Crossing the Line

On December 28, Admiral and Sibir faced each other for the second time in three days. The coaching staffs made a few adjustments to the lineup for the final game of 2025. Players who had missed previous games — Leontyev, Bryukvin, Petukhov, as well as Solyanikov, who had watched the previous matchup against the Snowflakes from the stands — returned to the ice.

As in the first game, the opening minutes followed an unfavorable script for the Sailors. Shulak picked up a penalty in the neutral zone, and just as the captain was about to leave the penalty box, the visitors opened the scoring. The goal was credited to former Admiral player Koshelev.

The response from the Primorye side did not take long this time. Eight minutes later, the Sailors tied the game — also on the power play. Gutik found himself in an uncharacteristic position, but fit right in, jamming the puck home from the crease.

After the goal, the hosts pushed forward, but their momentum was halted by a stoppage in play — Olson suffered a broken nose, forcing the technical crew onto the ice. The pause played into Sibir’s hands, as the visitors seized the initiative once play resumed.

The second period ended scoreless, though it matched the first in intensity. Early in the frame, the teams traded breakaways. For Admiral, Bryukvin went one-on-one with Krasotkin. There were also two shots off the crossbar: Zavgorodniy rang the iron on his first shift, and a few minutes later Kosolapov produced a metallic clang. After a deflection, the puck dropped into the crease behind Shugaev, but the Sailors’ goalie managed to react in time.

Both teams had one power-play opportunity in the period, and in the five-on-four format, more dangerous chances came at Shugaev’s net. Admiral’s goaltender could be called the main hero of the period — his saves on Shirokov’s one-timer and Fedotov’s rebound attempt from the crease were especially notable. The teams finished the period playing four-on-four after Soshnikov and Fedotov were penalized for roughing.

Admiral held the lead until the 55th minute. The visitors equalized thanks to Koshelev, who completed his brace with a shot from the blue line, pulling his team back into the race. A minute earlier, Shulak could have put the game away, but once again the post came to the rescue.

In overtime, Admiral created two power-play attacks and two extended positional sequences. The chances ended with a heavy shot by Solyanikov and an attempt by Gutik to tuck the puck in from the crease after a pass from behind the net, but Krasotkin came up big. Shugaev answered with a save on Alanov’s breakaway.

The game was ultimately decided by a visitors’ counterattack. The Sailors got caught battling along the boards in the offensive zone and failed to keep up with Abramova and her teammates breaking away. Final score — 3:2 in overtime, a win for Sibir.

Admiral — Sibir 2:3 OT (2:1, 0:0, 0:1, 0:1)
December 28, 2025
Vladivostok, Fetisov Arena

Goals:
0:1 Koshelev (Fedotov, Leshchenko, 4:18, PP)
1:1 Gutik (Shen, Solyanikov, 12:02, PP)
2:1 Petukhov (Shestakov, Soshnikov, 18:10)
2:2 Koshelev (Kosolapov, Prisky, 55:53)
2:3 Abramova (Alanov, Koshelev, 63:17)

Admiral lineup:
Shugaev — Tsyba;
Shulak–Leontyev, Petukhov–Shestakov–Soshnikov;
Ruchkin–Deryabin, Zavgorodniy–Olson–Starkov;
Solyanikov–Grman, Gutik–Shen–Tertyshny;
Kudashov;
Bryukvin–Geraskin–Muranov, Fomin

Game statistics:
Shots: 59–67
Shots on goal: 31–35
Goals: 2–3
Faceoffs: 30–21
Blocked shots: 17–14
Hits: 15–18
Takeaways: 3–4
Turnovers: 12–7
Interceptions: 4–2
Time on attack: 11:40–15:32
Penalty minutes: 6–6

Goaltenders: Shugaev — Krasotkin