playoffs while, at the other end of the table, a record skid came to an end. Elsewhere, the goalscoring race is heating up – can anyone take Sergei Mozyakin’s record?

It’s been a good week for individual milestones. We saw the first defenseman score four goals in a KHL game, and the second player in history reach 850 points in the league. We were also close to the first ever encounter of a father and son on opposing teams. On top of all that, the battle for position at both ends of the Eastern Conference is turning into a classic.

The last days of 2022 saw a KHL legend back in a familiar role, while Metallurg’s latest import star proved to be the most productive player of the calendar year.

Which pair of KHL prospects are battling out a personal rivalry that could grow into one of the big sporting tussles of their era? Take a look at Lokomotiv to find out more ...

For some, last week was all about international action. For others, it was time for a break from hockey and a chance to revisit the classroom. Meanwhile, as week 16 of the season gets underway, the KHL scoring race is heating up and two SKA stars are chasing personal milestones.

It was a week where famous names from the past returned to the spotlight, where a KHL coaching staff took on the appearance of Tsarist-era gentlemen, and where young prospects blazed a trail at the All-Star Game.

Chelyabinsk was set to be the focus of the hockey world as the All-Star Week got underway in the South Ural city. However, before the Junior Challenge Cup on Saturday, Oleg Znarok grabbed the headlines. He resigned as head coach at Ak Bars on Friday night, bringing an end to a brief, tumultuous reign in Kazan.

The past week saw a clutch of young players writing important chapters in their hockey careers. It also brought a reunion for two Russian sporting legends as they met for the first time in new roles.

The week began with a goalie coming out of retirement to backstop his injury-hit team to victory. It also featured a timely riposte from one of the league’s star players, and saw two teams on the rise in the Eastern Conference.

A busy week in the KHL saw a milestone for a Russian hockey legend, a club record for a long-serving import and a winning road trips restore Avtomobilist to the Eastern Conference summit. Brooks Macek keeps on scoring, Sochi snapped its losing run, but Spartak became the fourth team to change its head coach this season.

Nikita Gusev’s return to SKA was the big story of the week, and the 2018 Olympic champion made an instant impact. His first game saw him emerge as his club’s all-time KHL leading scorer. Defenseman John Gilmour has joined the forward line for Dinamo Minsk, where he helped to continue Sochi’s 12-game losing streak.

Sergei Fedorov’s CSKA has put its slow start to the season behind it and is marching up the table. At the other end, Sochi is hoping a new coach can solve its problems.

Goalies made the news last week. One of the league’s veterans posted his 90th shut-out in the KHL, while Traktor continues to search for the right option at the back. Elsewhere, Vityaz rookie netminder Maxim Dorozhko is one of many first-time All-Stars selected to play in Chelyabinsk in December’s big event. CSKA is showing championship form at last, Igor Larionov proves surprisingly calm in the locker room and a new scoring star emerges in the Women’s Hockey League.

Two of the KHL’s biggest clubs are having a rough start to the season, with record losing streaks and the first coaching change of the season. Meanwhile, one of Jaromir Jagr’s KHL records has fallen, and Metallurg became the first team to play 1,000 games in the league.

The KHL looked to the East, congratulating a first-ever goalscorer from the Land of the Rising Sun. Elsewhere, there’s a fifth member of the head coach’s 300 club, a rising rookie impresses at Torpedo and the Dragons hand a first home loss to Avangard.

Avangard played in its home city for the first time in four years as the team returned to Omsk and opened its new arena on Saturday. On the same day, 18-year-old forward Alexander Perevalov made a splash, scoring twice then grabbing a shoot-out winner as Kunlun rallied to beat CSKA.

There are no more undefeated teams in this season’s KHL, but one unfortunate club is still looking for a first win. Elsewhere, Alexander Sharov made history for Sibir and Avangard is almost ready to go home.

In a busy week of KHL action we’ve seen an appearance landmark, a new hat-trick king, the first scorer from 2005 and two goalies making shut-out debuts. That’s in addition to two sensational saves, a new country on the KHL map and SKA remaining unbeaten.

The first full week of KHL action brought new club records – both wanted and unwanted – as the early standings take shape. And one team managed a unique scoring feat, potting three goals while playing with an empty net.

The 2022-2023 KHL season got underway last week, and there’s already plenty of action to talk about. Here’s a reminder of some of the highlights.

KHL season #15 starts on Thursday, so last week was all about the final preparations. The last tournaments of the summer brought trophies for CSKA, Traktor, SKA and Neftekhimik, while new signings included a Slovak international goalie and a returning Canadian enforcer.

Saving the best to last, two teams announced high profile new imports with experience at the very pinnacle of the game. Elsewhere, a long-serving franchise legend signed a banger of a new deal, Barys triumphed on home ice and we saw the first women’s action of the summer.

A titled forward is looking for new honors at a new club, a talented young Slovak is heading to Neftekhimik while both Salavat Yulaev and Traktor celebrated summer silverware last week.

Two KHL legends announced their return – one on the ice, the other off it. Elsewhere, the trade frenzy continues, and the KHL might get to welcome its first Mexican-born player.

Alexander Nikishin underlined his status as a star of the future when he was the subject of a monster deal to take him from Spartak to SKA. And he was not the only high profile signing in a week when pre-season action got underway at last.

From coaches outlining their plans, to teams unveiling new signings, it’s starting to look to the upcoming season promises plenty of goals.

Kazan was the center of attention last week as the Oleg Znarok revolution sees two legends join Ak Bars. Elsewhere, Moscow’s clubs get ready to welcome more imports, Avangard returns to Omsk and the schedule for 2022-2023 is ready.

Last week we confirmed Oleg Znarok’s return after a short break, this week we’re talking about a top D-man who is joining him in a quest for a fourth Gagarin Cup. Elsewhere, there’s new ice in Siberia and Russian players continue to make an impact at the NHL draft.

A coaching legend confirms his return to the KHL, while a two-time Gagarin Cup winner inspires his team to victory in the league’s inaugural 3x3 tournament.

The KHL’s first ever 3x3 tournament is delivering plenty of goal action with more than 13 goals per game so far. In full-size hockey, Avangard confirmed the return of a homegrown talent and acquired a new import. And there was confirmation of the structure for the fast-approaching 2022-2023 season.

In Mytishchi this week, the KHL is preparing two new ‘firsts’. Already underway, the league’s first summer training camp for players. And, coming soon, our first ever 3x3 tournament – eight teams and almost 70 players, including Gagarin Cup winners and Olympic champions.

Even in the summer, there’s still time for hockey. Moscow is currently hosting Russia’s first major pro 3x3 tournament, featuring several names from the KHL. Elsewhere, Avangard finally makes some big signings and Torpedo acquired the league’s first ever Japanese player.