All news
Former goalie haunts Hawks, Dragons lose shoot-out
Avangard’s first game of the season saw it lose out to Mikhail Berdin, the goalie it traded to Ak Bars in the summer. Berdin backstopped a 2-1 victory for the visitor. Shanghai Dragons had another exciting game but fell to Admiral in a shoot-out after a 3-3 tie. Igor Geraskin was the key player in that one with a goal and the decisive penalty shot. Igor Larionov’s return to Torpedo was also lively. His SKA team forced overtime but eventually fell to a three-point game for Yegor Vinogradov. Lada won its season opener against Avtomobilist, and Salavat Yulaev got its first victory of the campaign with an OT verdict at Metallurg.
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.
Avtomobilist lifts Puchkov Cup, Metallurg loses at home again
The latest summer trophy was awarded Wednesday with Avtomobilist edging a 1-0 victory over SKA to claim the Puchkov Cup in St. Petersburg. The day’s other action was at the Romazan Memorial in Magnitogorsk, while VHL team Magnitka is the unlikely leader. Metallurg’s farm club defeated the senior team in a shoot-out – albeit in a game with two experimental rosters. Earlier, Barys edged Salavat Yulaev in OT.
Traktor rallies from 0-3, Avto thrashes Ak Bars
With three tournaments in action on Tuesday, there were plenty of talking points. Avtomobilist will be happiest after thumping Ak Bars 6-1 at Puchkov Tournament in St. Petersburg. Salavat Yulaev enjoyed a 5-2 win over Metallurg on the opening day of the Romazan Memorial. And in Chelyabinsk, Amur leads the way, while Traktor recovered from 0-3 to beat Sochi.
Metallurg wins first trophy, Dragons confirm head coach
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.
Flying start for Metallurg
Magnitka played its first pre-season game at the Minsk Cup, and started in style with a 6-0 thrashing of Lada. Fringe players Pavel Tyutnev and Igor Nechayev led the way with two goals apiece. In Thursday’s warm-up game, Ak Bars beat Neftekhimik 4-1 in front of almost 8,000 fans in Kazan.
Yaroslavl celebrates, Traktor adds another Bear
August 1 marked the end of the summer for most KHL teams. But roster-building continues, with a veteran coach returning to the league and yet another Calder Cup winner arriving from the AHL. Meanwhile, Lokomotiv staged its title parade and the league announced a couple of tweaks to the rules for the coming season.
Signings, summer hockey, cybersports
The KHL’s players will be returning to their clubs in a couple of weeks – and we already have news of 2025’s first pre-season tournament. Meanwhile, our teams continue to build their rosters. But it’s still holiday time for many, with some KHL stars showing off their gaming skills alongside some of Russia’s leading cyber-athletes.
Avangard dumps out defending champ, Ak Bars and Avto set for game seven
Avangard is the first Eastern Conference team to advance to round two of the KHL playoffs. The Hawks won 3-2 at home to Metallurg, withstanding a third-period fightback to wrap up the series in six games. Ak Bars thrashed Avtomobilist 5-1 in Kazan, taking that series to game seven.
Three teams on the brink, who will survive to force game seven?
The battle for a spot in the next round intensifies as Avangard, Ak Bars, and CSKA fight to stay alive in their respective series. Metallurg looks to force a seventh game against Avangard, while Avtomobilist and Dinamo Minsk aim to close things out on the road. Goalies are stealing the spotlight, with Nabokov, Alikin, and Demchenko all coming off stellar performances for the winning sides. Will they be the difference-makers again, or will the opposition teams rally to extend their seasons?
Metallurg stays in contention, Avto moves in front
Defending champion Metallurg will not give up it title without a fight: after dropping the first three games of the series against Avangard, Magnitka is now back to 2-3 ahead of the weekend trip to Omsk. A 3-1 win in Magnitogorsk means it’s all to play for here. Today’s other Eastern series is also poised at 3-2, with Avtomobilist enjoying the upper hand following a 2-0 win over Ak Bars. The visitor scored seven in game four, but could not beat Evgeny Alikin today.
Key battles ahead as playoffs series intensify; Avangard and Spartak may advance
The Gagarin Cup playoffs heat up with crucial matchups across the board. Metallurg fights to stay alive at home against Avangard, looking to extend the series after avoiding a sweep. Avtomobilist and Ak Bars return to Yekaterinburg with their series tied, as both teams aim to take control. Spartak gets another chance to close out Severstal, while the Steelers hope to force a game six. Meanwhile, Dinamo Minsk and CSKA battle in a pivotal game five, with the winner gaining a crucial edge in this tightly contested series of capitals.
Magnitka fights back to stay in contention, Ak Bars ties it up
Defending champion Metallurg is still in the Gagarin Cup race – but Andrei Razin’s men needed two late goals to beat Avangard and escape a round-one sweep. In Kazan, Ak Bars blitzed Avtomobilist in the first period, setting up a win that ties the series after four games.
On the brink: Avangard and Spartak eye the sweep
Avangard and Spartak have a chance to close out their series with commanding 4-0 sweeps as they take the ice against Metallurg and Severstal, respectively. Meanwhile, Dinamo Minsk looks to push CSKA to the edge, while Ak Bars fights to level its series against Avtomobilist after a dramatic double-OT loss. With game four underway across the board, teams facing elimination will need to dig deep to keep their playoff hopes alive. Will we see the first teams advance to the next round, or will the battles rage on?
Avangard in control, Avtomobilist moves in front
A second successive overtime winner from Vladimir Tkachyov gave Avangard a 3-0 lead over Metallurg in its first-round KHL playoff series. The Hawks can complete a sweep of the defending champion on home ice on Tuesday. Today’s other Eastern Conference action saw Avtomobilist move ahead in its series against Ak Bars. After dropping the opening game, the Motormen followed up Friday’s 4-3 verdict with an overtime victory in Kazan.
Will Metallurg and CSKA recover from a two-game deficit?
The reigning Gagarin Cup champion has its back against the wall after two defeats at home and will be forced to win if they want to have a real chance to return to cup contention. Then, the second Eastern series returns to Kazan after Avtomobilist tied things up in game two. In the Western Conference, Severstal will try to revert the trend after two Spartak wins, while CSKA will seek to at least get a first win in the series returning at home after two losses to Dinamo Minsk.
Hawks fly high, Avto and Ak Bars deadlocked
Avangard took a firm grip on its first-round playoff series, grabbing a second victory in Magnitogorsk thanks to Vladimir Tkachyov’s overtime goal. The Hawks will take a 2-0 lead to Omsk for game three at the weekend. In the other tie, it’s all square. Avtomobilist held on to beat Ak Bars 4-3, cancelling out its opening night loss.
Pressure on home sides in the East, opposite situation in the West
Avangard collected a road win to open the series against the Gagarin Cup champion, while Ak Bars stunned Avtomobilist as both away teams claimed victory in the Eastern Conference. In the West, Spartak and Dinamo Minsk will try to double their advantage in game two against Severstal and CSKA, respectively.
The battle for the 2025 Gagarin Cup kicks off!
Four pairs start today, with eight teams kicking off their path towards the most coveted trophy in the season, the Gagarin Cup. The reigning champion, Metallurg, plays today as well, facing Avangard in a high-stake matchup. In the second Eastern clash today, Avtomobilist hosts Ak Bars after last year’s first-round showdown. In the West, Spartak welcomes Severstal in another repeat of last year’s series, then Dinamo Minsk faces CSKA as the two teams meet for the first time in the elimination stage.
Leivo’s a record breaker! March 22 round-up
Josh Leivo scored his 49th goal of the 2024/2025 campaign, breaking Sergei Mozyakin’s record for markers in a regular season. He struck midway through the third period to set the record and help Salavat Yulaev to a 4-1 win at Barys. That result confirms Ufa in second place in the East. Metallurg finished third, going down in Yekaterinburg as Avtomobilist secured fourth place. Magnitka will start the playoffs at home to Avangard, 5-1 winners over Kunlun; Avto entertains Ak Bars, OT winners at Sibir. SKA won a shoot-out at Torpedo to climb to sixth in the West, while Traktor eased to a 2-0 victory at home to Amur.
Another decision day as the regular season approaches its end!
In the final regular-season game for these teams, six matchups will shape the playoff picture. Kunlun Red Star hosts Avangard, where Nail Yakupov could play his 70th game of the season. Sibir faces Ak Bars in a key battle for Eastern Conference positioning, while Traktor takes on Amur in Yakov Rylov’s farewell game. Avtomobilist and Metallurg meet in a decisive Ural Derby, Barys hosts Salavat Yulaev as Joshua Leivo chases history, and Torpedo faces SKA in the West’s closing matchup of the day.
Loko too strong for CSKA. March 19 round-up
Lokomotiv celebrated its status as regular season champion with a victory on the road at CSKA in Wednesday’s big game in the KHL. Today’s other action saw Metallurg edge an exciting battle with Admiral on the day that three club legends were honored for their achievements in the KHL.
Lokomotiv wins the cup, Sibir completes playoff line-up. March 17 round-up
The 2025 Continental Cup goes to Lokomotiv! The Railwaymen sealed top spot in the regular season standings thanks to victory at home to Admiral on Monday. Loko got there with two games to spare, moving six points clear of Traktor. In the Eastern Conference, Sibir claimed the last remaining playoff spot after defeating Barys 3-2. Monday’s other action saw Metallurg win a shoot-out at home to Vityaz.
High stakes in Yaroslavl: Lokomotiv eyes Continent Cup, Admiral fights for playoffs
Three games on the slate, and each one carries weight. Sibir has a golden chance to secure its playoff spot, needing just a point against Barys to eliminate Neftekhimik. In Magnitogorsk, Metallurg looks to strengthen its top-four bid but faces a Vityaz team that has already beaten them this season. Over in the West, Lokomotiv can clinch the Continental Cup with a point against Admiral, while the visitors must win to lock in a postseason berth. Expect a thrilling night of hockey as the stakes reach new heights.
Derby win for Dynamo, vital victory for Sibir. March 15 round-up
Dynamo Moscoe tightened its grip on second place in the Western Conference after beating city rival CSKA 2-1 in Saturday’s big game. Sibir had an important victory in the Eastern Conference playoff race, opening a five-point lead over Neftekhimik after edging past Torpedo. Salavat Yulaev kept up the pressure on conference leader Traktor after defeating Dinamo Minsk in a shoot-out. Ak Bars missed the chance to move into the top four with a loss at home to Vityaz. The day’s biggest win went to Metallurg, 7-1 victors over Kunlun. And Saturday’s top scorer was Oleg Li, whose hat-trick sparked Amur’s 5-2 success at home to Barys.
Moscow derby showdown headlines a thrilling KHL matchday
A thrilling six-game slate takes center stage, headlined by a high-stakes Moscow derby between CSKA and Dynamo. The matchday kicks off in the Far East, where Amur hosts Barys, followed by a pivotal playoff race clash between Sibir and Torpedo. Metallurg continues its homestand against Kunlun Red Star, while Salavat Yulaev battles Dinamo Minsk. Ak Bars looks to close out its home stretch on a high note against Vityaz. The day culminates in the Russian capital, where CSKA aims to maintain its dominance over Dynamo in their final regular-season showdown.