MOSCOW (Interstat) — Maxim Letunov recorded a hat trick, but CSKA Moscow defeated Dynamo Moscow in a shootout Saturday in a Kontinental Hockey League game at CSKA Ice Palace. CSKA improved to 9-3 this season, while Dynamo dropped to 5-8. Attendance was 9,160. The game featured a back-and-forth scoring sequence and seven minor penalties.

Letunov opened the scoring at 12:26 of the first period, with assists from Daniil Pylenkov and Dylan Sikura. CSKA answered at 18:14 when Dmitry Buchelnikov scored, assisted by Derek Barach and Nikita Nesterov. The teams traded goals through a tight opening period, and the game remained tied after the first 20 minutes.

In the second period, Letunov struck again at 26:58, assisted by Nick Merkley and Pylenkov. Marat Khairullin pulled CSKA even at 29:53, with Poltapov and Maxim Sorkin assisting. Prokhor Poltapov then put CSKA ahead at 35:19, assisted by Alex Cotton and Buchelnikov. Letunov completed his hat trick at 39:49, tying the game again. The momentum shifted repeatedly as both teams pressed for control.

Penalties shaped the flow. Kostin Klim was called for tripping at 11:01 of the first period. In the second period, Dynamo’s Artyom Blazhiyevsky received a tripping penalty at 23:09, CSKA’s Nikita Okhotyuk was penalized for throwing the puck outside the playing area at 26:02, Dynamo’s Artyom Bondar was called for tripping at 28:01, Blazhiyevsky received a too-many-players-on-the-ice penalty at 33:45, and CSKA’s Dmitry Samorukov was called for tripping at 39:05. In the third period, Dynamo’s Igor Martynov was called for tripping at 47:54. Neither team scored in the third period.

Alexander Samonov made 29 saves on 32 shots and earned the win for CSKA. Letunov finished with three goals and five shots on goal. Pylenkov had two assists and four shots on goal. Poltapov added a goal, an assist and three shots on goal. Buchelnikov recorded a goal, an assist, one shot on goal and one hit. Khairullin scored once and put three shots on goal. Cotton contributed an assist and three shots on goal. Sorkin had an assist and two shots on goal. Barach added an assist, one shot on goal and one hit. Nesterov had one assist. Samonov’s performance helped CSKA withstand Dynamo’s 32 shots.

Kostin Klim scored the decisive goal in the fourth period, and CSKA secured the shootout victory. CSKA’s victory came after Dynamo had twice rallied to tie the game, including Letunov’s third goal late in the second period. The result left CSKA at 9-3 and Dynamo at 5-8.

Letunov, a 6-foot-3, 181-pound forward, led Dynamo with his hat trick and five shots on goal. Samonov, a 6-foot, 161-pound goaltender, anchored CSKA with 29 saves on 32 shots. Poltapov, a 5-foot-11, 174-pound forward, had one goal, one assist and three shots on goal. Buchelnikov, a 5-foot-8, 150-pound forward, recorded one goal, one assist, one shot on goal and one hit. Khairullin, a 5-foot-11, 181-pound forward, scored once with three shots on goal. Pylenkov, a 6-foot-1, 194-pound defenseman, added two assists and four shots on goal. Cotton, Sorkin, Barach and Nesterov also contributed assists.

CSKA entered the game on a strong run and had won four consecutive games before Saturday. Dynamo had struggled to find consistency, alternating wins and losses in recent outings. The teams are scheduled to meet again during the season. CSKA’s next game is against Salavat Yulaev Ufa, while Dynamo is set to face Shanghai Dragons. The matchup drew a crowd of 9,160 to CSKA Ice Palace.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of CSKA 3, Dynamo 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected CSKA with a 59.5 percent probability to win.