Zvezda Moscow — Orsk: 3:2, VHL

Zvezda Moscow secured a 3-2 victory over Orsk in the Higher Hockey League on 18 September 2026. The hosts held firm at home to claim three points from their fifth game of the campaign. It was a result that kept their season on track despite a difficult start.

Orsk arrived in Moscow sitting seventh in the standings after four matches. The visitors had won twice and lost twice, including a heavy 7-0 defeat away to Dynamo St Petersburg on 16 September.

Zvezda came into the game 26th in the table with just one win from five outings. And here's the thing about these early-season games: you watch how teams respond when the pressure builds. Their recent form showed flashes of promise - a 5-4 win over Toros Neftekamsk on 11 September - but also vulnerability, particularly in that 2-7 loss to Olympia.

We had backed the home side at 53 per cent confidence going into this fixture. The prediction came through. Sometimes the early table tells you more about expectations than actual form. It was a straightforward result for those who watched closely.

By then, the result meant Zvezda moved off the very bottom of the standings. Orsk remained in the upper half despite the defeat. Both sides still have plenty of ground to cover in what remains an early campaign.