NIZHNEIMERETINSKAYA BUKHTA, Russia (Interstat) — Denis Vengryzhanovsky scored at 10:07 of the third period and Sochi defeated Ak Bars Kazan 3-2 on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in a Kontinental Hockey League game at Bolshoy Ice Dome. Vengryzhanovsky’s goal broke a 2-2 tie. The announced attendance was 4,110. Sochi improved to 1-4-0. Ak Bars fell to 4-3-0.

Sochi opened the scoring at 13:52 of the first period when Maxim Korostelyov found the net, with Matvei Guskov drawing the assist. Ak Bars answered 44 seconds later. Nikita Dynyak scored at 14:36, with assists from Nikita S. Yevseyev and Albert Yarullin. The teams went to the first intermission tied 1-1.

The second period produced three penalties and two goals. Yegor Sokolov of Ak Bars was called for tripping at 24:34. Sochi capitalized 19 seconds later when Cameron Lee scored at 24:53, with assists from Guskov and Korostelyov. Artyom Guryev of Sochi received a kneeing penalty at 25:59. Ak Bars’ Dynyak was sent off for high sticking at 28:46. Sochi’s Ilya V. Nikolayev was called for holding at 39:45. Ten seconds later, Ak Bars tied the game again. Artyom Galimov scored at 39:55, with assists from Nikita Lyamkin and Sokolov. The teams entered the third period tied 2-2.

Vengryzhanovsky provided the decisive moment at 50:07 of the third period. He scored with assists from Gage Quinney and Alexander Khokhlachyov to put Sochi ahead 3-2. Ak Bars pressed for an equalizer, but Sochi goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov finished with 17 saves on 19 shots. Sochi went on the power play late when Stepan Terekhov of Ak Bars was called for tripping at 59:22, and the home team protected the lead.

Andreyanov earned the win with 17 saves on 19 shots. Korostelyov finished with a goal and an assist to go with two shots and one hit. Lee scored once on three shots and added one hit. Guskov had two assists, three shots and one hit. Dynyak scored, recorded three shots, two penalty minutes and four hits. Galimov scored on three shots. Vengryzhanovsky had a goal, three shots and one hit. Quinney added an assist, one shot and three hits. Yarullin had one assist and two hits. Artur Gizdatullin of Sochi registered four shots and two hits.

Sochi entered the game after a 4-0 home loss to CSKA Moscow on Sept. 16 and had dropped four of its first five games. The team also had lost 1-0 at home to SKA Saint Petersburg on Sept. 12, 4-1 at Avangard Omsk on Sept. 10 and 5-1 at Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk on Sept. 8. Ak Bars had won 4-3 in overtime at Salavat Yulaev Ufa on Sept. 16. Before that, Ak Bars lost 3-2 at Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Sept. 14 and lost 3-2 in a shootout to Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Sept. 11. Ak Bars also beat Traktor Chelyabinsk 2-1 on Sept. 9, Admiral Vladivostok 2-0 on Sept. 7 and Sibir Novosibirsk 4-3 in a shootout on Sept. 5.

Sochi will host Sibir Novosibirsk on Sunday, Sept. 20. Sochi then visits Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Thursday, Sept. 24, visits Severstal Cherepovets on Saturday, Sept. 26, visits Shanghai Dragons on Monday, Sept. 28, hosts Salavat Yulaev Ufa on Wednesday, Sept. 30, hosts Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Saturday, Oct. 3, hosts Spartak Moscow on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Friday, Oct. 9, visits Ak Bars Kazan on Monday, Oct. 12, and hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on Saturday, Oct. 17. Ak Bars will host Lada Togliatti on Monday, Sept. 21, visit Sibir Novosibirsk on Thursday, Sept. 24, visit Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Saturday, Sept. 26, host Barys Astana on Wednesday, Sept. 30, host Traktor Chelyabinsk on Friday, Oct. 2, host Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on Monday, Oct. 5, host Severstal Cherepovets on Saturday, Oct. 10, host Sochi on Monday, Oct. 12, visit Shanghai Dragons on Friday, Oct. 16, and visit Dinamo Minsk on Sunday, Oct. 18.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Ak Bars 3, Sochi 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Ak Bars with an 85.5 percent probability to win. The actual result left Sochi at 1-4-0 and Ak Bars at 4-3-0.