MOSCOW (Interstat) — CSKA Moscow used two-goal games from Maxim Sorkin and Prokhor Poltapov to defeat Dynamo Moscow 5-2 on Friday in a Kontinental Hockey League game at VTB Ice Palace. The announced attendance was 8,785. CSKA, the visiting team, improved to 11 wins and 3 losses. Dynamo, the home team, dropped to 5 wins and 10 losses.

Poltapov opened the scoring at 6:35 of the first period, giving CSKA a 1-0 lead. The goal was the only scoring of the opening period, and CSKA carried that advantage into the intermission. Dynamo had an early power-play chance after Blazhiyevsky Artyom was called for too many players on the ice at 1:59, but CSKA’s penalty kill held. CSKA also limited Dynamo’s chances through the first 20 minutes.

The second period turned into a high-scoring stretch. Poltapov struck again at 3:14 with assists from Yegor Zamula and Marat Khairullin. Dynamo responded at 8:08 when Pavel Shen scored, with Igor Ozhiganov and Bulat Shafigullin assisting. CSKA then pulled away. Sorkin scored at 14:40, assisted by Khairullin and Zamula, and Maxim Mamin made it 4-1 at 15:04 with Jeremy Roy and Klim Kostin earning assists. Dynamo answered at 17:21 when Nick Merkley scored, with Dylan Sikura and Daniil Pylenkov assisting, trimming CSKA’s lead to 4-2.

The second period also featured heavy penalty activity. Pylenkov was called for high sticking at 20:28 and hooking at 29:30. Martynov received a five-minute slashing penalty at 30:08, and Blazhiyevsky was whistled for too many players on the ice again at 32:58. Patalakha received a five-minute fisticuffs penalty at 36:16, while CSKA’s Nikita Okhotyuk received a high-sticking minor on the same sequence. CSKA’s Dmitry Samorukov was called for cross checking at 39:06. Blazhiyevsky later received a third too-many-players call at 47:06, and CSKA’s Nazar Privalov was called for tripping at 51:43. Dynamo’s Shafigullin received a tripping minor at 58:32.

Sorkin capped the scoring at 10:35 of the third period, taking assists from Khairullin and Poltapov to restore CSKA’s three-goal lead. Sorkin finished with two goals and five shots on goal. Poltapov had two goals, one assist, and four shots. Samonov made 25 saves on 27 shots for CSKA. Khairullin recorded three assists and three shots.

Dynamo received a goal and one shot from Shen. Zamula contributed two assists and one shot for CSKA. Mamin scored once on two shots, while Pylenkov had an assist, four shots, and six penalty minutes for Dynamo. Kostin recorded an assist, three shots, and one hit for CSKA. Merkley had a goal, two shots, and one hit for Dynamo. Dynamo’s penalty trouble repeatedly interrupted its attempts to build momentum, and CSKA’s lead never fell below two goals after Mamin’s strike. CSKA improved its recent form and has now won four of its past five games, including a shootout victory over Dynamo in the teams’ previous meeting. Dynamo has struggled through a difficult stretch and remains at 5-10.

CSKA’s recent form includes wins over Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Dynamo in a shootout, Dinamo Minsk, and SKA Saint Petersburg. Earlier in the season, CSKA also earned road wins at Lada Togliatti, Amur Khabarovsk, Admiral Vladivostok, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, and HC Sochi. Dynamo’s ledger includes losses to Shanghai Dragons, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, Traktor Chelyabinsk, and Salavat Yulaev Ufa, as well as a shootout loss to CSKA. Dynamo has also beaten Dinamo Minsk, Admiral Vladivostok, and Severstal Cherepovets.

Sorkin entered the game with points in three of his previous four appearances, including a goal against Salavat Yulaev Ufa and assists against Dynamo and Dinamo Minsk. His two-goal effort was his strongest offensive output of that span. CSKA is scheduled to host Dynamo in its next game, while Dynamo will next host SKA Saint Petersburg.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of CSKA 3, Dynamo 1 before the game. Interstat’s ELO system gave CSKA a 56.6 percent probability to win.