Neftekhimik wins a game full of up and downs

In a very entertaining match Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk came back three times from a deficit to defeat struggling Atlant Moscow Oblast with 6-5 in overtime. Nikolai Zherdev and Dmitry Kosmachoy gained an early two-goal lead for Atlant until 08:40 before super talent Nail Yakupov made it 1-2 before the first intermission. At the begin of the second period Martin Cibak tied the match before Igor Ignatushkin got the lead back to Atlant just a minute later. Again Nail Yakupov and Andrei Subbotin brought Neftekhimik in front for the first time before the end of the period. But Atlant was not yet beaten and turned the game around themselves through Andreas Engqvist and Mikhail Glukhov. At 52:23 Igor Polygalov made it 5-5. At the start of the overtime Neftekhimik survived a two-minute penalty and later they had themselves the chance to score the game winner in a 4 on 3 power play which they used through Oskar Osala who earned the extra point for Neftekhimik at 63:53.

In a far less entertaining match Lokomotiv Yaroslavl underlined their strength at home with a 2-0 victory over Severstal Cherepovets. Sergei Plotnikov in power play and Alexander Chernikov decided the game for Lokomotiv. Severstal found no way past Varlamov who shut them out with 24 saves. Now Loko is back on the top of Tarasov Division.

With minimum efforts Metallurg Novokuznetsk earned an away win against Slovan Bratislava. The hosts went in front in the first period through Mario Bliznak before a double by Dmitry Chernykh and Randy Robitaille made it 1-2 until 27:12 with two of only six shots on goal in that period. Around "half time" Slovan came back through a power play goal by Michal Vondrka. At 46:01 Randy Robitaille with his second of the night and Nikita Vyglazov with an empty netter with 72 seconds left to play in regulation made it 2-4 in favour of Novokuznetsk. The team now is only three points behin division leaders Avangard Omsk.    

 

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