Traktor keeps alternating defeats and victories

Only a handful of changes took place in the team’s lineup as Dmitri Pestunov, the newest Traktor acquisition, played in the center of the third line. Wilson was placed in the fourth line to accompany Yerofeyev and Toluzakov.

Traktor quickly got a PP chance, but could not quite organize any scoring chances on Barulin’s goal, despite, maybe, a shot taken by Anton Glinkin. Both goaltenders were somewhat bored at the top of the period, but the second shot taken by Avangard led to the opening goal of the game; Popov was first to add the rubber into the net off the rebound. Traktor was seemingly discouraged and got three consecutive penalties. Avangard could have increased the lead during these moments, but this did not happen due to the involvement of Michael Garnett who first made a highlight reel-type save, and then robbed Sobotka of the sure-fire breakaway goal.

The second twenty was truly the period of goaltenders. Michael Garnett stopped 11 shots, his colleague Konstantin Barulin – five. Avangard dominated the second half of the period, but Garnett was still in brick wall mode and did not allow anything in.

In the third twenty, Traktor had to rush forward to try to tie the game. Before Khlystov made his way to the bad boys’ box, Traktor applied quite some pressure, but didn’t manage to score. During the four-on-five play, Michael Garnett was once again on top of his game. But even Garnett, being the brick wall that he is, could not hold on forever. Aleksandr Perezhogin and Roman Berdnikov secured the win for Avangard. Traktor slips again as the black-and-white look to redeem themselves in the Wednesday game against Salavat.

Game details

AVANGARD vs. TRAKTOR – 3:0 (1:0, 0:0, 2:0)
Goals: Popov (Shirokov), 7 (1:0); Perezhogin (Sobotka, Kulyash), 51 (2:0 – PP goal); Berdnikov (Vasilyev, Nepryayev), 58 (3:0).

AVANGARD
Barulin;
Gustafsson – Blatak, Perezhogin – Sobotka – Kolarik;
Pivtsakin – Lyamin, Vandell – Kalinin (C) – Mozer;
Kulik – Kulyash (A), Parshin – Popov – Shirokov (A);
Vasilyev, Pervushin – Nepryayev – Berdnikov;
Fishchenko.

TRAKTOR
Garnett;
Quint – Katichev, Panov (A) – Bulis (C) – Chistov;
Borodkin – Piganovich, Glinkin – Zavarukhin – Gubarev;
Khlystov – Atyushov (A), Penkovski – Pestunov – Kokuyov;
Vasilchenko – Kondratyev, Toluzakov – Wilson – Yerofeyev.

PIM: 6 (2+2+2) – 14 (6+4+4).
Shots: 36 (14+11+11) – 15 (3+5+7).
Faceoffs won: 29 (11+12+6) – 28 (12+7+9).
Hits: 12 (4+4+4) – 9 (2+3+4).
Shots blocked: 11 (3+2+6) – 11 (3+7+1).
TOI: Gustafsson (24:03), Blatak (21:35), Kulyash (19:08) – Panov (21:18), Bulis (19:45), Piganovich (18:37).
PP goals: 1-0.

Referees: Sergei Gusev (Serov), Aleksei Ravodin (Moscow). 
Linesmen: Aleksei Maytak, Yevgeni Pronskikh (both – Barnaul).

October 27, 2014. Arena Omsk, Omsk, Russia. Attendance – 8070.