On February 27, 2025, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod scored a thrilling 3:2 victory against Severstal Cherepovets in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), marking a successful away match for the visiting team. The game was notable for the stellar performances of players like Nikita Tertishny, who netted two goals for Torpedo, and Vasily Atanasov, who contributed another goal to seal the win. This important match was held at Severstal's home ice, but the visitors managed to secure two much-needed points.
The scoring opened early when Nikita Tertishny found the back of the net just 3:34 minutes after the puck was dropped, giving Torpedo a lead of 1-0. His efforts did not stop there; he struck again at 9:49 minutes to increase the advantage to 2-0. Tertishny's dual strikes set the tone for the night, forcing Severstal's defense to scramble.
Severstal responded with determination, and their persistence paid off when Kirill Pilipenko scored at 25:55 minutes, narrowing the deficit to 1-2. The tension of the match intensified as both teams traded scoring chances, showcasing excellent play on both sides. Despite their efforts, their hopes of tying the game were thwarted by Torpedo's goalkeeper Ivan Kulbakov, who delivered 27 saves throughout the match.
The game was electrifying, with crowd participation reaching its peak as Severstal fans rallied behind their team. Yet, Torpedo proved to be resilient. Just minutes after Pilipenko's goal, Vasily Atanasov struck at 29:47, restoring the two-goal lead for his team with what would be the final goal of the first period, making it 3-1.
Severstal, refusing to back down, came out with renewed vigor for the third period. Their efforts yielded results when Ivan Podshivalov scored at 48:17, closing the gap to 2-3 and igniting hopes of a comeback among the home crowd. Yet, as the match approached its climax, both sides engaged fiercely, with Severstal pushing their offense to the limits. They even pulled their goalie for an extra attacker, hoping to level the playing field.
Despite their fervent attempts to turn the tide, Torpedo's defense, anchored by Kulbakov's bravura saves, held firm, preserving the lead and securing the victory. Ivan Kulbakov's performance was instrumental, as he faced 29 shots, blocking 27 of them. His efforts were mirrored by his counterpart, Konstantin Shostak, who managed 16 saves on 19 attempts.
Post-match comments highlighted the successful strategy utilized by Torpedo. "We are very pleased to leave here with two points. Our guys played solidly and confidently, and it was great to see such strong support from our fans," Torpedo's head coach, Igor Larionov, remarked. He acknowledged the competitive nature of the match, noting, "It was great hockey, with the atmosphere and packed stands making it even more special." On the flip side, Severstal's head coach, Andrey Kozyrev, reflected on missed opportunities, stating, "We could have done more, but we had individual errors, which cost us the game. We looked good at times but didn’t capitalize on our chances."
This victory cements Torpedo's position within the playoff zone, as they now hold 66 points, maintaining their 8th place standing. Severstal, meanwhile, remains 5th with 73 points, still firmly within playoff contention but wounded by the loss.
Fans and players alike are now left anticipating the next matches, with Severstal scheduled to face Lokomotiv at home on March 4th, and Torpedo traveling to meet CSKA on March 1st. Both teams remain eager to improve their standings as the KHL playoffs approach.