Salavat Yulaev opened their KHL campaign with a comprehensive victory, beating Avangard Omsk 4:0 on Monday evening. The away side took control from the outset and never looked back. Avangard, unbeaten in their recent matches, found themselves outplayed in front of their own fans.
By then, the picture in the table was clear. Salavat sit second after one game and one win, while Avangard remain seventh with zero points from zero fixtures. The hosts had not yet started their league campaign, so this match counted for nothing in the standings — but it told you plenty about where both teams stand.
To be fair, Avangard had looked solid in their pre-season run. They had won two of their last five matches, including a 4:3 victory over Nizhnekamsk and a tight 2:1 win against Lokomotiv. Salavat, meanwhile, had struggled recently with three losses in their past five games. The away side had only managed one win, a 3:2 result against Cherepovets.
The scoreline does not lie. Four goals without reply against a side that had been competitive in recent outings suggests Salavat found their rhythm quickly. Avangard will need to regroup before their league opener. For now, the gap between them on the table is two places and one point — but it could widen fast.