KHABAROVSK, Russia (Interstat) — Grigory D. Kuzmin scored twice, including the game-winning goal late in the third period, to lift Amur Khabarovsk to a 3-2 victory over Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in a Kontinental Hockey League game Sunday at Platinum Arena.

The win improved Amur’s record across all competitions to 22 wins and 37 losses, while Neftekhimik fell to 30-31.

Amur goaltender Maxim Dorozhko backstopped the victory with 32 saves on 34 shots, outdueling Neftekhimik’s Filipp Dolganov, who stopped 30 of 33.

The game was a penalty-filled affair, with Neftekhimik taking four of the seven minor infractions. The visitors found themselves shorthanded just 36 seconds into the contest when Bulat Shafigullin was called for tripping. Despite killing that penalty and two more in the first period, Neftekhimik’s discipline issues would be a recurring theme.

Neftekhimik opened the scoring at the 13:24 mark of the first period. Evgeny Mityakin netted his 17th goal of the season, assisted by Nikita Artamonov and Damir Zhafyarov, to give the visitors a 1-0 lead that held through the intermission.

Amur responded with pressure in the second period, finally breaking through at 21:09 of the game. Kuzmin scored his second of the season, converting a setup from Yaroslav Likhachyov and Ivan Mishchenko to tie the score. The home team took its first lead less than eight minutes later when Alex Broadhurst fired home his eighth goal, with assists from Alexander Filatyev and Raul Akmaldinov, making it 2-1.

The third period saw Amur defend its narrow lead and Neftekhimik struggle to generate equalizing chances. A hooking penalty to Amur’s Mishchenko near the midway point provided a power-play opportunity, but the Nizhnekamsk squad could not capitalize.

Kuzmin then delivered the decisive blow at 53:35, scoring his second of the night and third of the season to extend Amur’s lead to 3-1. Filatyev, who finished with two assists, and Artyom Shvaryov provided the helpers.

Neftekhimik showed a late spark, pulling Dolganov for an extra attacker. The gamble paid off when Matvei Zaseda scored his eighth goal with just 2:53 remaining in regulation, cutting the deficit to 3-2. The goal was assisted by Nikita Khoruzhev and Artyom Serikov.

Amur’s Filatyev took a too-many-players penalty with 2:32 left, giving Neftekhimik a 6-on-4 advantage. Dorozhko and the Amur penalty kill held firm, however, sealing the victory.

Zaseda’s goal capped a notable individual performance that also included four penalty minutes and four shots on goal. For Amur, Likhachyov recorded an assist and a game-high six shots on goal.

The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose ELO system had given Neftekhimik a 56.2 percent probability to win. The game simulator had predicted a higher-scoring 4-3 Amur victory.

The two teams will meet again in Khabarovsk on Tuesday, March 3, in the second half of a back-to-back set. Neftekhimik then travels to Admiral Vladivostok for two games, while Amur remains home to face Salavat Yulaev Ufa in a two-game series beginning Thursday, March 5.