VLADIVOSTOK (Interstat) — Andrei Al. Belozyorov scored twice and added an assist as Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk erased an early two-goal deficit and beat Admiral Vladivostok 5-3 in a Kontinental Hockey League game Sunday at Fetisov Arena. The announced attendance was 5,136. Neftekhimik improved to 7-3, while Admiral dropped to 2-7. Belozyorov, a 5-foot-11, 207-pound forward, finished with three shots on goal and was the game’s top star for the visitors. Alexander Petunin also had a goal and an assist for Neftekhimik, which trailed before taking control in the second period.

Admiral opened the scoring at 7:27 of the first period when Yegor Chezganov scored, with assists from Daniel Usmanov and Ivan Muranov. Ilya Morozov made it 2-0 at 9:34, assisted by Alexander S. Volkov. The home crowd at Fetisov Arena watched Admiral build its lead, but Neftekhimik began to swing momentum late in the opening period. Petunin received a slashing penalty at 19:55, sending Admiral to the power play, but the hosts could not add to their advantage before the intermission.

Neftekhimik broke through early in the second. Damir Zhafyarov scored at 23:06, with Belozyorov and Evgeny Mityakin assisting, to cut the deficit to 2-1. Matvei Nadvorny tied the game at 25:55, with Maxim S. Fedotov and Petunin picking up assists. The period grew chippy. Nikita Khlystov was called for tripping at 27:51, Grigory Vashchenko received a five-minute slashing penalty at 30:34, and Alexander Daryin was whistled for tripping at 38:01. Eleven seconds after Daryin’s penalty, Belozyorov scored to put Neftekhimik ahead 3-2 at 38:12.

The visitors protected the lead in the third. Belozyorov struck again at 49:30, with Zhafyarov and Ivan Nikolishin assisting, to make it 4-2. Admiral answered at 58:28 when Muranov scored, assisted by Semyon Ibragimov and Dmitry Zavgorodny, trimming the margin to 4-3. Petunin then scored at 59:30 to seal the win for Neftekhimik. The final goal capped a strong two-way night for Petunin, who also recorded four penalty minutes and three hits.

Belozyorov’s three-point performance continued a productive stretch. He had an assist at Barys Astana, a goal and two assists against Lada Togliatti, and shots in losses to Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Zhafyarov added a goal and an assist for Neftekhimik, Nadvorny scored once, Fedotov contributed an assist and four shots, and Mityakin added an assist. For Admiral, Chezganov recorded a goal and eight shots on goal. Muranov had a goal and an assist, Libor Sulak put seven shots on net, and Morozov scored once and recorded four shots. Khlystov also was penalized for tripping in the second and for throwing the puck outside the playing area in the third. Mario Grman was called for holding the stick in the third, and Petunin received a tripping minor. Petunin, a 5-foot-9, 159-pound forward, finished with two shots on goal, four penalty minutes and three hits. Zhafyarov, a 5-foot-8, 168-pound forward, had one shot and one hit. Morozov, a 6-foot-2, 207-pound defenseman, added four shots, while Mityakin, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound forward, had one shot.

Neftekhimik entered the game after a 6-3 win at Barys Astana and a 7-3 home win over Lada Togliatti, while Admiral had lost to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and CSKA Moscow in its previous two games. Neftekhimik next travels to Amur Khabarovsk. Admiral next visits Severstal Cherepovets. Neftekhimik also beat Admiral 2-1 in their most recent head-to-head meeting earlier this season.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Neftekhimik 3, Admiral 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Neftekhimik with a 60.2 percent probability to win.