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Dinamo-Shinnik vs Almaz

23 August 2026 at 08:00
12
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Almaz

AI

Almaz edged Dinamo-Shinnik 2-1 in Tula as Saveliy Yurgin's third-period goal decided the Governor's Cup pre-season finale. Full recap with stats and analysis.

Match Analysis

AI Summary

How it unfolded

A goalless first period saw Almaz hold a narrow 11-10 edge in shots on target but neither goaltender — Daniil Rusakovich for Dinamo-Shinnik and Anton Melchakov for Almaz — was beaten (source: MHL text commentary, https://text.mhl.khl.ru/902877.html).

Almaz broke the deadlock at 22:56 of the second period. Forward Valery Savin finished at even strength, with assists from Andrey D. Smirnov and Mikhail D. Maslov.

Dinamo-Shinnik responded on the power play at 30:41. After Almaz's Andrey Smirnov was called for hooking at 29:40, Yegor Karaban levelled the score, assisted by Vladimir Karabayev and Timofey Mamanovich (source: belarushockey match report, https://belarushockey.com/mhl/news_list/2026/08/23/kubok-gubernatora-tulskoj-oblasti-dinamo-shinnik--almaz-itogi/).

The decisive moment came at 51:37 of the third period. Saveliy Yurgin redirected or finished a play in open ice, again set up by Andrey D. Smirnov (his second assist) and Ivan Kopyltsov, making it 2-1 for Almaz.

Dinamo-Shinnik pulled Rusakovich for an extra attacker with 1:06 remaining and called a timeout at 58:54, but could not find an equaliser. A video review at 54:38 — initiated for an unspecified reason — went against Almaz but had no impact on the scoreline.

The turning point

Yurgin's goal at 51:37 swung the match decisively. Dinamo-Shinnik had carried momentum from their second-period equaliser and were creating chances, outshooting Almaz 8-5 in shots on target through the third period's first half. Once Almaz regained the lead, Dinamo-Shinnik could not break down a well-structured visitor defence that blocked four shots in the final frame.

Key performers

Andrey D. Smirnov (Almaz) — Assisted both Almaz goals (Savina and Yurgin), playing a central role in transition and creating offence from the forward position. His assist on the winner at 51:37 was the match's most influential individual contribution.

Yegor Karaban (Dinamo-Shinnik) — Scored the equaliser on the power play and won multiple faceoffs in the neutral zone. His line with Karabayev and Mamanovich generated the bulk of Dinamo-Shinnik's offence.

Anton Melchakov (Almaz, G) — Made 42 saves on 43 shots faced, including 13 in a one-sided third period where Dinamo-Shinnik pushed hard. His .977 save percentage anchored Almaz's win.

Daniil Rusakovich (Dinamo-Shinnik, G) — Stopped 27 of 29 shots in a losing effort. Could not be faulted on either Almaz goal.

Player of the match: Anton Melchakov — a commanding performance in net under sustained pressure.

By the numbers

The final shot count (69 total attempts, 43-29 on goal) tells a story of Dinamo-Shinnik's territorial dominance that the scoreline does not reflect. They generated more volume from all ranges but found Melchakov unbeatable at key moments. Almaz's efficiency was stark: they scored on two of their 29 shots on target (6.9% conversion rate) against Dinamo-Shinnik's one from 43 (2.3%). Both teams were disciplined — just 8 penalty minutes combined, with all four minors against Almaz — yet the only power-play goal of the game was Dinamo-Shinnik's equaliser. Dinamo-Shinnik also won the faceoff battle 29-23 and out-hit Almaz 8-3, underlining their physical edge that did not translate to the scoreboard.

What it means

Dinamo-Shinnik finish the Governor's Cup of Tula Region with a 3-2-0 record in pre-season play, following wins over Taifun (6-4), MHL Dinamo St. Petersburg (3-2), and Akademiya Mikhailova-Yunior (4-2), and a loss to Akademiya Mikhailova (4-6) earlier in the tournament (source: belarushockey match report). For Almaz, the victory provides a positive pre-season result as both clubs finalise preparations for the 2026/27 MHL regular season, which is expected to begin in early September.

Verdict

A competitive pre-season encounter decided by Almaz's clinical finishing and Melchakov's goaltending. Dinamo-Shinnik controlled large stretches of the game but lacked the final-third precision needed to turn possession into more than one goal. Almaz will take confidence from the result ahead of the new MHL campaign.

Rivalry since 2012

Dinamo-Shinnik vs Almaz Head to Head Results· 25

Dinamo-Shinnik and Almaz have met 25 times — Dinamo-Shinnik won 13, Almaz won 12, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2012. Dinamo-Shinnik leads the head-to-head with 13 victories from 25 meetings. A combined 128 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 5.12 per match (59 for the home side, 69 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 21 matches (84%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 23 games (92%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 5–7 in 2024.

Drawn
0
·
12
wins
Total goals
128 · 5.1/match
Both scored
21/25 · 84%
Over 2.5
23/25 · 92%

Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

API data: 23 Aug 2026