MHL. Bear power

Compared to the away game in Kurgan, two changes took place in the lineup. Yegor Nazarov played in the nets. Also, defenseman Danil Mamayev played in the fourth D pair.

The game began with multiple attacks from both teams. Five minutes into the first twenty, Ilya Zinovyev took a perfect shot from the face-off circle that landed into the top corner – 1:0. Belye Medvedi rushed to attack with double power. This pressure led to a minor by Ruslan Petrishchev. Interestingly enough, Medvedi failed to create anything dangerous near the opponents’ goal. On the contrary, visitors organized a quick counterattack, and Daniil Yunyshev converted a breakaway – 1:1. A few seconds later, Mamonty once again constructed a swift counter, but Yegor Ivanov hit the bar. Five minutes before the break, a rather strange goal was scored in Mamonty’s goal, ‘thanks’ to one of team’s defensemen. Officially, the goalscorer was Aleksandr Gomolyako – 2:1. Ninety seconds later, Artyom Sevankayev scored Medvedi’s third goal. Our forward picked up the puck in the attacking zone and hit the corner with a beautiful wrist shot – 3:1.

At the start of the second period, Mamonty received their third penalty of this game. Belye Medvedi combined well and created some serious openings. After one of the shots, Yevgeni Petrikov hit the post. Mamonty replied with a dangerous shot during their power play when Aleksandr Delnov sent the puck into the far corner from the face-off circle, but Yegor Nazarov caught it with a trapper. In the middle of the game, the top line of the hosts played beautifully, but Maksim Kukurudza, Mamonty goalie, was confident in the nets. In the very next attack, Artyom Sevankayev skated through the whole rink, beat a couple of opponents on his way, but his shot was blocked by the goalie. Yegor Ivanov, former Medvedi player, had the last scoring chance in the second period when he was all alone for a breakaway – Yegor Nazarov denied the goal.

In the debut of the final period, the teams exchanged scoring opportunities. First, Artyom Sevankayev was ready to hit the empty target, but at the last moment a Mamonty D-man picked off Artyom’s stick. Fifteen seconds later, Denis Miniakhmetov launched a stiff close-range shot – to no avail. Five minutes into the third period, Medvedi scored once again. Yevgeni Nazarkin was the quickest on the rebound, driving the puck into the net – 4:1. It became obvious at this point that Medvedi would not lose this game. In the middle of the period, Artyom Sevankayev had a breakaway opportunity but, and Mamonty D-men caught him. Three minutes before the end Medvedi further increased the lead; Aleksei Zakarlyukin assisted Maksim Korinevsky. Five one, the final score; Yegor Nazarov put on a terrific performance with 41 saves under his belt.

Belye Medvedi began this home series with a confident victory over one of the leaders of the Eastern Conference. On February 4, our team will take on Tyumensky Legion who defeated Stalnye Lisy earlier in the day (3:2).

Game details

BELYE MEDVEDI vs. MAMONTY YUGRY – 5:1 (3:1, 0:0, 2:0)
Goals: Zinovyev (Petrikov, Melikhov), 6 (1:0); Yunyshev (Delnov), 10 (1:1 – shorthanded goal); Gomolyako (Bezrukov), 15 (2:1); Sevankayev (Tridchikov), 17 (3:1); Nazarkin (Zakarlyukin, Korinevsky), 45 (4:1 – PP goal); Korinevsky (Zakarlyukin), 58 (5:1).

BELYE MEDVEDI
Nazarov;
Nazarkin – Zabavin, Korinevsky – Sharov – Zakarlyukin;
Voynov – Isayev, Sevankayev – Tridchikov – Ionin;
Petrikov – Zhuldikov, Afonasyevsky – Melikhov – Zinovyev;
Lukin – Mamayev, Bezrukov – Gomolyako – Kulikov.

MAMONTY YUGRY
Kukurudza;
Khrishpents – Gladun, Yunyshev – Ivanov – Delnov;
Zhivoderov – Borchik, Miniakhmetov – Popov – Marchenkov;
Osipov – Petrishchev, Srednev – Shetle – Shulepov;
Sorokin – Voloshin, Peregudov – Gilmanov – Gradusov.

Shots: 44 (15+8+21) – 42 (19+10+13).
Faceoffs won: 33 (10+10+13) – 28 (14+6+8).
PIM: 8 (0+4+4) – 12 (4+4+6).
PP goals: 1-0.
Senior official: Andrey Tomilov (Ufa).

February 2, 2015. Traktor Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia.