On March 4, 2025, Salavat Yulaev clinched a decisive victory over Amur Khabarovsk with a score of 3:1 at Platinum Arena, marking their fourth consecutive win. The clash was part of the FONBET KHL regular season and drew 5,689 enthusiastic spectators.
Salavat Yulaev began aggressively, seizing the lead when Vladislav Efremov scored at 10:45, redirecting Ildan Gazimov's shot past Amur's goalkeeper Viktor Kobozov. Just before the end of the first period, Sheldon Rempal doubled their advantage, scoring from close range after receiving a brilliant pass from Sasha Khmelevski during the power play at the 19-minute mark.
Despite struggling initially, Amur managed to threaten Salavat Yulaev’s goal on several occasions but was thwarted by the exceptional performance of goaltender Alexander Samonov, who demonstrated remarkable reflexes and composure throughout the match. The second period saw both teams exchanging chances, yet neither side found the back of the net, leading to a scoreless frame.
The third period changed the dynamics briefly as Amur's Vladislav Barulin closed the gap with a goal at the 40:37 mark, igniting hopes for the home crowd. This goal injected energy on the ice, pushing Amur to intensify their attacks. Fans anticipated the dramatic comeback as the game progressed, yet Salavat Yulaev staved off the increasing pressure. With the clock winding down, Amur pulled Kobozov from the net for an extra skater, hoping to capitalize on their final chances.
Sadly for them, it was Josh Livo of Salavat Yulaev who sealed the game by scoring on the empty net at 59:16, bringing the final score to 3:1. Livo’s goal was particularly noteworthy, marking his 44th goal of the season and pushing his current point tally to 71, making him the second player in Salavat Yulaev history to surpass 70 points in a single regular season, after Alexander Radulov’s record of 80 points from 2010-11.
This victory allowed Salavat Yulaev to climb to 83 points, securing their position as the second overall team in the Eastern Conference standings. Conversely, Amur is struggling significantly, sitting in 11th place with only 37 points accumulated from 61 games played this season.
The match statistics reflected the intensity of the game: Amur fired 59 shots, with 33 on target, compared to Salavat Yulaev’s 53 shots, 34 of which were on goal. Both teams had several chances to score, but Salavat Yulaev's effectiveness and Samonov's reliability made the difference.
Looking forward, Salavat Yulaev will face Amur again on March 7, 2025, as the teams continue their season campaign. Fans can follow these developments through various broadcasts, including on Match TV and online platforms like matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
This victory not only emphasizes the prowess of Salavat Yulaev but also highlights the enduring challenges facing Amur as they strive to regain form and competitiveness. While Salavat Yulaev aims for playoff success, Amur finds itself fighting to secure its future within the league.