Evgeny Kuznetsov just had his biggest game since returning to the KHL.
With Salavat Yulaev owning a 3-2 first-round series lead over Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Kuznetsov scored a buzzer-beater in regulation to tie the game and send Game 6 into overtime. Then, in double OT, he had the primary assist on the series-winning goal, eliminating Avtomobilist and sending Salavat Yulaev to the second round of the Gagarin Cup Playoffs for a second year in a row.
Kuzy’s clutch performance began with 4.5 seconds remaining in regulation. With Salavat Yulaev down 3-2, Kuznetsov hustled down the left wing and took a cross-ice pass from Sheldon Rempal, firing a one-timer past Avtomobilist goaltender Evgény Alíkin.
Evgeny Kuznetsov’s game-tying goal with 4.5 seconds remaining in regulation
The 8,522 in attendance at Ufa Arena went wild as Kuznetsov did his bird celly and slammed into the glass in front of worried Avtomobilist fans.
“With age comes the understanding that you have to fight until the last second,” Kuznetsov said as translated by Google Translate. “I probably don’t remember such emotions when I scored a goal – it was one of the most important moments of my career.”
Then, after a scoreless first overtime, Kuznetsov repaid the favor to Rempal, setting up the former Hershey Bears forward for a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle 43 seconds into the double OT.
Sheldon Rempal’s double OT GWG
The goal was Rempal’s third of the series and seventh point overall. He’s tied with four others for the KHL playoff lead in scoring.
Kuznetsov’s heroics were necessary after Roman Gorbunov scored with 33.4 seconds remaining in regulation, putting Avtomobilist up 3-2.
But after winning a puck battle in the defensive zone, Salavat Yulaev skated directly down to the offensive zone and Kuznetsov beat the buzzer with a perfect shot.
“I guess there was some emptiness inside,” Kuzetsov said. “We conceded a goal, and maybe before I would have been worried and anxious—there were only 30 seconds left. But now there was peace inside.”
Salavat will now go on to play the defending Gagarin Cup champion Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the second round of the playoffs.
“The emotions are positive,” Kuznetsov told R-Sport and translated by Google Translate. “We’ve extended our hockey season—and the season for our fans—a little longer. We have two days off now; we need to get some good rest, as a tough series lies ahead.”
The two points were Kuznetsov’s first of the series and in the 2026 playoffs. He missed one game due to injury and suspended for Game 4 after making an obscene gesture at Avtomobilist players. Kuznetsov also got his first penalty in the series in Game 6, a hooking major on Daniel Sprong at the 16:24 mark of the first period.
