Third Game of Gagarin Cup Quarterfinals Ends in Overtime Thriller as Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Takes Series Lead
Lokomotiv edges Spartak 4–3 in overtime to take 2–1 series lead
The third game of the 2026 Gagarin Cup quarterfinals wrapped up at Moscow's Megasport Arena, where host team Spartak faced off against Yaroslavl's Lokomotiv. The visitors secured a dramatic 4–3 overtime victory, putting them ahead in the best-of-seven series with a 2–1 lead. The game was fast-paced from the opening whistle.
Lokomotiv's Maxim Shalunov struck first just one minute into the game, but Spartak's Daniil Gutnik leveled the score in the seventh minute.
Alexander Radulov put Lokomotiv back in front at the 11-minute mark, only for Pavel Poryadin to tie it up again at 2–2 in the second period, scoring on the 33rd minute. In the third, Byron Froese restored Lokomotiv's lead at 47 minutes, but with just one minute left in regulation, Ivan Morozov capitalized on a power play to force overtime. Artur Kayumov then sealed the win with the game-deciding goal at 66 minutes.
Lokomotiv now leads the series after victories in Games 1 and 3. The next matchups are set for March 30. The 2025/26 KHL playoffs run from March 23 to May 23.
