Neftekhimik vs Admiral 9/13/2026
13.09.2026
Neftekhimik will play game #4 of the season!
DATE OPPONENT TIME TV
9/13/2026 vs Admiral ⏰ 5:00 pm KHL WEB
Neftekhimik will play its fourth of four home games. Neftekhimik is on a two–game winning streak.
Admiral will play its fourth of four road games. Admiral won its last game.
Admiral: Mario Grman, Kyle Olson, Artyom Pimenov, Yegor Rykov.
We are waiting for all fans of hockey! You can buy tickets at the box office of «Neftekhim Arena» or online here.
Rivals for a playoff spot: a do-or-die clash
For Neftekhimik and Admiral, head-to-head matchups are crucial in the annual battle for a playoff berth. These encounters turn into fierce, high-stakes battles. Historically, the Nizhnekamsk side has the edge – 23 wins in 36 meetings, but Admiral never come to Nizhnekamsk just to go through the motions. Every game is a fight to the death, and this one will be no exception.
Admiral’s rebuild: what has changed
The offseason was a time of major restructuring for Admiral. The roster saw more than 50 percent turnover. The club also saw a change in leadership: Viktor Gordiyuk took over as General Manager, immediately announcing a shift in direction and a commitment to the younger generation. Head coach Oleg Bratash, who joined the team in January, remained at the helm and was given the chance to build the squad from scratch. Key departures: Stepan Starkov (traded to Metallurg), Arkady Shestakov (Barys), Nikita Tertyshny, Vladislav Kara, Vladimir Bryukvin, defenseman Ruslan Pedan, goaltender Adam Huska, plus Semyon Ruchkin (moved to Neftekhimik) and Georgy Solyannikov – both key defensive pieces over the last two seasons.
New players:
Forwards Alexander Volkov (loan from Lokomotiv), Anthony Camara (returned to the KHL from Germany; previously played for Neftekhimik and Barys), Artyom Pimenov (Salavat Yulaev), Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (Dynamo Moscow), Mikhail Grass (in a trade from Metallurg), and young players Dmitry Mukhtarov and Maxim Musorov; defensemen Grigory Vashchenko (Severstal), Kirill Zhukov, and Fyodor Kroshchinsky (from Metallurg and Neftekhimik, respectively); and goaltender Jelal-ad-Din Amirbekov (from Metallurg).
The team played a record 10 exhibition games during the offseason, won the Minsk Cup, and headed into the regular season as one of the most cohesive squads in preseason. However, how quickly the new team gels in official matches remains one of the season's biggest questions.
What to expect from the game:
Admiral is wrapping up a four–game road trip and, judging by their victory over CSKA, has found its stride. Neftekhimik is concluding a homestand and is eager to build on a successful run by securing a third consecutive win. Both teams are in a fighting mood, both need points, and both know there are no easy games when they face each other.
