CSKA faced the Dinamo Minsk, its opponent in the 2025 Gagarin Cup. The teams faced each other twice in the preseason, but this is the first time they have met in the new season. The army men returned to Moscow after a victory over the Torpedo, where Spencer Martin handed a shutout. He took his place in goal today too. Forward Daniel Sprong (he took to the ice in a line with Rhett Gardner and Denis Guryanov) and defenseman Dmitry Samorukov returned to the lineup.
The game started with two quick goals. The Dinamo scored first. Nikita Pyshkailo overpursuited the defenders and sent the puck into the goal. Our team quickly recovered, capitalizing on a gap in the opponent's defense. Dmitry Buchelnikov finished the attack with a precise shot into the open corner after Denis Zernov cut off the defender with a pass. The key moment shaped in the middle of the period. Dinamo player Daniil Sotishvili attacked Jeremy Roy, finding his hit too heavy, and got a four-minute recess to calm down. One goal was scored during the power play. Roy punished his opponent with a great long-range shot. In the second period, our team did not slow down and scored again. Prokhor Poltapov scored with a power shot, leaving the goalie with no chance. The fourth goal against the opponents turned out to be a curious one. During our attack, the puck shot upwardly into the air and was lost from sight by the Dinamo defenders and goalie, who probably thought it was off. But it wasn't like that, Daniel Sprong picked it up and shot through the gate without resistance. The opponent did not give up and began to get back into the game. They scored two goals, keeping 4-3 on the power play. But the army team held out at the right moment, and at the end Sprong put the finishing touches on the game by scoring a an empty-net goal double.
