Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 5 Lada Togliatti 2

Gilbert Brule clearly has a liking for Lada. The Canadian forward made it four goals in three days against the team from Togliatti as Neftekhimik eased to another convincing win.

And the former Medvescak center was celebrating a third victory over the Motormen this season; he also scored in the Croatian team’s 3-2 win back in August.

Brule began the night with an assist on Richard Gynge’s 10th-minute opener, but that lead was quickly cancelled out by Nikita Filatov. But the second period put Neftekhimik in control. Dmitry Ogurtsov made it 2-1 with a power play goal and barely a minute later Dan Sexton added a third. Brule was back on the scoresheet in the 30th minute, claiming his second assist of the night as Sergei Konkov made it 4-1. Then he opened the final session with Neftekhimik’s fifth, again on the power play. Kristaps Sotnieks got one back for Lada to ensure the final score was a repeat of Wednesday’s game.

The win moves the home team level with Lada’s 38 points. Both clubs are four points outside the playoff places.