Minsk leads the West, CSKA thrashes Dynamo. December 30 round-up

The final gameday of 2025 saw Dinamo Minsk secure its position atop the Western Conference. Vadim Shipachyov had two points in an overtime win at Salavat Yulaev. The Moscow derby went to CSKA, 5-1 winners over Dynamo. Ak Bars climbed to second in the East with a shoot-out win over Severstal, Lokomotiv is second in the West after edging Torpedo 1-0. Reid Boucher scored twice to help Avtomobilist edge past Lada, Sibir grabbed an OT verdict at Amur and SKA left it late to grab a 3-2 success over Shanghai Dragons.

Sibir ends year on a high

Amur Khabarovsk 2 Sibir Novosibirsk 3 OT (0-0, 0-2, 2-0, 0-1)

Sibir defeated Amur for the second time in nine days, despite blowing two-goal lead in Khabarovsk. The Tigers grabbed two quick goals at the start of the third period, but fell to Taylor Beck in overtime.

The visitor claimed its third straight win, following back-to-back successes in Vladivostok, and is now just two points outside the playoff spots in the East.

After a goalless first period, Sibir got ahead early in the second. Anton Kosolapov continued his impressive run of form with the opening goal. Since making his debut for the club on Nov. 29, Kosolapov, 23, has 16 (8+8) points in 11 games. Three minutes after that marker, Daniil Valitov doubled the lead when his point shot beat Maxim Dorozhko.

Later, Amur had power play chances and spent six minutes in total with an extra player. However, it could not reduce the deficit before the intermission despite creating some good chances.

Things changed in the 45th minute when the Tigers struck twice in 23 seconds. Yaroslav Likhachyov got the first, firing Ignat Korotkikh’s feed home from the right-hand circle. Then Artur Gizdatullin whipped in an effort from the blue line which Anton Krasotkin could only parry in front of his net. Kirill Slepets claimed back possession and set up Nikita Yevseyev for the equalizer.

Neither team could win it in regulation, but Sibir needed just 22 seconds of the extras. The visitor began overtime on the power play and Beck produced an excellent wrister to end his team’s year on a high.

Barys better on the road

Avangard Omsk 2 Barys Astana 4 (0-1, 1-2, 1-1)

Barys halted its four-game skid with victory in Omsk, while Avangard saw the end of a five-game hot streak. The visitor suffered an unhappy home stand, losing four in a week, but recovered to claim a third straight success on the road.

Mikhail Kravets restored Nikita Boyarkin as his starting goalie for this game, and that decision paid off. Boyarkin, who missed the start of the season as he recovered from a serious injury, produced 36 saves to backstop the win.

At the other end, Nikita Serebryakov found himself under early pressure as the Kazakhs made the early running. It wasn’t until a too many men penalty in the fifth penalty gave Avangard a power play that the home team managed its first shot on goal. Midway through the session, when Barys got its first full power play, Boyarkin ended up making the more notable save to deny Max Lajoie a shorthanded effort.

But when Avangard returned to full strength, a defensive error from Klim Kostin undermined the host. He gifted the puck to Vsevolod Logvin, who duly beat Serebryakov.

The Hawks’ power play is usually a dangerous weapon, but today it misfired. One PP came and went in the first period, and early in the second the special team broke down to such an extent that Alikhan Asetov was given the freedom to skate away and beat Serebryakov to make it 2-0. The home offense found it tough to create chances, but in the 27th minute Konstantin Okulov’s shot was too much for Boyarkin to hold and Vasily Ponomaryov nipped in to stuff the puck over the line.

That goal finally gave some impetus to the home team, and Barys found itself pegged back for long spells. However, the visitor did not crumble under pressure and when Kirill Panyukov was left wide open on the deep slot he scored a third goal in the 36th minute.

Barys might have finished the game if it had capitalized on Andrew Poturalski’s penalty late in the second. However, the home team survived and got back to 2-3 midway through the final frame thanks to Marsel Ibragimov. When the KHL’s most effective power play of the season got another opportunity with 3:37 to play, it felt like a big chance to save the game. Tonight, though, the visiting penalty kill was on form and repelled that threat. The final word went to Mason Morelli, whose empty net goal sealed the verdict.

Demolition derby as CSKA thumps Dynamo

CSKA Moscow 5 Dynamo Moscow 1 (2-0, 2-1, 1-0)

An emphatic derby win over Dynamo wrapped up CSKA’s 2025 program in style. Igor Nikitin’s team came close to a repeat of its 6-2 win in the season opener back in September and ended a run of three losses to its cross-town rival.

Tuesday’s game was a big contrast to the teams’ meeting nine days earlier, which ended goalless through 65 minutes before the Blue-and-Whites won the shoot-out. Today, CSKA found the way to goal inside nine minutes, capitalizing on the first power play of the evening with a goal from Kirill Dolzhenkov.

Dynamo tried to step up in response to that setback, but fell further behind five minutes later when Prokhor Poltapov doubled the lead. Ironically, Poltapov was also the architect of Dynamo’s best scoring chance when his mistake presented Sergei Artemyev with the puck in front of Dmitry Gamzin moments before CSKA’s second goal.

Early in the second period another CSKA power play saw Mac Hollowell claim his first goal for his new club. That chased Maxim Motorygin from the Dynamo net, but Vladislav Podyapolsky was soon beaten by Takhir Mingachyov as the home team tightened the screws.

There was some consolation for the visitor when Ansel Galimov pulled a goal back in the 34th minute. But this was always CSKA’s day. In Nikitin’s preferred manner, the home team did not go chasing more goals but played the final period cautiously. However, there was still time for Denis Guryanov to add a fifth and complete a convincing win.

Boucher sparks fightback win

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 4 Lada Togliatti 3 (2-3, 1-0, 1-0)

Two goals from Reid Boucher led Avtomobilist to a fifth successive win, but only after recovering from 0-2 and 2-3 to beat Lada.

The visitor made much the better start and had two goals inside nine minutes. Tomas Jurco opened the scoring, getting his shot inside the near post with

Evgeny Alikin unable to stop it crossing the line. Right after that Reilly Sawchuk narrowly failed to connect with a three-on-two rush. The Canadian quickly made up for that chance, surprising Alikin with a backhanded shot to make it 2-0.

That brought Vladimir Galkin into the game in place of the starting goalie, and he was tested almost immediately. However, the home team got its first power play and Boucher pulled a goal back.

Barely a minute later, Anatoly Golyshev tied the game with a finish similar to Boucher’s. But the action was relentless and Lada restored its lead 90 seconds later thanks to Sawchuk’s second of the night. Andrei Altybarmakyan got his third assist of the game on that one, and it separated the teams at the intermission.

After a high-scoring first period, the next two produced just one goal each. And both went to Avtomobilist as the home team turned the scoreline around to finish the year on a winning note. Boucher got his second of the game in the 28th minute, tying the scores at 3-3.

Early in the third, Sawchuk was especially active as he looked for his first hat-trick in the KHL. However, the next goal went to Avto and Semyon Kizimov put the host up for the first time in the game. That proved to be the game-winner, with Kizimov sinking his former club. There was still time for a fight in the closing stages when home defenseman Maxim Osipov took exception to Nikolai Makarov’s foul on Stepan Khripunov.

The closing stages saw Boucher find the net for the third time but, as the caps flew onto the ice, a review ruled out the goal and he was denied his hat-trick. When Lada played with an empty net, Boucher’s team-mates tried to get him a shot at completing that treble but in the end he had to settle for two goals and another win.

Shipachyov closes on 1,000 points, Minsk leads the West

Salavat Yulaev Ufa 2 Dinamo Minsk 3 OT (0-1, 0-1, 2-0, 0-1)

Dinamo Minsk finished the year on top of the Western Conference, and Vadim Shipachyov moved to 998 career points after Tuesday’s game in Ufa.

The Belarusians looked to have things under control after opening a 2-0 lead in the second period before a home fightback sent the game to the extras.

But Shipachyov got the winner, moving the Bison to 57 points ahead of the New Year break.

Salavat Yulaev welcomed back Sheldon Rempal, who missed the last two weeks due to family issues. The Canadian had an impact here, assisting on both his team’s goals, but still ended on the beaten side.

Both teams had early chances, but when Rempal went to the box in the 10th minute, Dinamo converted the first power play of the game. Vitaly Pinchuk banged in a Sam Anas feed for the only goal of an entertaining first period.

In the second period, Dinamo got another power play tally after Alexei Vasilevsky caught Nikita Pyshkailo with a high stick. Shipachyov fired in a shot and Andrei Stas did well to redirect it past Semyon Vyazovoi. After that, the visitor had more of the play. For long stretches, Salavat could not clear its line and the home time used up much of its energy on defense.

The third period began with Rempal setting up Vasilevsky for a shot that beat Vasily Demchenko and reignited the contest. Then the home team got a five-on-three power play and, despite taking a penalty of its own, managed to convert the chance thanks to Jack Rodewald.

This game was destined to be decided by special teams. After three goals from four in regulation came on the power play, Dinamo won it with a PP marker in OT. Shipachyov got the winner to end an impressive year for Minsk.

Another shoot-out loss for Severstal

Ak Bars Kazan 4 Severstal Cherepovets 3 SO (1-2, 1-0, 1-1, 0-0, 1-0)

A shoot-out win over Severstal lifted Ak Bars to second in the Eastern Conference ahead of Avangard. The home team finished 2025 with three successive victories, while Andrei Kozyrev’s men lost their second shoot-out in a row and drop to third in the West.

Severstal got off to a fast start, opening the scoring after 72 seconds. Alexander Skorenov was the first to react after Nikita Kamalov’s shot cannoned off the boards. Ak Bars responded with a couple of threatening attacks: Alexander Chmelevski got clean through on goal, only to be denied by Alexander Samoilov. But when the home team got the first power play of the evening, Chmelevski tied it up when he redirected a Mitch Miller shot into the net. However, a major penalty for Vladimir Alistrov halted the home momentum and Adam Liska restored Severstal’s lead before the intermission.

Alistrov’s penalty continued after the intermission and the visitor forced Timur Bilyalov into a couple of good saves. Back at equal strength, Ak Bars needed time to recover its game. Severstal controlled the puck well and offered few opportunities for the home offense. However, just before the intermission

Alistrov tied the scores when he stripped Timofei Davydov of the puck and lifted a shot past Samoilov.

At the start of the third, Alistrov almost struck again but he could not quite get a clean contact on Kirill Semyonov’s feed. Soon after, just as Severstal’s Ruslan Abrosimov was leaving the box, Semyonov put Ak Bars in front for the first time. The visitor wasn’t done, and Liska got his second of the game – shorthanded, this time – to tie it up in the 54th minute.

Neither team could win it in overtime, but the shoot-out saw Ak Bars get its first victory over the Lynx for two seasons: Artyom Galimov settled it in the home team’s favor.

Isayev blanks Torpedo

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 1 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 0 (0-0, 0-0, 1-0)

Daniil Isayev’s 30th KHL shut-out earned Lokomotiv a narrow win over Torpedo. The Railwaymen move back to second in the Western Conference, Torpedo remains fifth.

Isayev made 24 saves to keep Torpedo at bay. However, his opposite number Denis Kostin also had a big game. He came under pressure in the early stages – Lokomotiv had seven minutes on the attack in the first period alone – and made 38 saves in the game.

One of the more notable stops came in that first period when Nikita Kiryanov had a great chance. The home forward seemed to have found an open corner, but Kostin got his pad in the way to keep the scoreboard blank.

Both these teams suffered shut-out losses in their previous games, and the wait for a goal continued through the second period. Torpedo started better in the middle frame, producing a good power play but failing to finish chances. Yegor Vinogradov flashed a shot narrowly wide, then Vladimir Tkachyov forced another good save from Isayev. Gradually, the home team gained the initiative, fuelled by a mix of pace and possession play. However, even the most clear-cut chances went begging and the teams remained deadlocked at the second intermission.

The breakthrough finally came in the 48th minute. Alexander Radulov set up Martin Gernat for a shot that Maxim Beryozkin redirected on the slot. That was Radulov’s 500th assist in the KHL, making him the third player to reach that figure. Torpedo had an immediate chance to respond on the power play but could not beat Isayev. And, in the closing stages, Lokomotiv did a fine job of shutting down the game, allowing the visitor just four shots in the third period.

Late goal sinks Shanghai

Shanghai Dragons 2 SKA St. Petersburg 3 (1-2, 1-0, 0-1)

A last-minute goal from Yegor Savikov handed SKA victory in this Petersburg derby. Igor Nikitin’s team led twice in the first period, but broke a 2-2 tie with 19 seconds left on the clock. Defeat leaves Gerard Gallant’s Dragons six points adrift of a playoff spot with just one win in seven games.

The last game of the year got off to a lively start at the SKA Arena. Joseph Blandisi opened the scoring in the fifth minute, finishing off a quick counterattack led by Brendan Leipsic. Brennan Menell took a penalty on the next shift, though, and the Dragons tied it up on the power play thanks to Nikita Popugayev’s wrister from the left-hand circle.

A minute later, SKA had the lead once again. Nikita Dishkovsky collected a pass from Sergei Plotnikov and picked his moment to beat Patrik Rybar to score his first goal since Nov. 16. That ended the Slovak goalie’s evening, with Andrei Kareyev taking over from the starter.

After that fast start, things calmed down. SKA held its 2-1 lead until the end of the first period and survived a Shanghai power play at the start of the second. But the Dragons managed to tie the game before the second intermission. Like Dishkovsky before him, Gage Quinney ended a long goalless streak when he deflected a Kevin Labanc shot into the net. Quinney’s previous goal came on Nov. 19.

That encouraged the Dragons to seek a winner in the third. The home team had to kill an early penalty but went on to outshoot SKA 10-4 through the final frame. However, it could not find a way past Artemy Pleshkov and it seemed that the outcome would be settled in overtime.

However, with 19 seconds to play, SKA grabbed a winner. Serikov drilled in a point shot and a big deflection off a defenseman took it past Kareyev to settle the outcome.