HC Sibir secured a much-needed victory against Admiral, triumphing with a final score of 4-2 during their match held on December 23, 2024, at Sibir Arena, Novosibirsk. This game marked the last home fixture of the year for Sibir, who entered the clash hoping to turn around their fortunes following some disappointing outings.
The match started strong, with Admiral initially showing promise. The first period ended without any score, but both teams displayed aggressive play. Sibir's forward Vladislav Kara opened the scoring early in the second period, capitalizing on the flurry of shots aimed at Admiral's goalie, Ilya Konovalov. Not long after, Admiral's Daniil Gutik answered back, leveling the score at 1-1, leading to increased tension on the ice.
The third period proved to be pivotal. Admiral regained the lead briefly with Eгор Петухов finding the back of the net, making it 2-1. It appeared Admiral had the momentum, but Sibir was not willing to back down. Andy Andreoff, who had been quiet earlier, tied the game once again. He picked up speed after Medic's assist and delivered with precision, making it 2-2.
Just when it seemed like the game could end with another tie, Trevor Murphy netted the go-ahead goal for Sibir, putting them up 3-2. Sibir’s confidence surged with Murphy’s goal. Taylor Beck then sealed the win with another goal just moments later, bringing the final score to 4-2.
"Good fighting game from both sides. We lacked stamina... The game against SKA took its toll on us," commented the coach of Admiral. His sentiments reflected the exhaustion both teams exhibited by the end of the game, particularly evident during the final minutes of play.
On the other side, Vадим Епанчинцев, head coach of HC Sibir, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome. "There were moments when we were behind, but we found the strength to score the goals we previously missed. It’s an important victory, especially as our last home match of the year. We brought some sweetness to the New Year for our fans," he noted after the match, highlighting the psychology of winning back home.
Despite the victory, Sibir remains positioned low on the Eastern Conference standings, currently sitting 10th out of 12 teams. With teams working hard to secure playoff positions, both clubs now face significant challenges. Sibir will begin its tough road trip soon, with games between December 26 and January 10 across various locations, including Astana and Vladivostok.
Admiral, on the other hand, needs to regroup quickly; they will seek to capitalize on their upcoming matches as well to bolster their competitive edge. The next game is already around the corner as they prepare for yet another clash on the ice, set for December 28, 2024, back in Vladivostok. Fans are left anticipating another exciting chapter of the season as both teams continue their campaigns.
