NIZHNY NOVGOROD (Interstat) — Alexander Samonov made 23 saves and CSKA Moscow used a balanced attack to beat Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 3-2 in a Kontinental Hockey League game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Trade Union Sport Palace in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. The victory moved CSKA to 3-3-0, while Torpedo fell to 4-2-0. An announced crowd of 12,350 watched the visitors build a two-goal lead, absorb a Torpedo push and hold on late.

CSKA opened scoring at 9:20 of the first period when Nikolai Kovalenko scored, with Ivan Patrikhayev and Robert Hamilton assisting. Kovalenko finished with one goal, four shots on goal, two penalty minutes and one hit. Samonov was steady early as CSKA took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The visitors limited Torpedo’s chances and kept the home side from finding rhythm in the opening 20 minutes.

The visitors doubled the advantage at 27:24 of the second period. Derek Barach scored off a Pavel Karnaukhov assist to make it 2-0. Barach had one goal, two shots and two penalty minutes. Karnaukhov recorded one assist, two shots and two hits. CSKA’s pressure and Samonov’s netminding kept Torpedo off the board until midway through the period. The two-goal cushion gave CSKA control, but it did not last untouched.

Torpedo answered at 32:06 when Daniil Seroukh scored from Bogdan Konyushkov and Vladimir Tkachyov. Seroukh was Torpedo’s most dangerous skater, finishing with two goals, five shots and one hit. Tkachyov added one assist and two shots. The goal cut the CSKA lead to 2-1 and brought the home crowd into the game. Torpedo began to generate more pressure in the offensive zone and forced CSKA to defend with more urgency.

Penalties disrupted the second period. Barach was sent off at 30:50 for throwing the puck outside the playing area. At 34:45, Ronald Brickey of Torpedo and Oleg Maistrenko of CSKA received roughing minors. Kovalenko was called for tripping at 35:08. CSKA killed the chances and carried a one-goal lead into the third. The penalty kill became an important part of the visitors’ afternoon, especially as Torpedo pushed for an equalizer before the second intermission.

CSKA regained breathing room at 51:20 of the third. Yegor Zamula scored from Nikita Nesterov and Marat Khairullin for a 3-1 lead. Zamula had one goal and two shots. Nesterov finished with one assist, two shots and one hit. Khairullin had one assist, three shots and one hit. The goal proved decisive. It restored a two-goal margin after Torpedo had spent much of the middle frame trying to close the gap.

CSKA’s Nikita Okhotyuk was called for holding at 54:22. Torpedo made it tense at 56:16 when Seroukh scored again, with Pavel Kraskovsky and Mikhail Vorobyov assisting. Seroukh’s second goal trimmed the deficit to 3-2. Torpedo pressed for an equalizer. Samonov finished with 23 saves on 25 shots and earned the win. His previous outing was a 15-save shutout at HC Sochi on Sept. 16. CSKA’s defense held firm in the final minutes, clearing rebounds and blocking lanes as Torpedo tried to force overtime.

The game continued a busy early-season stretch for both clubs. CSKA entered after a 4-0 win at HC Sochi on Sept. 16. Earlier in September, CSKA lost to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Admiral Vladivostok and Spartak Moscow, and beat Torpedo 3-0 on Sept. 9 at CSKA Moscow. Torpedo entered after a 3-2 win over Ak Bars Kazan on Sept. 14 and a 7-2 road win at Lada Togliatti on Sept. 11. Earlier in September, Torpedo had beaten Spartak Moscow 1-0 and Dinamo Minsk in a shootout before losing 3-0 at CSKA on Sept. 9.

CSKA will next travel to Admiral Vladivostok on Monday, followed by games at Amur Khabarovsk on Wednesday and at Lada Togliatti on Friday. The club then returns home to face SKA Saint Petersburg on Sept. 29. Torpedo will host Avangard Omsk on Tuesday and HC Sochi on Thursday before a home game against Salavat Yulaev Ufa on Sept. 28. Torpedo will then begin October with a road game at Dynamo Moscow on Oct. 1.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Torpedo 4, CSKA 2 before the game. Interstat’s ELO system gave CSKA a 52.4 percent probability to win.