YAROSLAVL (Interstat) — Daniil Isayev made 24 saves and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl remained unbeaten with a 2-1 Kontinental Hockey League victory over Avangard Omsk on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Arena 2000. The announced attendance was 8,128. Lokomotiv improved to 6-0-0, while Avangard fell to 3-2-0.

Alexander Radulov gave Lokomotiv the lead at 6:27 of the first period, with Rushan Rafikov and Isayev assisting. The goal came 23 seconds after Avangard’s Joseph Cecconi was penalized for cross-checking. It was the first of seven minor penalties called in the game. Avangard’s Lev Starikov was called for tripping at 14:52, but the visitors trailed after the opening period.

Avangard tied the game in the second period when Joshua Leivo scored at 23:29. Konstantin Okulov and Marsel Ibragimov assisted. Lokomotiv’s Matvei Kotkov had been sent off for hooking at 20:22, and Avangard answered 3:07 later. Leivo finished with one shot on goal and one hit.

Lokomotiv reclaimed the lead at 37:24 of the second period on Artyom V. Kuzin’s goal. Danil Romantsev and Giovanni Fiore had the assists. Kuzin recorded five shots on goal. The goal stood as the game-winner after a scoreless third period in which Lokomotiv protected the one-goal margin.

Isayev turned aside 24 of 25 shots and also earned an assist on Radulov’s goal. He entered the game after making 33 saves in a 3-2 win at CSKA Moscow on Sept. 13, 22 saves in a 2-1 win over Severstal Cherepovets on Sept. 10, and 29 saves in a 3-1 win over Shanghai Dragons on Sept. 8.

Radulov finished with five shots on goal and four hits. Romantsev had one assist and three shots, while Fiore added one assist and two shots. Defenseman Alexei Bereglazov put four shots on goal. Okulov recorded one assist and three shots for Avangard, and Ibragimov had one assist, one shot and two hits.

For Avangard, Leivo scored on his only shot and added a hit. Andrew Poturalski recorded three shots on goal and two penalty minutes. Poturalski was called for roughing at 53:06 of the third period. Avangard’s Kirill Dolzhenkov received a tripping penalty at 42:40, and Nail Yakupov was called for tripping at 50:24. Lokomotiv’s Denis V. Alexeyev was penalized for too many players on the ice at 59:55. Avangard took five of the game’s seven minor penalties.

Lokomotiv won for the sixth time in as many games this season. The victory followed a 4-1 win at Traktor Chelyabinsk on Sept. 15, a 3-2 win at CSKA Moscow on Sept. 13, a 2-1 overtime win over Severstal Cherepovets on Sept. 10, a 3-1 win over Shanghai Dragons on Sept. 8, and a 5-1 win over Traktor Chelyabinsk on Sept. 5.

Avangard fell after two straight overtime victories. It beat Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 3-2 in overtime on Sept. 15 and Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3-2 in overtime on Sept. 13. Avangard also beat HC Sochi 4-1 on Sept. 10 and lost to Salavat Yulaev Ufa 4-0 on Sept. 7.

Lokomotiv next hosts Barys Astana on Sunday, Sept. 20. Avangard travels to Traktor Chelyabinsk the same day. Avangard then visits Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Sept. 22 and Spartak Moscow on Sept. 24. Lokomotiv is scheduled to travel to Admiral Vladivostok on Sept. 23 and Amur Khabarovsk on Sept. 25. Avangard is set to host Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Sept. 28 and Lada Togliatti on Oct. 2, while Lokomotiv is scheduled to host Sibir Novosibirsk on Sept. 30 and Dinamo Minsk on Oct. 10.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Lokomotiv 4, Avangard 3, and the ELO system gave Lokomotiv a 59.1 percent probability to win.