MAGNITOGORSK, Russia (Interstat) — Metallurg Magnitogorsk, a KHL powerhouse off to an 11-4 start, looks to rebound from a rare loss when it hosts struggling Salavat Yulaev Ufa on Thursday at Arena Metallurg.

The matchup is a study in contrasts. Metallurg sits near the top of the league standings, while Salavat Yulaev has stumbled to a 3-10 record across all competitions. The home team has been dominant, outscoring opponents 58-37 this season.

Metallurg is coming off a 5-1 home loss to Avangard Omsk on Sunday, a game in which forward Roman Kantserov scored the team’s lone goal. Prior to that defeat, Metallurg had won four straight.

Salavat Yulaev, meanwhile, is mired in a deep slump. The team is on a four-game losing streak and was handily defeated 4-1 by Ak Bars Kazan on Tuesday. Defenseman Grigory Panin provided one of the few bright spots in that loss, scoring the team’s only goal.

The teams’ last meeting provides a glimmer of hope for the visitors. On Sept. 8, Salavat Yulaev skated into Magnitogorsk and emerged with a 3-2 overtime victory. Replicating that performance will be a formidable challenge against a Metallurg squad that has lost only once at home this season.

The game is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.