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This is what it all comes down to – the 2026 Gagarin Cup final starts in Yaroslavl today. The match-up between Lokomotiv and Ak Bars is rich in sub-plots, as the Railwaymen look to defend their title against an opponent seeking a record-breaking fourth crown.

Last week confirmed the first of this year’s Gagarin Cup finalists, while the second series remains tight. Elsewhere, another KHL player celebrated a move to the NHL.

For the first time ever, the opening games in the Gagarin Cup semi-finals went to the visiting teams. Avangard and Ak Bars enjoyed 5-2 wins at Lokomotiv and Metallurg respectively. The Hawks followed up with a second victory in Yaroslavl – can Ak Bars do the same in Magnitogorsk today?

We’re down to the last four in the race for the Gagarin Cup after wrapping up round two swiftly last week. Two teams swept into the semis, the other two series were done in five games. That sets up some mouthwatering encounters when action resumes Friday.

The second round of Gagarin Cup playoff action has seen great goaltending in Yaroslavl, thrilling finishes in Minsk, and vital scoring streaks for Avangard and Metallurg. Along the way, Andrei Stas became the fifth man to play 1,000 KHL games. And in the juniors, the first round of the playoffs produced the JHL’s longest-ever game.

Round 1 of the playoffs is done. From eight series, we saw one sweep and one pair go to six games. But every contest produced drama and special moments, with a sprinkling of KHL records along the way.

One week into post season, and all 16 teams are still in the Gagarin Cup race. We’ve seen competitive, exciting hockey in every series – and we might see our first qualifiers advance later today.

The final week of the regular season brought a major scoring achievement, a quirky record that stood since 2009 and, of course, confirmation of the full playoff schedule. Read on to look back and look forward.

Going into the final week of the KHL regular season, we have a two-way battle for the last remaining playoff spot. The two conference winners, and the regular season champion, are confirmed – and there’s a possible regular season scoring record up for grabs.

China hosted top class hockey for the first time since Feb. 2020 when the KHL World Games visited Shanghai. Back in Russia, Sergei Plotnikov reached 1,000 games in the KHL and the playoff race narrowed down still further.

A total of 12 out of 16 playoff spots are now confirmed, with all eight participants from Western Conference known. Meanwhile, an American is setting scoring records in Belarus and a long-serving SKA man is closing on his 1,000th appearance. Read on for all you need to know about week 26 in the KHL.

The post-season picture is getting clearer. Nine of the 16 playoff spots are now filled, while two teams are out of contention in the West. Elsewhere, scoring records are tumbling from Shanghai to Minsk while three KHLers made it to the medal games at the Olympics.

One Canadian set a new KHL scoring record, another is on a 12-game hot streak. Elsewhere, table-topping Metallurg had a rough week, four more teams confirmed their playoff spots and three KHLers impressed on Slovakia’s Olympic roster.

All eyes were on Yekaterinburg as the Ural city hosted the 2026 All-Star Weekend. Before that, Week 23 of the KHL season saw a second team clinch its playoff spot while SKA halted a club record skid. Looking ahead, two more teams are poised to secure post-season, while KHL president Alexei Morozov updated on the possibility of the 3x3 Championship returning this summer.

There’s a lot to look forward after another busy week in the KHL. Next month sees the return of the KHL World Games and another step towards returning the league to China. And next weekend brings the All-Star Game in Yekaterinburg, one of the highlights of the season.

The KHL trade deadline passed at midnight Sunday – with plenty of action in the final week. Here’s your rundown of the biggest deals.

Hockey is all about getting pucks in net, and week 20 of the KHL was all about the players who do that. An all-time great reached a historic landmark, a prolific D-man achieved an unexpected ‘first’, imports hit rich veins of form and the league leader went goal crazy. One man stood up to the trend, setting a club record shut-out streak.

The start of 2026 has seen two huge trades involving top KHL talent. We’ve also welcomed a new recruit to the Snipers’ Club and seen the first player reach 1,100 games in the league. And there could be an even bigger achievement on the way next week …

After the New Year break, two KHL teams announced high-profile imports were rejoining – while another placed a big-name forward on waivers. Elsewhere, we’re two away from seeing the first player to reach 1,000 points in the KHL, and it could happen at his hometown club on Thursday.

For the first time in history, a coach has reached 1,000 games in the KHL – and in the process, he lifted his team to the top of the Western Conference. Not a bad way to end 2025!

After the international break, the KHL resumed with new managerial appointments, a Stanley Cup winner’s first goal of the season and a swap deal involving import defensemen. Plus, the coaching staff for February’s All-Star Game was confirmed.

The KHL paused for this week’s international action, which saw Russia rattle in the goals in Novosibirsk while Raphael Richer swapped Traktor for Avangard.

The final week of KHL action before the international break brought scoring aplenty. We had two 12-goal games on Sunday and some memorable, high-scoring comebacks during week 14.

Another Russian netminder with significant NHL experience made his KHL debut last week – but most of the news revolved around goalscorers. From club record victories to early All-Star picks, the week 13 highlights are right here for you.

KHL Week 12 began with two sudden coaching departures. It ended with an unfancied team on top of the Western Conference. Along the way we saw the end of a club record skid and memorable landmark for the league’s scoring leader.

Whether rejoining previous clubs or coming back from suspension, a handful of forwards quickly found something to celebrate in familiar surroundings. Elsewhere, the search is on for another head coach at Sibir, a long-serving defenseman joins an elite group and the All-Star Game gets a new format.

Last week saw one of the oldest records in the KHL tumble amid a hot streak for a SKA defenseman. We saw a referee take charge of his 1,000th game, while a forward approaches 1,000 points. And the All-Star uniforms were unveiled in Yekaterinburg ahead of next year’s hockey spectacular.

It was a week of changing fortunes. A big-name signing halted a nine-game skid, while two high-flyers saw impressive hot streaks turn cold. Elsewhere, a seventh player reached 900 KHL games and Sochi got a new head coach.

Week eight concluded with two teams on red hot streaks, and another struggling for form. A young forward potted his first KHL hat-trick, and an established star returned to action with his first of the season. Read on for all the highlights.

From goal-rich games, to biting the hand that once fed, to a five-way scramble at the head of the KHL scoring race, last week was a big one for forwards.

A trio of high-profile imports landed in the KHL last week as Avangard and Shanghai look to consolidate their strong starts to the season. Avtomobilist shrugged off an injury crisis to build a six-game hot streak, while Igor Nikitin and Alexander Chmelevski are looking forward to visits to their former clubs this week.

Week five of the KHL season gave us a new leader, a new head coach and a big signing. Plus there was a goalie fight and an impressive debut from a Canadian forward.

Last week saw four players score hat-tricks in the KHL – including two in one game. We also had a blockbuster trade, a Canadian Olympian arrive in Kazakhstan and changes at the top of the standings and in the scoring race.

Last week saw only the 10th player – and just the second import – in KHL history to reach 500 points in the league. There were two club records at Lokomotiv and, at Lada, the first head coach to lose his job. Read on for all you need to know:

The first full week of the season left just one team undefeated in the KHL, and it’s probably not a line-up many would have picked before puck drop. The week also saw the first head-to-head meeting of Gerard Gallant and Bob Hartley, back-to-back comeback wins in Tatarstan and the emergence of a rising star in St. Petersburg.

The 2025/2026 Fonbet KHL Championship is underway – and we’ve already seen plenty of drama. From a shoot-out to settle the Opening Cup to a clutch of teams starting with statement wins, it’s been a big few days of hockey. Read on for the key takeaways.

The last of the pre-season tournaments are over, and we’re almost ready for the 2025/2026 campaign. With the action getting underway on Friday, read on for some of the highlights of the opening weekend, plus a run-down of the latest stories from pre-season.

Pre-season action is well underway, with big crowds turning out for the latest warm-up games. Severstal lifted the Blinov Cup in Omsk in front of more five-figure crowds. We’ve seen most teams in action, but Shanghai Dragons are yet to play – when they do, they’ll bring a radically reshaped roster after a week of busy transfer action.

The first pre-season tournament of 2025 went to Metallurg, triumphant at the Minsk Cup. Shanghai Dragons unveiled a World Championship-winning head coach and announced their first players for the coming campaign. SKA also made big signings, while Barys began its rebuild.

It was a big week for one KHL team, with a new identity and a new GM. Elsewhere, we saw our first full-on pre-season action ahead of the first tournament of the summer, starting today in Minsk.