CHEREPOVETS, Russia (Interstat) — Danil Aimurzin scored 2 minutes, 50 seconds into overtime to lift Severstal Cherepovets to a 3-2 victory over Admiral Vladivostok in a Kontinental Hockey League game on Thursday.

Aimurzin netted his seventh goal of the season off assists from Ioannis Kaldis and Mikhail Ilyin to secure the extra-time win for the home team at Ice Palace, capping a back-and-forth contest that saw the lead change hands multiple times.

Severstal, one of the league’s top teams this season, improved its record to 20 wins and 9 losses. Admiral, struggling near the bottom of the standings, fell to 10 wins and 16 losses. The result defied a pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 5-2 Severstal victory and gave the home team a 71.20 percent probability of winning.

Severstal opened the scoring early in the first period. David Dumbadze found the net for his sixth goal of the season at the 6:39 mark, with assists credited to Danil Veryayev and Ivan Podshivalov. Admiral’s Daniil Gutik was sent to the penalty box for tripping later in the period, but the home team could not extend its lead.

The game turned in the second period as Admiral mounted a comeback. Arkady Shestakov cut the deficit to 2-1 at 24:27, scoring his third goal of the year with helpers from Stepan Starkov and Georgy Solyannikov. The visitors then drew level just seven minutes later when Dmitry Zavgorodny scored his fifth goal, assisted by Alexander Shepelev, to make it 2-2.

The tie was short-lived. Severstal defenseman Vladimir Grudinin responded just over a minute later, netting his second goal of the season at 32:29. Ruslan Abrosimov and Timofei Davydov were credited with the assists on the play that put Severstal back in front. Admiral’s Vyacheslav Osnovin was penalized for hooking late in the period.

The third period was a disciplined, defensive affair with only two minor penalties called, both against Severstal. Nikita Kamalov was called for tripping and Mikhail Ilyin for a too many players on the ice infraction, but Admiral could not capitalize on either power play, setting the stage for Aimurzin’s overtime heroics.

In goal, Severstal’s Vsevolod Skotnikov earned the win with 28 saves on 30 shots. Admiral’s Dmitry Shugayev was credited with the loss despite a strong 27-save performance on 30 shots.

The game was a reversal of the teams’ previous meeting on Oct. 21, when Severstal skated to a 4-1 victory in Vladivostok.

Admiral, which had won two of its last three games including a shootout victory over Torpedo on Tuesday, will look to rebound on the road against Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Saturday. Severstal, now on a three-game winning streak, will next host Lada Togliatti on Sunday.