MHL. A step higher

There was only one change in Medvedi lineup compared to the second game in Magnitogorsk. Yegor Nazarov replaced Vasili Demchenko in the net.

The match started out in a cautious fashion. For the first few minutes the teams struggled for advantage in the neutral zone, occasionally visiting each other’s zones. It was Nikita Voynov who scored the opening goal of the game with an accurate shot from the blue line – 1:0. This goal gave this game a little oomph and positively affected the entertainment value of the bout. Three minutes later, Artyom Penkovsky showed individual skills, beat Lisy D-man, but the puck found goalie’s leg pad on its way to the goal. Penkovsky could have added the puck into the net by himself, but hit the post.

At the start of the second period, Medvedi organized a heavy assault on Lisy’s goal. Within several minutes Medvedi finally killed any kind of intrigue in this match and the series too. It was fully a merit of the third line that organized three goals. First, Semyon Afonasyevsky turned Artyom Melikhov’s assist into a goal – 2:0. Two minutes later, Semyon Afonasyevsky scored his second goal of the game (a shorthanded goal this time around) – 3:0. Ilya Zinovyev finished Lisy off in a long attack – 4:0. In the second half of the second period, there was no noteworthy action, although visitors had chances to score, but our goaltender was on top of his game this evening.

The third period was just a formality as it was clear that Lisy would not able to change the course of the game. Belye Medvedi continued to attack, but without spending too much energy; Medvedi understood that there would not be a lot of time left till the next match of Kharlamov Cup. In the middle of the period the-black-and-white had to withstand a two man disadvantage, but visitors were unable to light the lamp even with a great chance like this. Igor Isayev got injured during these moments, and Medvedi basically were left two against five. Luckily, there was nothing serious, and Igor got up from the ice by himself. The final score of the game was set by Andrei Yerofeyev who pushed the puck into the net. Senior official had to watch the tape, but eventually he deemed this one to be legal – 5:0.

Belye Medvedi defeated Stalnye Lisy in three games and advanced to the Kharlamov Cup QFs. They are the first one to do so in the Eastern conference.

Game details

BELYE MEDVEDI vs. STALNYE LISY – 5:0 (1:0, 3:0, 1:0)
Goals: Voynov (Yerofeyev), 14 (1:0); Afonasyevsky (Melikhov), 23 (2:0); Afonasyevsky, 26 (3:0 – SH goal); Zinovyev (Melikhov, Afonasyevsky), 29 (4:0); Yerofeyev (Chistyakov), 58 (5:0).

BELYE MEDVEDI
Nazarov;
Zabavin – Nazarkin, Bezrukov – Yerofeyev – Zakarlyukin;
Chistyakov – Mamayev, Sevankayev – Tridchikov – Gomolyako;
Petrikov – Zhuldikov, Afonasyevsky – Melikhov – Zinovyev;
Voynov – Isayev, Yerofeyev – Osnovin – Penkovsky.

STALNYE LISY
Zagidulin;
Zhloba – Volgin, Arsenyuk – Kudrin – Kharytinsky;
Yuzeyev – Kharkin, Boltanov – Menshchikov – Mukhamedzyanov;
Shurygin – Ikamatskikh, Sergushkin – Yeryomin – Polukarov;
Yanchevsky – Igoshev, Korobkin – Ilmenev – Zaytsev.

Shots: 42 (13+16+13) – 25 (8+11+6).
Faceoffs won: 45 (10+20+15) – 29 (15+9+5).
PIM: 12 (2+6+4) – 12 (2+4+6).

Senior official: Maksim Kovalenko (Novouralsk), Andrei Tomilov (Ufa).

March 18, 2015. Traktor Ice Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia. Attendance – 6000.