Avto vs Irbis

Irbis struck first with a shorthanded goal at 02:33 of the opening period. Semyon Tsaregorodtsev set up Ilya Davle-shin, who finished past Avto goalkeeper Sergei Sokolkin to make it 1-0. The goal came while Irbis were a man down, a momentum-swinging moment that set the tone.

Irbis doubled their lead at 14:45 through Artyom Dulnev on the powerplay, with Kirill Kutuzov providing the assist. Kazan carried a 2-0 lead into the first intermission, having capitalised on both special-teams situations.

Avto responded early in the second period. Ilya Plotnikov pulled one back at 04:44 to make it 2-1, and the hosts kept pushing. The equaliser came at 13:40 — S. Zhirov found the net to level the score at 2-2, completing Avto's comeback after 40 minutes of play.

But Irbis had the final word. With less than three minutes left in the second period, Ilya Davle-shin scored his second of the game at 17:28, assisted by Tsaregorodtsev and K. Buzayev. The goal restored Irbis's lead at 3-2, and no further scoring followed in a goalless third period as Irbis held on for the win.

The sequence from 13:40 to 17:28 of the second period defined the match. Avto had just completed a comeback from 2-0 down, converting their sustained pressure into Zhirov's equaliser. But Irbis refused to settle — within four minutes, Davle-shin's second goal flipped the momentum back. Avto spent the third period chasing the game but could not find a third equaliser.

Ilya Davle-shin (Irbis) — Two goals (02:33 SH, 17:28), including the game-winner and a shorthanded opener. He was the difference-maker on a night when Irbis needed clinical finishing. Player of the match.

Semyon Tsaregorodtsev (Irbis) — One goal and one assist, playing a direct hand in both of Irbis's first two tallies. His shorthanded strike at 02:33 set the early tone.

Ilya Plotnikov (Avto) — Scored the crucial 2-1 goal that sparked Avto's comeback bid in the second period, showing composure under pressure.

S. Zhirov (Avto) — Netted the 2-2 equaliser at 13:40 of the second period, completing Avto's fightback from two goals down.

The match followed a 2-0 → 2-2 → 3-2 trajectory, with five goals across the first two periods and none in the third. Irbis's special-teams efficiency was decisive — they scored shorthanded (02:33) and on the powerplay (14:45) in the first period, while Avto's equaliser came at even strength. The win extended Irbis's head-to-head lead over Avto to 27-23 from 50 meetings, a rivalry dating back to 2014 that has averaged 4.80 goals per game.

This was a pre-season fixture in the N.E. Maslov Tournament, a key preparation event for MHL clubs ahead of the 2026-27 regular season. For Irbis — under new head coach Alexander Shcherbina and missing four of last season's top scorers — the comeback win provides early evidence of resilience. Avto, who reached the MHL semi-finals last season under Filipp Metlyuk, will look to tighten defensive structure before their next pre-season outing.

A compelling pre-season contest that had the intensity of a regular-season game. Irbis's special-teams sharpness and Davle-shin's finishing proved the difference, while Avto showed character in fighting back from 2-0 down. Both sides will take positives into the remainder of their pre-season schedules.