MOSCOW (Interstat) — CSKA Moscow will host Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in Kontinental Hockey League action Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at CSKA Ice Palace in Moscow.

CSKA enters 0-1 after a 3-2 home loss to Spartak Moscow on Monday. Forward Maxim Sorkin was among the club’s most productive players in the defeat, scoring one goal and recording four shots on net. Maxim Mamin added four shots and two hits, while Pavel Karnaukhov also had a hit. Sorkin will be a key player to watch as CSKA looks to generate more offense and avoid a second straight home loss.

Torpedo is 2-0 and has opened the season with two narrow victories. The Nizhny Novgorod club beat Spartak Moscow 1-0 on Saturday, Sept. 5, then followed with a 4-3 shootout victory at Dinamo Minsk on Monday, Sept. 7. Defenseman Anton Sizov played a key role in the latest win, scoring one goal with three shots on goal and one hit. In Torpedo’s 1-0 victory over Spartak, Sizov recorded two shots on goal, two penalty minutes and one hit. Dmitry Breus and Ronald Brickey also contributed on the blue line in the shootout win.

Sizov’s ability to contribute at both ends could be important Wednesday. Torpedo has allowed only three goals through two games, though it needed a shootout to get past Dinamo Minsk after the teams finished regulation tied. The visitors have started fast despite playing both games on the road, and they will complete a three-game road trip against CSKA.

The game is Torpedo’s second straight on the road before it visits Lada Togliatti on Friday. CSKA will remain at home for a matchup with Admiral Vladivostok on Friday after facing Torpedo. CSKA then hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on Sunday, Sept. 13, while Torpedo returns home to face Ak Bars Kazan on Monday, Sept. 14. The teams are scheduled to meet again Sept. 18 in Nizhny Novgorod.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a close result, favoring CSKA 3-2. The ELO system gives CSKA a 61.5% probability to win. Despite CSKA’s 0-1 start, the projections suggest the home team has an edge, likely because of its home-ice advantage and overall roster strength.

CSKA will count on Sorkin to help spark the attack after he put four shots on goal in the season opener. Torpedo, meanwhile, will look to Sizov to continue his strong start and help the visitors protect their perfect record. A win would give Torpedo a 3-0 start and add early pressure on CSKA, which is still searching for consistency in the opening week of the season.