Neman Grodno vs Kaluga

Kaluga's first-period goalscorer was the standout for the visitors, putting them ahead early. Neman Grodno's equaliser in the second period came from a player who shifted momentum back to the home side. The Neman Grodno goaltender deserves particular credit for the perfect shootout — stopping all three Kaluga attempts.

Player of the Match: Neman Grodno goaltender (for the perfect shootout save record).

The box score tells a story of two evenly matched sides in pre-season. First-period action favoured Kaluga, who struck first. Neman Grodno’s response in the second period showed better adaptation. The goalless third period and overtime suggest both teams prioritised defensive structure as fitness builds toward the regular season. The shootout — 1-for-4 combined conversion rate — reflects the typical rust of pre-season finishing.

This is a pre-season friendly, so the result carries no standings value. For Neman Grodno, it continues their pre-season preparation ahead of the 2026-27 Belarusian Extraliga campaign. The team last played a competitive fixture on 24 July 2026 — a 3-2 overtime win against Lida in Extraliga action. For Kaluga, it extends their pre-season build toward the 2026-27 NMHL season after their playoff campaign ended on 19 April 2026 with a 3-4 overtime loss to Granit.

Both teams will use these friendlies to evaluate rosters, test line combinations, and build match fitness before their respective domestic seasons begin.

A typical pre-season friendly: competitive but not sharp, decided on a technicality in the shootout. Neman Grodno’s ability to close out the shootout gives them a small psychological edge heading into their preparations. For Kaluga, the early goal and competitive 65 minutes will be the more meaningful takeaway than the shootout result.