NIZHNY NOVGOROD (Interstat) — Semyon Vyazovoi made 27 saves for a shutout and Salavat Yulaev Ufa scored twice in the first period to beat Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 3-0 on Monday in a Kontinental Hockey League game at Trade Union Sport Palace. The victory moved Salavat Yulaev to 6-3 and dropped Torpedo to 6-3. Attendance was 12,350.

Vyazovoi was the game’s top star. He stopped all 27 shots he faced and added another clean sheet to a strong early-season run. The 6-foot-3, 181-pound goaltender had 41 saves in a 3-1 win at Dynamo Moscow, 23 saves in a 3-4 loss to Metallurg Magnitogorsk, 19 saves in a 3-1 win over Spartak Moscow and 19 saves in a 2-0 win over Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk before Monday’s game. His 27-save effort was his second shutout of the season.

Salavat Yulaev needed little time to take control. Yaroslav Tsulygin opened the scoring at 5:06 of the first period, with assists from Yegor Suchkov and Maxim Zagrebin. Denis Orlovich-Grudkov doubled the lead at 6:23 of the opening period, giving the visitors a two-goal cushion before Torpedo had settled into the game.

Dean Stewart added the third goal at 8:53 of the second period. Suchkov picked up his second assist of the game, and Vadim Shipachyov also assisted on the play. The three-goal lead held behind Vyazovoi, who turned aside every Torpedo attempt over the final 40 minutes.

Suchkov finished with two assists and two shots. Tsulygin had one goal, two shots, four penalty minutes and three hits. Orlovich-Grudkov scored once on two shots. Stewart had a goal, one shot and one hit. Shipachyov recorded one assist and two shots. Zagrebin had one assist and three hits, while Matthew Maggio put four shots on goal. Vladislav Yefremov added one shot and two hits, and Danil Alalykin had one shot for Salavat Yulaev. Salavat Yulaev received points from multiple skaters.

Torpedo’s best chances came with the man advantage, but the home side could not solve Vyazovoi. Tsulygin was called for slashing at 5:29 of the second period. Later in the period, Vorobyov Mikhail S. received a hooking penalty at 16:22, and Kraskovsky Pavel and Tsulygin were sent off for roughing at 17:12. In the third, Sizov Anton was penalized for tripping at 3:26, Shavin Nikita went off for tripping at 8:19, and Sheldon Rempal of Salavat Yulaev received a slashing penalty at 16:17. Torpedo finished the game without a goal and could not convert several power-play opportunities.

Salavat Yulaev scored three times. The visitors held the lead for the final 50 minutes. Torpedo, meanwhile, was kept off the scoreboard at Trade Union Sport Palace. Both teams had entered the game with 6-3 records, but Salavat Yulaev left with the better result after holding Torpedo scoreless. The three-goal margin stood at the final horn.

Salavat Yulaev had won three of its previous four games, including a 3-1 victory at Dynamo Moscow and home wins over Spartak Moscow and Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Earlier in the season, the Ufa club also beat Avangard Omsk and Severstal Cherepovets, while losing to Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Ak Bars Kazan in overtime and Barys Astana. Torpedo had also won three of four, with victories over HC Sochi, Avangard Omsk and Ak Bars Kazan before falling to CSKA Moscow in its previous home game. The loss to Salavat Yulaev halted Torpedo’s home success.

Salavat Yulaev will visit HC Sochi and then host Sibir Novosibirsk. Torpedo will travel to Dynamo Moscow and then visit HC Sochi.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Torpedo 4, Salavat Yulaev 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Salavat Yulaev with a 55.4 percent probability to win.