BALASHIKHA, Russia (Interstat) — Damir Sharipzyanov scored twice and added two assists Sunday to lead Avangard Omsk to a 7-5 victory over Spartak Moscow in a high-scoring, back-and-forth Kontinental Hockey League contest at Balashikha Arena.

The home side’s defenseman was the catalyst in a dominant first-period performance that saw Avangard build a commanding lead it would never relinquish. The win improved Avangard’s record across all competitions to 21 wins and 11 losses, solidifying its position near the top of the KHL standings. Spartak, despite a hat trick from forward Ivan Morozov, fell to 18-17.

Avangard stormed out of the gate, overwhelming Spartak with four unanswered goals in the opening period. Nail Yakupov opened the scoring just 1:24 into the game, converting a pass from Andrew Poturalski. Giovanni Fiore made it 2-0 at 9:06 before Sharipzyanov began his standout night with a goal at 9:43, giving Avangard three goals in a span of just 8 minutes and 19 seconds.

Michael McLeod extended the lead to 4-0 at 14:32, and Sharipzyanov netted his second of the period only 16 seconds later to push the advantage to five goals. The offensive outburst defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which gave Avangard a 64.4 percent probability to win but had simulated a final score of 4-2.

Spartak finally broke through on goaltender Vasily Demchenko at 10:15 of the first when Ivan Morozov buried a feed from Adam Ruzicka. German Rubtsov added another for the visitors at 17:35 to send the teams to the first intermission with Avangard leading 5-2.

The second period saw a slowdown in scoring, with only two goals. Alexander Volkov restored Avangard’s four-goal cushion at 23:41, but Morozov answered with his second of the game at 31:11, making it 6-3 heading into the final frame.

Volkov’s second goal of the contest at 40:15 of the third period proved critical, as it came amid a late Spartak surge. Adam Ruzicka brought Spartak back within three at 45:03, and after Avangard took three consecutive minor penalties, Morozov completed his hat trick on the ensuing extended power play at 54:35, suddenly cutting the deficit to 7-5.

Spartak could draw no closer, however. The game ended with a fracas at the final horn, resulting in a fighting major for Spartak’s Daniil Orlov and an instigator penalty for Avangard’s Vasily Ponomaryov.

Morozov finished with three goals and an assist for Spartak, while linemate Ruzicka added a goal and three assists. For Avangard, Volkov’s two goals complemented Sharipzyanov’s four-point night, and McLeod contributed a goal and an assist.

Avangard next travels to face Sibir Novosibirsk on Tuesday. Spartak, concluding a three-game road trip with this loss, looks to rebound when it visits Dynamo Moscow on Dec. 16.