"Salavat" is a champion!

There was no doubt about the final victory of the Ufa team for a minute - at the moment this team really has no equal in the Kontinental Hockey League.

"Salavat Yulaev" won the main trophy of domestic hockey - the Gagarin Cup. In the final series, the Yulaevites defeated Atlant from Mytishchi near Moscow with a total score of 4:1. The club from the capital of Bashkortostan became the national champion for the second time in its history. Previously, they conquered this peak three years ago.

There was no doubt about Salavat’s final victory even for a minute - at the moment this team really has no equal in the Kontinental Hockey League. The tournament path of the Ufa team only confirms this: in the quarterfinals the two-time cup winner Kazan Ak Bars was defeated, in the semifinals the strong and ambitious Magnitogorsk was defeated...

The ill-wishers of the Yulaevites do not need to point to refereeing errors in a number of decisive matches - the fact that the series is played up to four victories excludes any accidents; only the team that is objectively stronger than the opponent can win. But how much talk there was after the fourth match - the only one in which Atlant won... Like, this is what Salavat is worth without the help of referees!

However, in the next meeting, it was again a sin for the Mytishchi residents to complain about the bias of the judges. Moreover, in the final period, they play for more than three minutes in a row in a five-on-three format - a unique case in the history of finals! But the hockey players from the Moscow region materialize a colossal numerical advantage into a goal only once, after which they again wilt under the attacking power of Ufa...

Of course, the Atlanteans should be given their due! Coach Milos Rzhiga managed to create a bright, combat-ready team in less than a full season and lead it to the silver medals of the championship. None of his more eminent predecessors achieved such success...

“Atlant” already managed to jump above its head, and it was thanks to this that each of the five past games became a real highlight of the final series. But “Salavat” was objectively stronger, and rightfully won!