KAZAN (Interstat) — Damir Shaimardanov stopped 30 of 32 shots, and HC Sochi used a two-goal first period and a timely third-period strike to beat Ak Bars Kazan 3-2 on Monday in a Kontinental Hockey League game at TatNeft Arena.

Sochi struck first at 5:27 of the opening period. Timur Khafizov scored his second goal of the season, with Yegor Petukhov and Georgy Solyannikov assisting. The goal came after early penalties to Ak Bars’ Grigory Denisenko for hooking and Sochi’s Denis Vengryzhanovsky for hooking. Ak Bars’ Stepan Terekhov then went off for tripping at 6:17, but Sochi could not add to its lead on that power play. Sochi made it 2-0 late in the first when Artur Gizdatullin scored at 18:21. Jesse Graham and Petukhov picked up assists, giving Petukhov a two-assist first period. The opening period included three minor penalties before Sochi’s second goal, but neither side converted on the power play. Shaimardanov faced his first work late in the period, and Sochi blocked several attempts in front.

Ak Bars responded in the second. Semyon Terekhov scored his fourth of the season at 38:33, with Denisenko and Denis Zernov assisting. The goal cut Sochi’s lead to 2-1 and came during a period marked by roughing penalties to Ak Bars’ Andrei Stas and Sochi’s Nikolai P. Polyakov at 27:55, tripping to Ak Bars’ Nikita Lyamkin at 28:47, high sticking to Sochi’s Matvei Guskov at 32:08, and tripping to Denisenko at 35:02. Late in the period, Ak Bars’ Kirill E. Semyonov received a five-minute spearing penalty, while Sochi’s Guskov was called for cross checking. The teams traded penalties throughout the second, disrupting flow.

Sochi regained momentum early in the third. Denis Vengryzhanovsky scored at 44:41, with Nikita Gusev and Kirill Slepets assisting, to push the lead to 3-1. Ak Bars answered at 53:13 when Stas scored his first of the season. The home side pressed for an equalizer, but Shaimardanov turned aside the remaining chances. The final minutes featured heavy pressure from the home side, but Shaimardanov stayed square to the puck. Sochi’s penalty kill faced a busy afternoon, and the team took penalties from Guskov, Yaroslav Belyakov for slashing, Gizdatullin for tripping, and Pavel Akolzin for too many players on the ice at 58:43. Ak Bars also had late penalties to Nikita Dynyak for kneeing and Maxim Arefyev for too many players on the ice.

Shaimardanov, the top star for Sochi, was the difference. After making 27 saves on 29 shots in his previous start against Spartak Moscow, he delivered a 30-save effort and helped Sochi secure a road win. Khafizov finished with one goal, three shots and three hits. Terekhov had one goal and six shots for Ak Bars. Gizdatullin had one goal, two shots and two penalty minutes. Vengryzhanovsky had one goal, two shots and two penalty minutes. Stas had one goal, three shots, two penalty minutes and one hit. Petukhov finished with two assists and one shot. Zernov had one assist and two shots. Denisenko had one assist, two shots, four penalty minutes and three hits. Graham had one assist.

The announced attendance was 8,107. Sochi improved to 3-11. Ak Bars fell to 7-8. Sochi had beaten Ak Bars earlier this season at home. Ak Bars was seeking a stronger response on home ice but could not complete the comeback after Stas pulled the team within one. Sochi’s defense and Shaimardanov held firm over the final minutes, including a late penalty kill after Akolzin’s too-many-players call. The victory gave Sochi a rare bright spot in a challenging start to the season. Sochi returns home for its next game. Ak Bars will head back on the road.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Ak Bars 3, Sochi 0. Interstat’s ELO system had given Ak Bars an 87.9 percent probability to win.