NIZHNEKAMSK, Russia (Interstat) — Damir Zhafyarov had two goals and an assist and Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk defeated visiting Lada Togliatti 7-3 on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in a Kontinental Hockey League game at SCC Arena in Neftekhim Arena. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for Neftekhimik and improved its record to 5-3. Lada, which has one win this season, fell to 1-7. A crowd of 3,629 watched the home team overcome an early deficit and pull away.

Neftekhimik entered the game after a 6-2 loss at Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Sept. 20 and a 2-0 loss at Salavat Yulaev Ufa on Sept. 18. The home side had won four straight before that skid, including a 3-0 victory at Sibir Novosibirsk on Sept. 16. Lada arrived in Nizhnekamsk following a 3-2 overtime loss at Ak Bars Kazan on Sept. 21. The visiting team’s only victory this season came Sept. 14, a 4-2 home win against Dinamo Minsk. Lada had also dropped a 6-0 decision to Barys Astana on Sept. 16 and a 7-2 home loss to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Sept. 11.

Lada opened the scoring 5:51 into the first period when Artyom Karpov scored, with assists from Andrei Chivilev and Vladislav Leontyev. Neftekhimik answered at 12:04 when Andrei Al. Belozyorov scored from Evgeny Mityakin. Timothy Lovell of Neftekhimik received a holding penalty at 12:26. The first period ended with the teams tied 1-1.

Neftekhimik took control in the second period. Ivan Nikolishin scored at 20:18 from Belozyorov and Zhafyarov. German Tochilkin made it 3-1 at 24:41, with Alexander Petunin and Sergei Artemyev assisting. Zhafyarov scored at 32:45, assisted by Artur Tyanulin. Maxim S. Fedotov added a goal at 36:16 from Rafael Bikmullin and Petunin. Matvei Nadvorny capped the five-goal period at 36:51 from Nikolishin and Timur Kol, giving Neftekhimik a 6-1 lead.

The middle period also featured several penalties. Neftekhimik’s Artyom Serikov was called for tripping at 29:11. Lada’s Riley Sawchuk received a high-sticking penalty at 32:28, and Lada’s Leontyev was called for tripping at 34:30. Neftekhimik’s Timur Khairullin was penalized for interference at 36:31, and Neftekhimik goaltender Filipp Dolganov received a roughing penalty at 38:43.

Lada pushed back in the third. Chivilev scored at 40:49 with Shakirov and Nikolai Makarov assisting. Shakirov scored at 43:56 from Chivilev, trimming the margin to 6-3. Zhafyarov completed the scoring at the 46-minute mark, with Belozyorov and Kol assisting. Nadvorny was called for tripping at 58:16, but Neftekhimik finished off the win.

Dolganov finished with 30 saves on 33 shots for Neftekhimik. Belozyorov had one goal, two assists, two shots and one hit. Nikolishin had one goal, one assist and four shots. Kol recorded two assists, three shots and one hit. Nadvorny scored once and added three shots and one hit. Mityakin had one assist, three shots and one hit. For Lada, Chivilev had one goal, two assists and two shots. Shakirov had one goal, one assist and three shots. Makarov recorded one assist and five shots. Zhafyarov, who had one goal over his previous four games, led Neftekhimik with two goals, one assist and three shots.

Neftekhimik next travels to face Barys Astana on Friday. Lada returns home to host CSKA Moscow on Friday. Lada’s upcoming schedule also includes a trip to Dinamo Minsk on Sept. 28 and a visit to Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg on Sept. 30. Neftekhimik will follow its game at Barys with road matchups at Admiral Vladivostok on Sept. 27 and Amur Khabarovsk on Sept. 29.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Neftekhimik 3, Lada 1. Interstat’s ELO system gave Neftekhimik a 66.6 percent probability to win before the game. The actual result exceeded both projections.