UFA, Russia (Interstat) — Alexander Khokhlachyov scored the game-winning goal with 1:15 remaining in the third period to lift Salavat Yulaev Ufa to a 2-1 victory over HC Sochi in a Kontinental Hockey League game Friday at Ufa Arena.

The late goal broke a deadlock in a tight, penalty-filled contest and secured a crucial two points for Salavat Yulaev in its push for playoff positioning. The win improved Salavat Yulaev’s record to 36 wins and 32 losses, while last-place Sochi fell to 17 wins and 47 losses.

The game defied the pregame projections from Interstat, which gave Salavat Yulaev an 81.30 percent probability to win and projected a 4-1 final score. Instead, the contest was a defensive struggle decided in the final minutes.

Salavat Yulaev struck first, capitalizing on an early power play. Just 36 seconds into the game, Sochi’s Timur Khafizov was called for tripping. The home team needed only a few moments of the man advantage to convert, as Alexander Zharovsky netted his 16th goal of the season at the 4:41 mark of the opening period. Assists went to Danil Alalykin and Yegor Suchkov.

That goal held up for more than two periods as both teams navigated a parade to the penalty box. The first period alone featured five minor penalties, three against Sochi and two against Salavat Yulaev. The physical tone was set by Salavat Yulaev defenseman Vitaly Budnitsky, who delivered a game-high two hits.

Sochi goaltender Pavel Khomchenko kept his team within reach, turning aside 26 of the 28 shots he faced. His counterpart, Ilya Konovalov, was equally sharp for Salavat Yulaev, making 25 saves on 26 shots.

The visitors finally broke through on Konovalov midway through the third period. With Salavat Yulaev’s Khokhlachyov in the box for tripping, Sochi’s power play unit connected at 43:07 of game time. Rafael Bikmullin scored his sixth goal of the season, with assists from Vasily Machulin and Dmitry Kagarlitsky, to tie the game at 1-1.

Momentum seemed to swing toward Sochi, but discipline issues resurfaced in the final minutes. The team took two more minor penalties for hooking and tripping in the last nine minutes, forcing a fatigued penalty kill unit back onto the ice.

Salavat Yulaev applied heavy pressure during a late advantage and, just 13 seconds after a Sochi tripping penalty expired, Khokhlachyov redeemed his earlier infraction. He took a pass from Yaroslav Tsulygin and beat Khomchenko for his ninth goal of the season at 58:45, with an additional assist to Artyom Pimenov.

Sochi could not muster a response in the final 75 seconds, dropping its second straight one-goal decision to Salavat Yulaev this season. The home team also won the previous meeting 2-1 in Sochi on Jan. 24.

The game was a special teams battle, with Salavat Yulaev going 1-for-6 on the power play and Sochi finishing 1-for-3. Sochi’s Khafizov led all skaters with four shots on goal, while Khokhlachyov led Salavat Yulaev with four shots and also served four penalty minutes.

The victory gives Salavat Yulaev a sweep of its two-game regular-season home series against Sochi, having also won 3-1 in Ufa last October. Salavat Yulaev will look to build on the win as it continues its playoff pursuit, while Sochi, mired in a difficult season, heads back on the road seeking to snap a three-game losing streak.