YAROSLAVL, Russia (Interstat) — Lokomotiv Yaroslavl will look to remain unbeaten Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, when it hosts Severstal Cherepovets in a Kontinental Hockey League game at Arena 2000.

Lokomotiv enters at 1-0 after opening the season with a 5-1 home win over Traktor Chelyabinsk on Sept. 5. Severstal is 1-1 after splitting its first two games, falling 3-2 at home to Salavat Yulaev Ufa on Sept. 5 before beating Lada Togliatti 1-0 on Sept. 7.

The game will feature two players off to strong starts. Lokomotiv forward Maxim Shalunov recorded one goal on seven shots and added three hits in the win over Traktor. Daniil Isayev made 21 saves on 22 shots in that victory, while Giovanni Fiore had a goal and an assist.

Severstal goaltender Alexander Samoilov has been a key early contributor. He stopped all 19 shots he faced in the shutout of Lada Togliatti. In the loss to Salavat Yulaev, Samoilov made 31 saves on 34 shots. Ilya Ivantsov scored the lone goal in the Lada win, and Alexander Skorenov had an assist while producing five shots.

Lokomotiv’s offense will test a Severstal team that has leaned on Samoilov through two games. Severstal has scored two goals this season, while Lokomotiv has scored five in only one outing. The home team also has the advantage of playing at Arena 2000 before consecutive road games at CSKA Moscow on Sept. 13 and Traktor Chelyabinsk on Sept. 15.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Lokomotiv 5, Severstal 1. The projection points to a decisive win for Lokomotiv, with Shalunov and the offense likely to generate chances against a Severstal defense that has faced heavy pressure early in the season.

Severstal will try to carry over the momentum from its shutout win over Lada. After Thursday’s game, Severstal visits Spartak Moscow on Sept. 12 and then returns home to face Dynamo Moscow on Sept. 14. The club will then embark on a trip with games at Admiral Vladivostok on Sept. 19 and Amur Khabarovsk on Sept. 21.

Lokomotiv, meanwhile, will look to remain perfect before its upcoming road swing. After facing Severstal, Lokomotiv travels to CSKA Moscow on Sept. 13 and Traktor Chelyabinsk on Sept. 15 before returning home for games against Avangard Omsk on Sept. 18 and Barys Astana on Sept. 20.

Puck drop is scheduled for Thursday at Arena 2000 in Yaroslavl, Russia. Lokomotiv is seeking its second straight win, while Severstal is aiming for its second consecutive victory. The game is part of the KHL regular season.