Yuzhny Ural wins in overtime for the first time this season
The Orsk hockey club notched its fourth consecutive win in the VHL.
Orsk«s »Yuzhny Ural« has won its fourth consecutive match after the resumption of the VHL (Higher Hockey League) season. In the new year of 2026, Vladislav Otmakhov»s team lost its opening match (though it had promised to please its fans), then fell in overtime to «Yugra», then suffered a 1:6 defeat to Tyumen«s »Rubin«, then lost to »Zauralsk« and »Omskie Krylia« (and that on the day of the club»s foundation). But in the first match of a home series, they recorded a victory over «Buran», then after — over «Rostov», next — over «Tambov», and now (for the first time this season — in overtime) they beat «Dynamo-Altai». We tell you how it happened.
The opening period saw no goals scored by either team.
There were no goals in the first period, although Yuzhny Ural was more active than the home team and also had one power play.
Both goals during regular time were netted in the second period.
The most interesting period was the second. In the 27th minute of the match, Dynamo-Altai player Ivan Sinitsky «earned» a 2-minute penalty for high-sticking, and Yuzhny Ural«s hockey players capitalized on this opportunity. With passes from Konstantin Suslov and Daniel Kulash, Vladislav Rvachev sent the puck into the net — 1:0.
Then, one after another, YU player Filat Zotov (interference) and Ivan Sushinsky from the home team (high-sticking) went to the penalty box — no goals resulted.
But the next power play was converted by Dynamo-Altai: Yuzhny Ural was penalized with a bench minor for a failed line change. The goal against Sergei Kudryavtsev was scored by Maxim Nevolin, assisted by Yegor Klimovich and Ivan Sushinsky.
And again YU was more precise and aggressive — 1:1 after the second period.
In the third period, Yuzhny Ural had two power play opportunities (and again, those who had already received 2-minute penalties were sent off — Dmitry Belenchuk and Ivan Sushinsky), but the spectators did not see any more goals in regulation time.
But in overtime — they did. In his 100th VHL-level match, defenseman Valery Sitnikov (assists by Ilya Zakharov and Alexander Putilov) brought victory to Yuzhny Ural, this being his second goal of the season.
Yuzhny Ural has won its fourth consecutive match and managed to break a dreadful streak of losses in overtime or shootouts — it took 9 matches to do so!
— I wanted to congratulate the team on a hard-fought victory. This is our first win in overtime or shootouts. Eight attempts were unsuccessful, so these two points are very valuable. We started a difficult, tough road trip on a good note. I congratulate the Orsk fans on the victory. We prepared seriously for this game, analyzed Dynamo-Altai. They are a good team, play organized. Congratulations to everyone on the victory! — said the head coach of YU Vladislav Otmakhov after the match.
Ahead for the Orsk team is the continuation of the road series. Until February 7, Yuzhny Ural will play away against Novokuznetsk«s Metallurg, Sokol, and Norilsk.
