Avangard 2–3 Neftekhimik 10/22/2026
22.10.2026
Neftekhimik got a win over Avangard 3–2.
Avangard started the game with great intensity, unleashing a barrage of shots on Yaroslav Ozolin’s net from the very first minutes. Yet, it was Avangard that opened the scoring under entirely different circumstances. Yegor Afanasyev was sent to the penalty box for boarding Timothy Lovell in the back. As Neftekhimik set up in the Avangard zone looking for a power-play goal, it ended up conceding one instead. Their opponents moved the puck into our zone in just three touches, and Vasily Ponomaryov opened the scoring – 1–0.However, what Neftekhimik could not achieve on the power play, it managed at even strength – and without wasting any time. The team executed a solid positional attack, with the trio of Zhafyarov, Nikolishin, and Belozyorov clicking into gear. After receiving a pass from behind the net, the captain skillfully beat goaltender Nikita Serebryakov in the slot to tie the game at 1–1.
Neftekhimike earned another power-play opportunity, but once again, it was unable to capitalize.
For the first half of the second period, our team was largely forced onto the defensive. Neftekhimik struggled to maintain possession or mount any coherent attacks. Avangard took advantage of its momentum in the 25th minute; while set up in our zone, the hosts looked for an opening to fire a precise shot at Yaroslav Ozolin’s net. The chance fell to Mikhail Gulyaev – our goaltender managed to stop his shot, but Joshua Leivo was the first to reach the rebound, making it 2–1.
Toward the end of the period, Neftekhimik managed to level the play, though it struggled to create any significant scoring chances in front of the Avangard net. In the third period, our team came out with renewed energy, demonstrating what it is truly capable of. The fate of the game was effectively decided in a four-minute span, during which Neftekhimik scored twice in quick succession. First, a shot by Maxim Fedotov found the back of the net, leveling the score at 2–2. Shortly after, the team executed a swift, fluid attack: Ilya Pastukhov took a shot, and Rafael Bikmullin deflected it into the goal, putting Neftekhimik ahead 3–2.
The final four minutes of the game felt like an eternity. Avangard made desperate attempts to force the game into overtime, but Neftekhimik held firm to secure the victory. As Igor Vladimirovich Grishin noted after the game, the team dedicated this win to Neftekhimik’s birthday.
Upcoming game:
DATE OPPONENT TIME
10/27/2026 vs Metallurg Mg ⏰7:30 pm
