UFA (Interstat) — Salavat Yulaev Ufa will host Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in a Kontinental Hockey League game at Ufa Arena in Ufa, Russia. Salavat Yulaev enters with a 2-2-0 record, while Neftekhimik is 4-1-0.

Neftekhimik has won four of its first five games. The club’s most recent result was a 3-0 victory at Sibir Novosibirsk on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Filipp Dolganov made 22 saves on 22 shots for the shutout. Nikita Khoruzhev scored and Rafael Bikmullin recorded two assists. Earlier in the season, Neftekhimik beat Admiral Vladivostok 2-1 on Sept. 13, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 3-1 on Sept. 11 and HC Sochi 5-1 on Sept. 8. Its only loss came against Shanghai Dragons, 5-4 in overtime on Sept. 6, when Dolganov stopped 32 of 37 shots.

Dolganov is the player to watch for Neftekhimik. He made 22 saves on 22 shots against Sibir Novosibirsk on Sept. 16. He stopped 32 of 37 shots against Shanghai Dragons on Sept. 6. Neftekhimik has allowed one goal or fewer in each of its four wins.

Salavat Yulaev is 2-2-0 after a 4-3 overtime loss to Ak Bars Kazan on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Devin Brosseau scored twice in that game, while Jack Rodewald and Sheldon Rempal each provided two assists. Salavat Yulaev also lost 8-6 at Barys Astana on Sept. 9, but it earned wins at Avangard Omsk 4-0 on Sept. 7 and at Severstal Cherepovets 3-2 on Sept. 5.

Alexander Alexeyev is the player to watch for Salavat Yulaev. He has five assists over his recent appearances. At Avangard Omsk on Sept. 7, he recorded two assists, three shots on goal and two hits. At Severstal Cherepovets on Sept. 5, he had two assists and one hit. At Barys Astana on Sept. 9, he had one assist and four shots on goal. Against Ak Bars Kazan on Sept. 16, Alexeyev recorded a hit.

The game is part of a busy stretch for both clubs. Neftekhimik will visit Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Sunday, Sept. 20. Salavat Yulaev will host Spartak Moscow on Sunday, Sept. 20. Neftekhimik then hosts Lada Togliatti on Sept. 23 before visiting Barys Astana on Sept. 25. Neftekhimik will also visit Admiral Vladivostok on Sept. 27 and Amur Khabarovsk on Sept. 29. Salavat Yulaev hosts Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Sept. 23, visits Dynamo Moscow on Sept. 26, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Sept. 28 and HC Sochi on Sept. 30. The teams are scheduled to meet again on Monday, Oct. 12, in Ufa.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Salavat Yulaev 3, Neftekhimik 2.