Alexandrs Ņiživijs (17) secures Dinamo Riga's first overtime victory of the season as he evades a sprawling Lokomotiv goalie. Photo used courtesy of Dinamo Riga.

MOSCOW — Dinamo Riga got its first overtime win of the season Saturday, upsetting Lokomotiv 3-2.

It is the first time this season that Dinamo Riga have recorded an over-time victory and it could not have been more timely as they desperately attempt to remain in the running for the playoffs. More importantly the victory came against one of the KHL’s leading teams as Dinamo Riga continue to show an ability to play with the big boys only to come up short against the minnows.

Marcel Hossa continued his stunning goalscoring form adding another to his tally in the first period to give the visitors a 1-0 lead half-way through the opening period. The goal came after Ģirts Ankipāns failed to capitalize on a one-on-one chance with the goalie but was able to collect the deflection and off-load to Hossa who was more fortunate. Dinamo Riga withstood sustained pressure for the remainder of the period to take the lead into the second.

Dinamo Riga were all to aware of the ability of a team such as Lokomotiv and knew better than to rest on their laurels.  Sure enough Lokomotiv soon struck back through Igor Korolev whilst on a power-play five minutes into the second period.

After being relatively quiet in his past few games, Miķelis Rēdlihs was once again contributing to the score-sheet, when he successfully converted a one on one with the goalie in the dying stages of the second period.  It must be of some concern for Lokomotiv that both goals they conceded in regular time came from defenders failing to pick up the Dinamo Riga forwards allowing them to go one-on-one with the goalie.

With Lokomotive once again tying the game up through Alexander Galimov the onus went back on Dinamo Riga to try and claim the victory in regular time. Given their recent overtime form, it was not an option they would have been wanting to play out.

However, Dinamo Riga finally showed an ability to score in a shoot-out situation with Alexandrs Ņiživijs and Hossa both scoring. With Jānis Sprukts missing, theonus was back on Ņiživijs who scored again to secure the win.

On Monday evening things do not get any easier as they prepare to take on Spartak, another in-form team in the competition. However, they will be riding high on confidence after Saturday’s fine display.