NOVOSIBIRSK (Interstat) — Grigory Denisenko scored twice and Kirill Semyonov delivered the decisive goal as Ak Bars Kazan defeated Sibir Novosibirsk 3-2 in a Kontinental Hockey League game that was completed in a shootout Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Ice Sports Palace Sibir in Sibir Arena. The visiting Ak Bars improved to six wins and three losses, while the home Sibir dropped to two wins and six losses. A crowd of 11,445 watched the teams trade goals through regulation and beyond. The result continued a tight recent series between the clubs, who had needed a shootout when they met earlier this month in Kazan.

Sibir struck first at 11:56 of the opening period when Sergei Popov scored, with Alexander Yaremchuk earning the assist. Ak Bars answered before the first intermission. Denisenko tied the game at 16:42, scoring with assists from Mitchell Miller and Andrei Stas. The period also included two minor penalties against Sibir’s Pavel Tyutnev, one for tripping at 12:07 and another for throwing the puck outside the playing area at 16:36. Ak Bars generated pressure after the equalizer but could not take a lead into the break. The first period ended with the teams level and the game still up for grabs.

The home team regained the lead in the second period at 35:22. Mikhail Orlov scored for Sibir, with Stepan Nikulin and Yegor Alanov providing assists. Orlov finished with one goal, two shots on goal and one hit. Yaremchuk recorded one assist and three shots on goal for Sibir. Ak Bars created chances of its own, including opportunities for Denisenko, but Sibir carried a one-goal advantage into the third period. The second period was scoreless for Ak Bars, leaving the visitors to chase the game again.

The third period featured six minor penalties and a late equalizer. Sibir’s Mikhail Abramov was called for high sticking at 41:11, while Ak Bars’ Timur Bilyalov received a tripping penalty at 41:37. Albert Yarullin was sent off for hooking at 48:13. Denisenko tied the game at 2-2 with his second goal of the night at 58:39. He finished with two goals, four shots on goal and one hit. Penalties to Sibir’s Arkhip Nekolenko for tripping and Ak Bars’ Nikita Dynyak for high sticking came at 59:37, sending the teams into overtime with the score level. The late penalty exchange added tension to an already tight matchup.

The game moved past regulation, and Semyonov scored at the 65-minute mark to put Ak Bars ahead for the first time. The sequence capped a back-and-forth contest that included special-teams chances and tight checking. Ak Bars’ top star was Denisenko, whose two goals powered the comeback. Sibir’s Orlov and Yaremchuk also made key contributions in the loss. The game was completed in a shootout, giving Ak Bars the extra point. Ak Bars had trailed twice before finding the response it needed.

The teams combined for seven minor penalties. Sibir took four, while Ak Bars took three. Tyutnev was assessed two penalties in the first period. The third period included five minor penalties overall, creating a choppy finish before overtime. Denisenko’s four shots on goal led Ak Bars, and his two goals matched the most important offensive output of the night. Orlov and Yaremchuk were among Sibir’s most active players, with Orlov scoring and Yaremchuk setting up the opening goal.

Ak Bars entered the game after an overtime win over Lada Togliatti on Sept. 21. Earlier in the season, Ak Bars had beaten Sibir 4-3 in a shootout on Sept. 5 in Kazan. Sibir had won 5-1 at HC Sochi on Sept. 20 before falling in Novosibirsk. The loss left Sibir still searching for consistency in the early KHL schedule. Ak Bars, meanwhile, continued to collect points in close games and moved above .500 for the season.

Ak Bars returns to action Saturday at Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Sibir is scheduled to host Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on Sunday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Ak Bars 3, Sibir 2. Interstat’s ELO system gave Ak Bars a 73 percent probability to win before the game.