As the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) playoffs approach, all eyes are on the teams making their bid for glory, and none more so than the Ufa-based club Salavat Yulaev and the Vladivostok-based Admiral. Both teams have seen their ups and downs through the regular season, culminating in their respective playoff battles that are set to unfold starting this Thursday, March 27, 2025.
Salavat Yulaev, who finished the regular season with an impressive third-best record in the league, will face Sibir from Novosibirsk in the first round. The anticipation is high, especially with the standout performance of Joshua Leivo, who made headlines this season by surpassing the league's all-time single-season goal record. With 49 goals, he broke Sergei Mozyakin's previous record of 48. Leivo achieved this remarkable feat in the final period of a match in Astana, solidifying his status as a top-tier player in the league.
The first games of this exciting matchup will take place in Ufa on March 27 and 29. Following those, the series will shift to Novosibirsk for the away matches scheduled for March 31 and April 2. Salavat Yulaev fans are gearing up for these must-see matches, poised to witness another thrilling playoff run.
Meanwhile, the Admiral is gearing up for its own playoff journey, also commencing on March 27 against the formidable Chelyabinsk Traktor. The Admiral has shown a strong desire to succeed, having fought through trials and setbacks in past seasons. Their return to the playoffs this year is already considered an achievement in itself. Despite the challenges, they have demonstrated resilience, particularly evident after last season’s struggles.
In their quest for playoff success, Admiral has faced tactical challenges but has also proven to be a formidable competitor. In the past, they have encountered difficulty against high-seeded opponents. In 2015/16 and 2016/17, Admiral failed to progress past the first round, losing to Sibir and Avangard, respectively. However, last season, a significant breakthrough occurred when they defeated Salavat Yulaev in the first round, a victory that was unprecedented for the team and highly celebrated by their fans.
The first meeting of the Admiral against Traktor is poised to be tough. Traktor, under the leadership of Canadian coach Benua Grou, has dominated the regular season, finishing first in the Eastern Conference with 223 goals scored — the highest in the league. Admiral’s recent form has raised concerns; they wrapped up the regular season with a crushing 2-7 defeat to Neftekhimik and losses based on additional indicators to Sibir.
The upcoming matchup will certainly dig into the historical performance of both clubs. Throughout their encounters, Traktor has notably secured 21 wins out of 32 matches against Admiral, totaling 90 goals scored. Their offense is firing on all cylinders, averaging about 3.3 goals per game this season. The run-up to the playoffs has seen Traktor on a scoring spree, racking up an astonishing 32 goals in just their last seven matches, averaging nearly five goals per game. This level of performance suggests that Admiral will have to step up significantly if they hope to make an impact.
As per analysts, Traktor is favored to win their first game, especially considering their home advantage, where they have won their last five matches. Admiral, on the other hand, has struggled on the road, facing a daunting task in trying to pull off an upset.
The playoffs are known for their intensity; it's a battleground where not just skill but also strategy and resilience play critical roles. While both Salavat Yulaev and Admiral bring their own stories to this edition of the KHL playoffs, the truth is that success will come down to execution on the ice, particularly for Admiral, who must harness their energy and will to win against a well-oiled Traktor machine.
With these matchups setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling playoff season, fans are sure to be on the edge of their seats. Salavat Yulaev’s star-studded lineup, spearheaded by record-breaking performances, against Sibir’s battle-tested squad will make for an engaging first round. Meanwhile, the Admiral’s journey against the might of Traktor could bring its own surprises.
Ultimately, as these teams prepare to clash, the excitement is palpable. The KHL playoffs are about to unveil spectacles of skill, passion, and resilience, and with both history and ambition on the line, anything is possible in the coming games.
