NOVOSIBIRSK, Russia (Interstat) — In a result that defied pregame projections, Sibir Novosibirsk edged Salavat Yulaev Ufa 3-2 in a shootout Wednesday night in a Kontinental Hockey League match at Ice Sports Palace Sibir.

The victory improved Sibir’s record to 4-3, while Salavat Yulaev’s difficult start to the season continued, dropping them to 1-6. The outcome was unexpected according to the Interstat ELO system, which had given the visiting Salavat Yulaev a 61.6 percent probability of winning, though the final score was in line with the simulator’s projection of a 3-2 Sibir victory.

Salavat Yulaev opened the scoring late in the first period. At the 13:12 mark, forward Maxim N. Kuznetsov netted his third goal of the season, with assists credited to Danil Alalykin and Alexei Vasilevsky. The goal gave the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

The game’s only penalty occurred in the first period when Sibir’s Nikita Soshnikov was called for a minor infraction.

Sibir found an equalizer midway through the second period. At 37:40 of total game time, Salavat Yulaev’s Jack Rodewald scored his first goal of the campaign, assisted by Yegor Suchkov and Denis Yan, tying the game at 1-1.

The third period saw a late surge from the home side. Sibir’s Alexei Yakovlev scored his second goal of the season at the 41:34 mark, with an assist from Timur Akhiyarov, to give Sibir its first lead of the night at 2-1. However, Salavat Yulaev responded quickly. Just under three minutes later, at 44:30, Vladimir Tkachyov scored his first goal for Sibir, assisted by defensemen Yegor Alanov and Chase Evans Priskie, but the goal was credited to the home team, re-tying the game at 2-2.

Regulation and overtime solved nothing, sending the contest to a shootout where Sibir ultimately prevailed.

The loss extends a troubling trend for Salavat Yulaev, who have now lost four consecutive games. Their season began with a 3-2 overtime loss to Torpedo on Sept. 6, followed by a 3-2 overtime win against Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Sept. 8. Since then, they have suffered defeats to Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (twice), Avangard Omsk in overtime, and Ak Bars Kazan.

Sibir, meanwhile, has won two of its last three games. Prior to this victory, they lost to Severstal Cherepovets 4-2 on Monday but had recorded a 1-0 win over Amur Khabarovsk last Friday.

Looking ahead, Salavat Yulaev returns home to Ufa to host Avangard Omsk on Saturday, Sept. 27, as they desperately seek to reverse their fortunes. They will face Sibir again in a rematch on Wednesday, Oct. 1, in Ufa.

Sibir continues its homestand before embarking on a road trip, with their next game against Barys Astana in Astana on Saturday, Sept. 27, followed by a match against Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Monday, Sept. 29. The two teams will meet three more times this season, with games scheduled for Oct. 1 in Ufa and Oct. 23 back in Novosibirsk.