SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (Interstat) — Stanislav Galiyev scored twice, including the game-winning goal with 30 seconds remaining in regulation, to lift Dinamo Minsk to a 4-3 victory over SKA Saint Petersburg in a Kontinental Hockey League matchup on Monday.

The dramatic finish at Ice Palace Saint Petersburg avenged a 4-1 loss to SKA just over three weeks prior and improved Dinamo Minsk’s record across all competitions to 26 wins and 16 losses. SKA fell to 20 wins, 17 losses and one tie.

The game defied pregame projections from Interstat, whose simulator had forecast a 4-2 SKA victory and whose ELO system gave the home team a 50.90 percent probability to win.

Dinamo Minsk established control early, capitalizing on its first power-play chance. With SKA’s Markus Phillips serving a cross-checking minor, Galiyev opened the scoring at 8:19 of the first period, converting assists from Alex Limoges and Sam Anas.

The visitors doubled their lead on another power play in the second period. With SKA’s Sergei Vl. Ivanov in the box for high-sticking, Nicolas Meloche fired a shot past the SKA goaltender at 25:05, assisted by Vitaly Pinchuk.

SKA responded with a surge late in the middle frame to erase the two-goal deficit. First, Phillips atoned for his earlier penalty by scoring at 29:51, set up by Joseph Blandisi and Brendan Leipsic. Just over three minutes later, Matvei Polyakov tied the game at 2-2 with his 11th goal of the season at 33:44, assisted by Sergei Plotnikov and Sergei Sapego.

Dinamo Minsk regained the lead before the second intermission, however. With SKA’s Nikolai Goldobin off for high-sticking, veteran forward Vadim Shipachyov restored the Dinamo Minsk advantage on the power play at 39:26. Sam Anas, who finished with three assists, and Robert Hamilton provided the helpers.

SKA pushed hard for another equalizer in the third period and found it at 48:20. Goldobin redeemed his earlier penalty by netting his 10th goal of the season, with Mikhail Vorobyov and Brennan Menell assisting, to knot the score at 3-3.

The game appeared headed for overtime until a critical late mistake by SKA. Sergei Vl. Ivanov was penalized for throwing the puck outside the playing area with 1:11 left, giving Dinamo Minsk a crucial power play. The visitors needed only 41 seconds of the man-advantage to strike. Galiyev sealed his two-goal afternoon and the victory, firing home the decisive goal at 59:30. Anas recorded his third assist of the game on the play, with Ty Smith also earning a helper.

The game was a special teams battle, with Dinamo Minsk converting three of its six power-play opportunities. SKA went 0-for-2 with the man advantage. Penalties were relatively even, with Dinamo Minsk taking three minors to SKA’s four.

Beyond Galiyev’s offensive heroics, Dinamo Minsk received key contributions from Meloche with a goal and five shots on goal, and Pinchuk with an assist and a game-high six shots. For SKA, Phillips had a goal and two penalty minutes, Polyakov scored, and Goldobin added a goal and a minor penalty.

The win continues a strong run of form for Dinamo Minsk, which has now won three of its last four games. SKA has dropped two consecutive contests.

The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Minsk on Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the next fixture of the KHL regular season. Dinamo Minsk travels to face Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on Wednesday, while SKA will host Spartak Moscow on Thursday.