MOSCOW (Interstat) — Goaltender Alexander Samonov stopped all 43 shots he faced to backstop CSKA Moscow to a 2-0 victory over Spartak Moscow in a Kontinental Hockey League game Thursday at Luzhniki Minor Arena.

Dmitry Buchelnikov opened the scoring for the visitors just over two minutes into the first period. Maxim Sorkin doubled the lead for CSKA less than four minutes later, with Prokhor Poltapov assisting on both goals. Spartak’s Alexander Georgiyev made 23 saves in the loss.

The win improves CSKA’s record to 29-25, moving them ahead of Spartak, which fell to 28-26. The result defied pregame projections that favored the home team. CSKA has now won three straight in the season series between the Moscow rivals.