Vasily Ponomarev Scores Christmas Eve Overtime Winner In KHL
Vasily Ponomarev delivered a strong Christmas Eve performance iwth two goals, including the winner, in a 4-3 win for Avangard Omsk over Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik. Ponomarev tied the game 2-2 early in the third period and scored 3:39 into overtime to help Avangard maintain the second spot in the Eastern Conference in the KHL.
Despite missing nearly half the season due to injury, Ponomarev ranks eighth on the team with 17 points in 25 games. Last season, the 2020 second round pick acquired as part of the Jake Guentzel trade finished sixth on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 41 points in 55 games but went without a point in seven appearances with the Pittsburgh Penguins. With a spot on the NHL roster not guaranteed heading into the 2025-26 season, Ponomarev decided to return to the KHL. Perhaps a strong finish to the season opens the door for another NHL opportunity in the future, similar to Filip Hallander.
Read This Week’s Full Prospect Report
Penguins Prospect Report: December 29, 2025
Kirill Tankov found the scoresheet again in the KHL after injury interrupted a hot start, Gabe Klassen continues to carve out a larger role with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Vasily Ponomarev scores twice, including a clutch overtime winner, for Avangard Omsk, plus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earned three of four points over the weekend while the Wheeling Nailers postponed three games due to a player strike.
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