Novopolotsk vs Gomel

Gomel struck first through Mikhail Kunishnikov at 05:47 of the opening period. Yevgeny Sapelnikov provided the primary assist as Gomel capitalised on an early transition chance.

Novopolotsk equalised late in the first period. At 19:31, with Gomel shorthanded, Radel Fazleyev fired home a power-play goal with assists from Alexander Khrapovitsky and Alexander Zhidkikh. The home side went to the first intermission level at 1-1.

The second period began explosively. Artyom Koksharov put Novopolotsk ahead just 15 seconds in, finishing from close range off a feed from Dmitry Kormilov (2-1).

Gomel answered midway through the period. At 12:32, A. Arkhiptsev beat the Novopolotsk netminder with a wrist shot, assisted by Nikita Titov, making it 2-2 after two periods.

The decisive goal came early in the third. At 02:42, Kunishnikov struck again, redirecting a pass from Nasser Subkhi past the Novopolotsk goaltender to make it 3-2. Gomel shut the door from there, holding Novopolotsk scoreless over the final 17 minutes.

Novopolotsk's inability to convert on a second-period power play after taking the 2-1 lead proved costly. Minutes later, Gomel's Arkhiptsev struck to level the scores, and once Kunishnikov scored his second early in the third, Novopolotsk never regained control. The home side managed only a handful of shots in the final frame as Gomel's defensive structure held firm.

• Mikhail Kunishnikov (Gomel) — Two goals (05:47 1st period, 02:42 3rd period), including the game-winner. The forward was a constant threat on the counter-attack and showed composure in tight spaces.
• Radel Fazleyev (Novopolotsk) — Scored the equalising power-play goal at 19:31 of the first period. The Russian forward was Novopolotsk's most dangerous offensive weapon, generating three shot attempts.
• A. Arkhiptsev (Gomel) — Netted the crucial 2-2 equaliser in the second period that shifted momentum back to the visitors.

Player of the Match: Mikhail Kunishnikov — A brace that bookended the scoring and decided the contest.

The final scoreline was 2-3, with four of five goals coming at even strength except Fazleyev's power-play marker. Gomel's only penalty-kill situation ended with a goal against them in the first period. Novopolotsk's early second-period goal (00:15) was the fastest of the match, but they could not sustain momentum. Gomel's ability to respond within 12 minutes of each Novopolotsk goal was the decisive pattern.

Gomel pick up a valuable three points in the Belarusian Cup group stage, strengthening their position in the Group B standings. The Cup serves as early-season preparation for the Belarusian Extraliga campaign. For Novopolotsk (also known as Khimik-SKA Novopolotsk), the loss leaves them looking up at their group rivals.

Up next: Both sides continue their Belarusian Cup campaigns with fixtures to be confirmed by the league.

This was a competitive, well-contested Cup tie that swung on small margins. Novopolotsk showed resilience in fighting back twice, but Gomel had the extra composure in the final third, particularly through Kunishnikov. The 3-2 scoreline was a fair reflection of a game that could have gone either way until the final period.