Lokomotiv forward Nikita Kiryanov shared his thoughts ahead of the Gagarin Cup-2026 final series against Ak Bars. The first game of the series is set for May 11 in Yaroslavl. Lokomotiv and Ak Bars face off in the playoff final for the first time since 2009, when Kazan won the inaugural tournament series 4-3.
**On preparing for Ak Bars:**
“They are a strong, well-balanced team with four solid lines. It will be a tight, high-quality series. I’ll keep the specific details about them within the team.”
**On the added significance of facing Ak Bars in the final, given Lokomotiv lost the first KHL final to them:**
“I was seven years old back then, living in Perm, so it’s hard for me to say much about that. But it would be great for the city and the fans who have supported this team for so long to get revenge and finish by putting the final piece on the Gagarin Cup.”
**On reaching the final for the third consecutive year:**
“Every year is special. Getting to the final is never easy—we’ve put in a huge amount of work. But the hardest part is making that last step. Everything before the final doesn’t count.”
**On recovery after the series against Avangard:**
“It’s all good. We had one day off, which helped us recover both physically and mentally.”
**On whether this final feels different from previous ones:**
“There’s always some nervousness, but it’s about how you handle it. I think once the first faceoff happens, everything else fades into the background.”
