Preview: Sochi Looks to Reverse Fortunes Against Neftekhimik in KHL Clash

NIZHNEKAMSK, Russia (Interstat) — The struggling HC Sochi travels to face Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in a Kontinental Hockey League matchup on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at SCC Arena.

Sochi (14-36-0) enters on a five-game losing skid, including a 10-1 road defeat to Sibir Novosibirsk on Tuesday. The team has been outscored 27-6 during this stretch. Their last victory was a 2-1 home win over SKA Saint Petersburg on Jan. 16.

Neftekhimik (28-26-0), hovering near playoff contention, aims to rebound from a 5-1 home loss to SKA on Tuesday. Prior to that, the club had won three of its previous four games.

A key player for Sochi is forward Yegor Petukhov, who scored the team’s lone goal in the lopsided loss to Sibir. He has one goal and four shots on net in his last five outings.

Neftekhimik will rely on forward Damir Zhafyarov, who has been a consistent offensive threat. He scored in the loss to SKA and recorded a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over Sibir on Feb. 4. In his last seven games, Zhafyarov has two goals and three assists.

The season series stands at 1-0 in favor of Sochi, which earned a 2-1 home victory on Jan. 3. Thursday’s contest offers Neftekhimik a chance for home-ice revenge and a crucial two points as it pursues a postseason berth.

For Sochi, the game represents an opportunity to halt a demoralizing slide and build on its earlier success against this opponent. The team will need significant improvement in goal prevention after allowing 10 goals in its last start.

The puck drops at 7 p.m. local time.