Salavat Yulaev triumphed over Admiral Vladivostok with a score of 3:2 following shootouts during the KHL regular season match held at FETISOV Arena on February 28, 2025. This victory marks another important milestone for Salavat, as they continue to solidify their position within the league.
Both teams displayed intense competition throughout the game, with Admiral's Nikita Soshnikov opening the scoring just five minutes in. His goal came from assists by Petukhov and Shestakov, stirring the home crowd to life. This marked Soshnikov's 18th goal of the season, establishing himself as one of the standout players for Admiral.
Responding quickly, Salavat Yulaev leveled the score later in the first period thanks to Joshua Livo, who netted his 42nd goal of the season. Livo’s goal—a powerful strike—ended his five-game scoring drought.
The second period saw Salavat Yulaev take the lead when Nathan Todd pounced on a scoring opportunity to put his team up 2:1. Todd's goal came at the 29:07 minute mark, following assists from Naumenkov and Vasilevsky. Salavat's defense held strong for much of the second period.
Into the third period, efforts from Admiral paid off when Alexander Shepelev found the back of the net, equalizing the game at 2:2. His goal came from assists by Zavgorodniy and Stepanov with just over three minutes left on the clock, sending the match to overtime.
Neither team could capitalize during the overtime, which meant the game came down to the shootout. Here, Salavat exhibited excellent precision and focus, with Eгор Сучков sealing the deal by converting the decisive shootout attempt. Reported by Match TV, "The match went to shootouts, where stronger were the Ufa players – Salavat Yulaev wins with the score 3:2.”
Statistics from the match highlighted the fervor of the competition: Salavat outshot Admiral 48 to 69, with both teams managing consistent pressure throughout the game. The statistics also reflected the physicality, as both teams recorded equal numbers of penalties.
With this victory, Salavat Yulaev stands third in the Eastern Conference, having accrued 79 points from 60 games. Admiral, meanwhile, remains on the seventh count with 63 points from their matches. Salavat’s victory not only reinforces their playoff aspirations but also signals their strong potential as they move through the season.
The teams will face each other again next week, with Salavat Yulaev hoping to secure another victory against Admiral, making for exciting upcoming matches within the KHL. The anticipation builds as they head back to the rink, where fans eagerly await for more thrilling hockey.