Preseason Tournament: Sibir 6–3 Neftekhimik 8/29/2026
29.08.2026
Neftekhimik lost to Sibir 3–6.
Sibir had a near‑full‑strength lineup for the contest, a factor that likely contributed to their immediate ascendancy. Goaltender Matvei Botov was called into action on several occasions in the opening stages. Following a penalty against Sibir for too many men, the Wolves generated a series of dangerous attacks, which bolstered their confidence and helped balance the flow of play. However, the opposition conceded a goal from an unexpected sequence: defenseman Mikhail Orlov's shot from the blue line struck the end boards, rebounded off the goaltender's back, and crossed the goal line.The opponents' second tally occurred under analogous circumstances. Nikita Baklashev's attempt from the point was successfully redirected by Ilya Fedotov.
Neftekhimik endeavoured to respond, but a third goal was conceded – this time while shorthanded, as the opposition converted their power‑play opportunity. Matvei Botov blocked the initial shot, yet the defenseman was unable to prevent the second rebound.
The encounter was marked by pronounced contrasts. Following a 7–1 victory yesterday, today's fixture featured another offensive outburst, albeit with an unfavourable outcome. That assessment, however, applies strictly to the scoreline. In preseason matches, the primary objective remains the evaluation of all squad members and the accumulation of tactical insights for further analysis. Special mention should be made of the assist recorded by Amir Gizyatov, a product of the club's youth system, at the senior level.
