CSKA Moscow and Vladivostok needed more than regulation to settle their KHL meeting on September 21, 2026, with the visitors ultimately claiming a 4-3 win after penalties. The game was close from the start and stayed close all the way through overtime, setting up a shootout finish that left the margin razor-thin.
The confirmed scoring breakdown shows a game that shifted over the course of three periods without either side fully taking control for long. Vladivostok recovered from an early deficit, CSKA Moscow answered back, and the teams remained level after 60 minutes. In the end, the shootout separated two clubs that had little to choose between them across the full contest.
How the Game Played Out
The first period belonged to CSKA Moscow on the scoreboard, as the visitors took a 1-0 lead into the intermission. That early edge gave CSKA the initial platform in a game where every swing mattered, but it did not prove decisive. Vladivostok had time to settle in and respond, and the match tightened as the night progressed.
Vladivostok’s best stretch came in the second period, when the home side flipped the script with a 2-1 frame. That period was the turning point in terms of momentum, as Vladivostok erased the deficit and briefly moved into a better position heading into the third. With the scoreline now in their favor on the period, the home team had done enough to turn the game into a true test of composure and response.
The third period remained level at 1-1, which preserved the deadlock after regulation time. Neither team could create the decisive separation needed to finish the job in 60 minutes, and that kept the game alive for overtime. Even there, the scoring line shows no goals, with overtime finishing 0-0. The teams therefore moved on to penalties, where CSKA Moscow edged the contest 1-0 to secure the result.
The period-by-period numbers tell the full story of a game that was consistently within reach for both sides: CSKA Moscow started ahead, Vladivostok fought back, and neither team could break away in the final stretch. The shootout was the final and only phase that produced a winner.
What the Result Means
This is the kind of result that matters in a season where every point can shape the table. CSKA Moscow came away with the win, and because it was decided after penalties, the margin was as narrow as it gets in a league game. Vladivostok will take little comfort from being so close, but the home side did show enough resilience to force the game beyond regulation.
For CSKA Moscow, the victory represents a valuable road result and a reminder of the importance of staying composed in tight games. Winning after penalties is often about patience and execution under pressure, and CSKA handled the final phase when it mattered most. For Vladivostok, the game shows they could stay with a strong opponent over the full length of the night, but also that the final step was just out of reach.
In a KHL context, a shootout win still counts as a critical outcome, especially in a matchup decided by only one goal in the end. The final 4-3 score reflects how evenly balanced the contest was from the middle stages onward, and it leaves both teams with a clear sense of how narrow the gap can be when games go the distance.
Watch the Highlights
This was the type of game best appreciated visually: a tight KHL matchup, a shift in momentum across the periods, and a finish that required penalties to settle. Watch the highlight video to see how Vladivostok and CSKA Moscow reached a 4-3 final after a scoreless overtime and a shootout decider.
Final Score: Vladivostok 3, CSKA Moscow 4.
Source: Highlightly match API