Firstov double gives Torpedo first win

Torpedo got its first victory of the summer, defeating its farm club Dizel in the first of two back-to-back games.

Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 2 Dizel Penza 1 (1-0, 1-0, 0-1)

After losses against Khimik Voskresensk and Amur, Igor Larionov’s team got the verdict here thanks to two goals from Vladislav Firstov. The 22-year-old forward potted his first goals of the summer, following a break-out season in last year’s KHL. In 2022-2023, Firstov had 26 (11+15) points in 47 regular season games, plus 4 (3+1) in 10 playoff outings.

Today, he opened the scoring midway through the first period on a power play. In the second period, he doubled his tally with a shorthanded effort. Dizel, which previously lost in a shoot-out against Dynamo Moscow, got one back midway through the third on a PP effort from Alexei Mitrofanov but could not force the game into overtime.

The teams meet again tomorrow, while Saturday also sees CSKA play its first game of the summer at Dinamo Minsk. Vityaz faces Kunlun Red Star in the day’s third game.