KHL Ural Stars vs KHL RUS Stars Prediction
🔊 The 2026 KHL All-Star Game is set in Yekaterinburg. In the Urals, they're experimenting with the format by assembling teams not by conferences or divisions, but by age and nationality. The second semifinal will see the Urals Stars face off against the Russia Stars. Will the Urals' home crowd propel their team to the final of the "All-Star Weekend"? Let's break down the match and offer a prediction for the game on February 7.
Head-to-Head
📊 The teams have never faced each other in this format before, although representatives from KHL Ural Stars and KHL RUS Stars have played in "division versus division" and "conference versus conference" formats.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
KHL Ural Stars Team Overview
For the first time in history, the hosts of the KHL All-Star Game will have their own team. The Ural Stars feature representatives from four teams: Avtomobilist, Traktor, Metallurg, and Salavat Yulaev. The team will be coached by Andrey Razin from "Magnitka," marking his second appearance in this "All-Star Weekend," alongside tournament host debutant Nikolai Zavarukhin.
The representation from Eastern Conference clubs in the team is fairly balanced. Metallurg players, defenseman Yegor Yakovlev and forward Vladimir Tkachev, can be considered veterans of these star-studded matchups, having missed the February break for four years now.
Match Results: KHL Ural Stars
KHL RUS Stars Team Overview
The last time a separate Russian team competed in the KHL All-Star Game was in 2009 and 2010, when Team Yashin (Stars of Russia) fell to Team Jagr (World Stars) with scores of 6-7 and 8-11. Back then, the Russian stars featured legendary players like Alexei Morozov, Maxim Sushinsky, and Danis Zaripov.
You might be surprised, but Alexander Radulov played in those games as well. And yes, he will be taking to the ice again this coming weekend. The forward from Lokomotiv and other Russian stars will be coached by Dmitry Kvartalnov and Anvar Gatiyatulin. While the head coach of Dinamo Minsk is attending the "all-star weekend" for the fifth time in his career, for the manager of Ak Bars, these matches in Yekaterinburg mark his debut.
Match Results: KHL RUS Stars
⚡️ Leaders
If you were worried about not seeing Joshua Leivo on the World Stars team, fear not-the Canadian has been listed for the KHL Ural Stars. Alongside Mikhail Grigorenko, they rank among the top ten scorers of the season. Pay special attention to another Salavat Yulaev star, Alexander Zharovsky. The forward received his first All-Star Game call-up at just 18.
Joining Radulov in the attack are the equally legendary Vadim Shipachyov, one of the season's top snipers Andrey Belozerov, and Konstantin Okulov-surprisingly making his All-Star debut. On defense, Damir Sharipzyanov will take the ice; the defenseman had a phenomenal January, breaking every possible defensive record.
🥅 Goalies
Guarding the net for the Ural squad will be, perhaps, the season's standout young star Semyon Vyazovoy and Vladimir Galkin from Avtomobilist. Both goalies rank in the KHL's top ten for save percentage-Vyazovoy at 93.1% and Galkin at 92.8%.
Neftekhimik's goalie Philipp Dolganov has recovered in time for the All-Star Game. The Nizhnekamsk netminder boasts a 92.9% save rate, placing him fifth in the KHL. He will be backed up by the equally reliable Maxim Dorozhko from Amur.
Editorial Prediction
With these lineups, there's no need to worry about defense. We're likely in for the highest-scoring game of the "star weekend," as both teams boast a blend of experience and youth. Traditionally, the KHL All-Star Games feature two to three players from the host team, but this time it's essentially an entire squad representing them, with fans coming from neighboring cities to support the Ural Stars. Therefore, we're backing the Ural Stars for the overall win.
