MHL. Unexpected defeat from league debutants

Yegor Nazarov was back in between the pipes. Igor Isayev recovered from his injury and returned to the lineup.

The game began in a rapid pace. Not even three minutes into it Aleksandr Podkorytov scored his first official goal for Medvedi. After such a discouraging start, hosts were able to get it together and execute a couple of sharp attacks – Nazarov was there for his team. The opponents then exchanged penalties, but the score remained unchanged for the rest of the period.

At the top of the second period Irbis gave visitors an excellent chance to increase the goal margin with two penalties. Unfortunately for the black-and-white, these two chances went unutilized. The old adage proved to be right once again as Medvedi soon allowed the tying goal at the hands of Maksim Spiridonov. Moreover, thirty seconds before the horn Artyom Rasulov took a beautiful wrist shot, pulling hosts ahead for the first and final time in this game.

Belye Medvedi were truly dominating in the third period. The black-and-white put enormous pressure on opponents’ goalie and made their skates commit penalties. The best chance to tie the match for Medvedi was not converted when Ionin received the puck all alone in front of the empty net, but hesitated for a second and could not get it in. After the enormous amount of pressure put on Irbis, Medvedi seemingly needed a breath of fresh air, but it did not come. Instead, around came the goal by Maksim Bayin. Three one, Irbis celebrates a somewhat upset victory.

After a series of twelve consecutive victories Belye Medvedi stumbled in the very match against Irbis. Tomorrow the teams will play another head-to-head game.

Game details

IRBIS vs. BELYE MEDVEDI – 3:1 (0:1, 2:0, 1:0)

Goals: Podkorytov (Abramov), 3 (0:1); Spiridonov (Derzayev, Bayin), 32 (1:1); Rasulov (Valeyev), 40 (2:1); Bayin (Spiridonov, Kashtanov), 57 (3:1).

IRBIS
Kalyayev;
Alekseyev – Marin, Galeyev – Yeliseyev – Kashtanov;
Ryzhenkov – Sergachev, Protapovich – Rasulov – Valeyev;
Khakimzyanov – Derzayev, Samsonov – Spiridonov – Bayin;
Abrosimov – Danilov – Khasanov, Shabanov – Redkov.

BELYE MEDVEDI
Nazarov;
Zabavin – Isayev, Tridchikov – Sharov – Zakarlyukin;
Zhuldikov – Petrikov, Ionin – Zinovyev – Sevankayev;
Voynov – Nazarkin, Afonasyevskiy – Shipin – Mogilnikov;
Yakovenko, Mosharov – Podkorytov – Abramov – Melikhov.

Shots: 31 (9+12+10) – 24 (8+11+5).
Faceoffs won: 29 (11+8+10) – 24 (8+8+8).
PIM: 8 (0+4+4) – 6 (2+2+2).
PP goals: 0-0.
Senior official: Andrey Tomilov (Ufa).

October 15, 2014. Tatneft Arena, Kazan, Russia.