The KHL 3×3 Championship Superfinal playoffs are scheduled to take place on July 12th at CSKA Arena.
12:30 Salavat Yulaev vs Traktor
In a somewhat paradoxical scenario, Salavat Yulaev advanced to the playoffs despite netting just 15 goals – the fewest among all participants. Their success was built on exceptional defense, securing four wins in four matches and an early spot in the knockout stage. Conversely, Traktor only guaranteed their playoff entry in the very last game of the round-robin phase.
These two teams previously met in the Superfinal on July 10th. That encounter saw Salavat Yulaev claim a 4-1 victory, with Ilya Ivanov scoring twice and Alexander Zharovsky contributing 2 points (one goal and one assist).
13:25 Ak Bars vs Dinamo Minsk
Ak Bars arrived at the Superfinal as the perceived overwhelming favorite, yet their performance at CSKA Arena has shown vulnerabilities. They suffered a defeat to Salavat Yulaev in their final round-robin game and, notably, endured a painful 6-2 loss against Dinamo Minsk earlier in the tournament.
Dinamo Minsk enters the playoffs in excellent form, riding a three-game winning streak during which they scored a minimum of six goals in each contest. Vitaly Pinchuk has been a standout player, leading the Superfinal scoring charts with 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists) in five matches.
14:20 Third Place Game
This match will feature the teams that lose their respective semi-final games.
15:15 Final
The battle for the championship title will be contested by the winners of the two semi-final matchups.
Gareth Tenby