Winning habit

The black-and-white controlled the game early on. Andrei Popov took a sly shot to the top corner during Traktor’s shorthanded play but missed it by a whisker. Shortly thereafter, Martynov could have converted a Rybakov feed but missed the net too. Contrary to the flow of the game, it was Dinamo that scored the go-ahead goal around thirteen minute mark; Mikelis Redlihs skated into the attacking zone and surprised Demchenko with an accurate wrist shot right to the top corner.

Traktor players rolled up their sleeves early in the second and tied the game at one apiece just two minutes in. In a 5-on-4 situation, Kokuyov fed Gubarev with a saucer, and Danil scored his first season goal from close range. Yet another power play led to the cling of iron when Alexei Petrov hit the post. However, the black-and-white methodically kept the pressure high, and the result was a great goal thought out by Glinkin and Pestunov. After Traktor’s failure to capitalize on another power play opportunity, visitors punished the black-and-white with the tying goal scored by Indrasis.

The third stanza went on without much scoring chances. Both teams took a measly total of 8 shots (5 for Traktor and 3 for Dinamo) and did not threaten the goalies much. The overtime ghost was flying around the arena, and the opponents were seemingly ready to decide the game in the extended five-minute interval. After it rolled along without too many chances on goal, shootouts were in order. Demchenko was the stone wall in a Leino attempt while Indrasis sent the puck high of the net. On Traktor’s part, Rybakov and Yakutsenya were impeccable, giving the black-and-white a two-point victory. The black-and-white’s hot streak continues and is now five games long as Traktor looks to extend it even further when they square off against Neftekhimik Monday night.

Game details

TRAKTOR vs. DINAMO RIGA – 3:2 SO (0:1, 2:1, 0:0, 0:0, 1:0)

Goals: M. Redlihs (Sevcenko), 13 (0:1); Gubarev (Kokuyov), 22 (1:1 – PP goal); Pestunov (Glinkin), 28 (2:1); Indrasis (Leino), 40 (2:2); Yakutsenya, 65 (3:2 – game-winning penalty shot).
Shootout series: Glinkin (0:0 – wide), Leino (0:0 – denied by goaltender), Rybakov (1:0); Indrasis (1:0 – high), Yakutsenya (2:0).

TRAKTOR
Demchenko;
Quint (C) – Borodkin, Chistov – Osnovin – Yakutsenya;
Martynov – Zhuldikov, Glinkin – Pestunov (A) – Popov;
Petrov (A) – Davydov, Mokin – Glovatsky – Ruzicka;
Shinin, Gubarev – Rybakov – Kokuyov.

DINAMO RIGA
Sedlacek;
Kundratek – K. Redlihs (A), Darzins (C) – Leino – Indrasis;
Galvins – Cibulskis, Jelisejevs – Sestito (A) – M. Redlihs;
Sotnieks – Sevcenko, Saulietis – Dzerins – Meija;
Locans – Berzins – Skvorcovs.

Shots on goal: 24 (4+13+5+2) – 23 (10+8+3+2).
Faceoffs won: 23 (6+9+6+2) – 25 (9+10+4+2).
PIM: 6 (4+0+2+0) – 8 (2+6+0+0).
Shots blocked: 14 (3+5+5+1) – 18 (2+9+6+1).
Hits: 19 (5+6+7+1) – 17 (6+4+7+0).
PP goals: 1-0.
Ice time: Borodkin (27:30), Quint (26:19), Davydov (22:35) – K. Redlihs (24:40), Galvins (23:49), Kundratek (22:06).