UFA (Interstat) — Semyon Vyazovoi stopped all 19 shots he faced, and Salavat Yulaev Ufa scored once in the first period and once in the third to beat Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 2-0 in a Kontinental Hockey League game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Ufa Arena. The home victory improved Salavat Yulaev to 3-2-0 and dropped Neftekhimik to 4-2-0. Attendance was 7,632. Salavat Yulaev entered the game after an overtime loss to Ak Bars Kazan on Sept. 16. Neftekhimik had won four of its first five games, including a 3-0 victory at Sibir Novosibirsk on Sept. 16. Vyazovoi’s recent starts included a 41-save shutout at Avangard Omsk on Sept. 7 and a 34-save loss to Ak Bars Kazan on Sept. 16.

Nikita Zorkin gave Salavat Yulaev the lead at 6:47 of the first period, scoring after assists from Artyom Nabiyev and Vladislav Yefremov. The goal came after early penalties to Neftekhimik’s Rafael Bikmullin for tripping at 3:27 and Salavat Yulaev’s Devin Brosseau for tripping at 3:34. Brosseau’s penalty came nine seconds after Bikmullin’s, creating a brief four-on-four situation. Neftekhimik’s Matvei Nadvorny was called for high sticking at 9:58, giving Salavat Yulaev a power play, but Vyazovoi and the Salavat Yulaev defense kept Neftekhimik off the board in the opening period. Zorkin finished with one goal, one shot on goal and two hits, while Nabiyev had one assist and three hits. Yefremov added one assist and two shots. Salavat Yulaev held a 1-0 lead after the first period.

Neftekhimik ran into more penalty trouble early in the second period when Nadvorny received a five-minute major for elbowing at 20:18. Salavat Yulaev could not convert during the extended advantage, but it continued to control play. Sheldon Rempal recorded nine shots on goal for Salavat Yulaev, repeatedly testing Neftekhimik’s defense and goaltending. Neftekhimik’s Ivan Nikolishin had three shots and one hit, and Evgeny Mityakin put two shots on net. Vyazovoi was not heavily tested, but he turned aside every Neftekhimik attempt through the first 40 minutes. Neftekhimik’s best chances came from Nikolishin and Mityakin, but neither could beat Vyazovoi. Salavat Yulaev held Neftekhimik to five shots from those two forwards while Rempal generated most of the home side’s attack.

Salavat Yulaev added insurance in the third period. After Neftekhimik’s Timothy Lovell was called for high sticking at 53:27, Jack Rodewald scored at 53:32, with assists from Alexander Alexeyev and Vadim Shipachyov. Rodewald finished with one goal, two shots and one hit. Alexeyev had one assist, one shot and one hit, while Shipachyov added one assist and one shot. The power-play goal gave Salavat Yulaev a two-goal cushion. Earlier in the third, Neftekhimik’s Semyon Ruchkin was penalized for checking to the head and neck area at 51:10, and Timur Khairullin was called for high sticking at 55:49. Salavat Yulaev’s Alexander Zharovsky received a hooking penalty at 58:26, but Neftekhimik could not solve Vyazovoi. Neftekhimik finished with six penalties, including Nadvorny’s major, while Salavat Yulaev had two. Neftekhimik failed to score on its lone power play, while Salavat Yulaev converted one of six opportunities.

Vyazovoi earned the win with 19 saves on 19 shots. The top star for Salavat Yulaev, he helped the home side secure its third win of the season. Salavat Yulaev improved to 3-2-0, while Neftekhimik fell to 4-2-0. Salavat Yulaev is scheduled to host Spartak Moscow on Sunday, Sept. 20. Neftekhimik will visit Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Sunday, Sept. 20. Salavat Yulaev will host Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Neftekhimik will host Lada Togliatti on Wednesday, Sept. 23, then visit Barys Astana on Friday, Sept. 25. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Salavat Yulaev 3, Neftekhimik 2, and Interstat’s ELO system had given Salavat Yulaev a 65.7 percent probability to win.