Russia lose goal-filled showdown with Belarus

In a highly eventful, goal-filled showdown, the Russian national team recovered from a four-goal deficit against Belarus before subsequently losing 7:8 (!) in overtime.

This was indeed the third match of the Liga Stavok Big National Team Tour.

The hosts initially opened up a confident 3:0 advantage through SKA forward Sergei Plotnikov, Danil Aimurzin and Maxim Sorkin within the opening seven minutes of play! However, in a somewhat unexpected turn of events, the Belarusians then went on to score seven unanswered markers to seemingly put the game to bed.

Despite the large deficit, Russia refused to give in and staged a comeback for the ages.

Plotnikov, Prokhor Poltapov, Mikhail Ilyin and Ruslan Iskhakov - with only 26 seconds remaining on the clock - all got the better of Belarusian goaltender Ivan Kulbakov in the remaining minutes to force OT!

Vitaly Pinchuk did then eventually seal the win for Belarus in the extra period.

Furthermore, SKA defenseman Sergei Sapego had earlier found the back of the net for the visiting team.

The two teams will face each other in Tolyatti again tomorrow. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:00 Moscow time.

Match protocol:

Russia - Belarus - 7:8 OT (3:2, 0:4, 4:1, 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 Plotnikov (Vorobyov, Kuzmin), 05.37
2:0 Aimirzun (Abrosimov, Karpukhin), 06.02
3:0 Sorkin (Iskhakov, Poltapov), 06.24
3:1 Denisov (Kovgorenya, Filyayev), 11.57
3:2 Pyshkaylo (Sushko, Voronov), 17.26
3:3 Mikhalyov (Filyayev, Kovgorenya), 22.00
3:4 Filyayev (Kovgorenya, Mikhalyov), 22.13
3:5 Sapego (Mikhalyov, Filyayev), 31.16
3:6 Pavliko (Moroz, Lipsky), 35.35 PPG
3:7 Borikov (Lipsky, Yanchenko), 44.28 PPG
4:7 Plotnikov (Grudinin, Khairullin), 49.30 PPG
5:7 Poltapov (Aimurzin, Sorkin), 56.01
6:7 Ilyin (Aimurzin, Grudinin), 56.42
7:7 Iskhakov (Aimurzin, Grigorenko), 59.34
7:8 Pinchuk (Sidorov), 62.37

Goalkeepers: Mishurov/Popov - Kulbakov

Shots on target: 32 - 25

Blocked shots: 9 - 23

Penalty minutes: 6 - 14

05.05.2025.