One counter pushes Traktor to the edge

The only change that took place in Traktor lineup was Vasilchenko replacing White.

First period
The opponents preferred to focus on the defense, and, as a result, not too many scoring chances were created in the first twenty. First off, Andrey Popov hit the post; visitors responded when Valentenko passed the puck toward the crease and prompted Garnett to deflect that pass. A 2+10 penalty for Torpedo went without any substantial scoring chances by Traktor; shortly after that Immonen ran off for a breakaway, but his potential scoring effort was denied by Michael Garnett. Two notable things happened after that and before the horn: Andrey Kostitsyn knocked Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev silly on Traktor's own blue line, and Kontiola, along with Bulis, could not outplay Gelashvili from the crease.

Second period
Defensive hockey continued to reign supreme in the second twenty. Nonetheless, a watchful eye could have noticed several chances on goal. Chris Kolanos could not beat Garnett from close range; hosts returned the favor when Bulis' efforts were neutralized by Gelashvili. Later on Valeyev earned his team a PP opportunity, but it was quickly wasted after Bulis went to the sin bin and evened out the amount of players on the ice. As the period was coming to a close, Traktor picked up the pace and could pull ahead on two occasions: Ryabykin sent the puck wide of the goal, and Gelashvili stopped a scoring chance by Bulis.

Third period
The period began with yet another chance on goal courtesy of Jan Bulis, and once again Gelashvilicame out the victor. One shift later Torpedo opened the score in a swift counterattack at the hands of Krasnoslobodtsev. As if there was not enough trouble for Traktor, Kokuyov got injured and headed straight to the showers. After that the black-and-white got a power play; the oft-mentioned person in this article, Jan Bulis, could tie the match, but former Traktor goaltender Gelashvili froze the puck by falling on his back. Pulling Garnett brought zilch. One nothing, Torpedo; Traktor's fate is pretty much in the hands of two teams that will battle it out on March 4 thousands of kilometers from Chelyabinsk.

Game details

TRAKTOR vs. TORPEDO – 0:1 (0:0, 0:0, 0:1)

Goal: Krasnoslobodtsev (Skachkov), 45 (0:1).

TRAKTOR
Garnett (0:00-59:17);
Ryabykin (C) – Bondarev, Chistov – Bulis (A) – Kuznetsov (A);
Vasilchenko – Kondratyev, Valeyev – Kontiola – Kostitsyn;
Katichev – Borodkin, Glinkin – Popov – Kokuyov;
Klimontov – Khlystov, Panov – Zavarukhin – Mokin.

TORPEDO
Gelashvili;
Khomitskiy (C) – Hietanen, Salminen – Immonen (A) – Wolski;
Valentenko – Belokhvostikov, Krasnoslobodtsev – Galuzin – Skachkov;
Denisov – Grigoryev, Kulyomin – Kolanos – Parshin;
Osipov, Dvurechenskiy – Badyukov – A. Potapov (A);
Konkov.

PIM: 4 (0+4+0) - 20 (14+4+2).
Shots: 27 (10+8+9) - 20 (4+10+6).
Faceoffs won: 25 (7+11+7) - 16 (5+5+6).
TOI: Ryabykin (23:35), Kuznetsov (22:55), Bulis (21:24) – Grigoryev (21:57), Valentenko (21:41), Hietanen (20:47).
PP goals: 0-0.

March 2, 2014. Traktor Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia. Attendance – 7000.