Khabarovsk and Nizhnekamsk carried a scoreless game through two periods, leaving the contest to be decided by a single third-period goal. That slim margin held through a tense finish: Nizhnekamsk pressed with six skaters and had a late chance, but Khabarovsk goalkeeper Dorozhka made the save that preserved a 1-0 home victory.
How the Game Played Out
The opening period brought chances at both ends without a goal. Nizhnekamsk found ways through the neutral zone and created opportunities for its defense to shoot, but Khabarovsk goalkeeper Azolin turned aside the danger. One sequence saw Nizhnekamsk get off a pair of shots before the puck moved toward the middle for another attempt and a potential rebound. Kirill Pitkov was involved in that push, though his effort was blocked as Khabarovsk continued to defend.
Khabarovsk also threatened. Alexander Petunin had a chance after a mistake opened the door, but Nizhnekamsk goalkeeper Dorozhka narrowed the angle and stopped the shot. The teams went into the second period still level, and the deadlock remained through the middle frame. The highlight call described Nizhnekamsk as having trouble creating clean shooting chances against Khabarovsk’s defensive pressure, while Azolin was again called on to make saves. Neither side converted its opportunities in the first two periods.
The breakthrough came in the third, when Khabarovsk finally found the goal that separated the teams. The supplied match data confirms the 1-0 final but does not identify the scorer, so the decisive play belongs to the team rather than an individual in this account. Nizhnekamsk pushed to find an equalizer, and the closing stretch became increasingly urgent. The visitors sent six skaters at the attack and worked the puck toward the net, but the sequence ended with another Dorozhka save for Khabarovsk. A late penalty added to the pressure; with 13 seconds remaining, Nizhnekamsk still tried to create a final chance, but could not get the shot away. Dorozhka’s stop at the end of the push kept the narrow lead intact.
What the Result Means
For Khabarovsk, the result delivered the home-series finish the players said they wanted. In the postgame comments, the team’s coach credited the players’ desire and their effort in finding a way to convert one opportunity. The players were also praised for their collective work. A one-goal margin left little room for error, and the late defensive stand ensured that the breakthrough was enough.
Nizhnekamsk left without a goal after two scoreless periods and a late attempt to rescue the game. Its coach said the team lacked freshness, with technical elements that had worked in previous games becoming more difficult as the match went on. He also pointed to turnovers and the demands of the road trip. Khabarovsk now turns its attention to an away series, while Nizhnekamsk will look to regain its energy after a difficult visit.
Watch the Highlights
Watch the KHL highlights for the chances that kept the game scoreless, Khabarovsk’s third-period breakthrough and Dorozhka’s decisive late save. The closing sequence captures how close Nizhnekamsk came to extending the contest.
Final Score: Khabarovsk 1, Nizhnekamsk 0.
Final Score: Khabarovsk 1, Nizhnekamsk 0.
Source: KHL YouTube match highlights + Highlightly match data