Minsk Dynamo defeated visiting SKA Saint Petersburg 4-2 on October 8, 2026, at Minsk-Arena. Forward Stanislav Galiev scored two goals and added an assist to lead a surge that ended SKA coach Igor Larionov’s undefeated streak in the Belarusian capital.
The visiting army club opened the scoring in the first period when Matvey Korotkiy found the net at the 16-minute mark past goaltender Vasily Demchenko. Dynamo struggled to find traction early, failing to generate sustained pressure through the opening twenty minutes. But the second period flipped the momentum through special teams play, establishing a pattern that defined the rest of the Continental Hockey League regular-season contest.
Stanislav Galiev Sparks Dynamo Power Play Revival
Dynamo leaned on its power play unit to erase the deficit. Stanislav Galiev converted from the faceoff circle on the 32nd minute to tie the game before striking again three minutes later during a five-on-three advantage. SKA captain Sergei Plotnikov leveled the score at 2-2 just before the second intermission by finishing a quick passing sequence on the doorstep.
The decisive blow landed immediately after the final period’s opening faceoff. Just 10 seconds into the third period, Xavier Ouellet fired from the blue line, catching a deflection off SKA defenseman Sergei Sapego to make it 3-2. Daniil Sotishvili sealed the victory at the 50th minute, converting a breakaway after Sergei Kuznetsov stripped the puck in the offensive zone.
Vasily Demchenko Stays Firm as Igor Larionov Suffers First Minsk Loss
Goaltender Vasily Demchenko stopped 32 of 34 shots to secure a 94.1% save rate, notching his 40th victory for the Minsk club. The defensive resilience helped SKA finish with five minor penalties, an undisciplined stretch that coach Igor Larionov acknowledged proved costly against a sharp power play.
It was a fantastic atmosphere, a good match. Unfortunately, it didn't end with our victory, but I want to congratulate the hosts on a good game, good conversion, and the bit of luck that came their way. On the penalties and the third and fourth goals. But in that regard, the game consists of mistakes and some curious moments that determined the outcome of the match today. Igor
The defeat marked the first time Larionov lost in Minsk across his entire KHL coaching tenure, snapping a streak of wins in the Belarusian capital split between his stints leading Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and SKA. Forward Alex Limoges also returned to action for Dynamo, appearing in his first game of the season without registering a point.
Head coach Sergei Brylin guided his squad through a five-game homestand that concluded with this victory. The roster adjustments for the match also saw Matvey Korotkiy centered the top line alongside Nikolai Goldobin and Sergei Plotnikov.
Western Conference Standings After the Minsk Dynamo Victory
The win brought Sergei Brylin’s squad to 15 points, lifting them into seventh place in the Western Conference. SKA remained directly ahead in sixth place with 16 points despite suffering its second defeat.
| Team | Games Played | Points | Conference Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| SKA Saint Petersburg | 13 | 16 | 6th |
| Dynamo Minsk | 13 | 15 | 7th |
SKA continues its away trip with a matchup against Dynamo Moscow on October 11.