Unable to catch a break

The only change in Traktor’s lineup was the switch in the order of lines; Rybakov’s line became the top one while Bolduc’s was the fourth one.

Traktor created a dozen of scoring chances but utilized only one. After a furious start from the black-and-white extinguished by Metallurg goalie Andrei Kareyev, visitors pulled ahead. Young prospect Maxim Kazakov skated circles around the attacking zone before finally throwing the puck towards Demchenko’s net where Ryan Stoa deflected it into the near corner. One minute later, Kuznya doubled their lead as Makarenko spearheaded a swift three-on-two counter. Discouraged as the black-and-white should have been, they still continued to bombard Kareyev with shots, and one of them finally found the back of the net; Chistov hit the twine during the power play.

Just two minutes into the second, Traktor seemingly tied the game but the officials waived it off which seemed to be a right decision since Pestunov actually deflected the puck into the net with his skate. Shortly thereafter, Alexander Shinin left the ice due to an injury, and Metallurg could have reestablished a two goal margin, but Drugov sent the puck wide in a two-on-one situation. Traktor kept pressuring the opponents, and closer to the horn it eventually paid off; another power play chance was utilized to perfection as Chistov found Popov with a saucer, and the latter hit the top corner of Kareyev’s net.

Yet another Traktor power play should have ended in a scoring effort; the black-and-white’s top line was circling around looking for the go-ahead goal, but instead, it all turned to a penalty shot. Alexander Komaristy could not outplay Demchenko. After the teams exchanged post hits, Metallurg got one of their few power play opportunities, and young Kirill Kaprizov scored the game-winning goal.

Game details

TRAKTOR vs. METALLURG Novokuznetsk – 2:3 (1:2, 1:0, 0:1)
Goals: Stoa (Kazakov), 10 (0:1); Makarenko (Yazkov), 11 (0:2); Chistov (Popov, Martynov), 13 (1:2 – PP goal); Popov (Chistov, Martynov), 40 (2:2 – PP goal); Kaprizov (Manukhov, Stoa), 53 (2:3 – PP goal).

TRAKTOR
Demchenko (0:00 – 59:08);
Quint – Borodkin, Gubarev – Rybakov – Kokuyov;
Martynov – Davydov, Chistov (C) – Pestunov – Popov;
Petrov (A) – Shinin, Mokin – Osnovin (A) – Yakutsenya;
Zhuldikov, Pare – Bolduc – Ruzicka;
Afonasyevsky.

METALLURG
Kareyev;
Fairchild – Mahukhov, Kazakov – Stoa (A) – Kaprizov;
Kouklev – Postnikov, Komaristy (A) – Romanov (C) – Musin;
Amirov – Skutar, Yazkov – Drugov – Orlov;
Kamalov – Lyamkin, Makarenko – Malinovsky – Kuvayev.

Shots on goal: 49 (20+17+12) – 19 (4+7+8).
Faceoffs won: 47 (16+17+14) – 21 (7+7+7).
PIM: 6 (2+2+2) – 14 (4+6+4).
Shots blocked: 8 (2+2+4) – 17 (6+4+7).
Hits: 7 (2+3+2) – 3 (1+0+2).
PP goals: 2-1.
Ice time: Quint (25:06), Martynov (24:53), Pestunov (21:50) – Kouklev (22:23), Komaristy (21:05), Postnikov (19:14).

Referees: Yuri Oskirko (Yaroslavl), Maxim Sidorenko (Minsk, Belarus).
Linesmen: Nikita Vilyugin (Novosibirsk), Alexander Otmakhov (Yekaterinburg).

September 16, 2015. Traktor Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia. Attendance – 4200.