Playoffs race continues

No changes took place in Traktor’s lineup compared to the previous game versus Neftekhimik.

Both teams began the game at a quick pace. However, this did not result in a slew of scoring opportunities as Traktor and Salavat built quality defense around their respective goals and did not allow much. The highlight of the first ten minutes was a scintillating hit delivered by Traktor’s Filip Novak to Salavat captain Igor Grigorenko. As minutes passed along, the black-and-white started to sneak into the attacking zone more and more often and even garnered a PP opportunity, but hosts killed it off decisively. Surprisingly enough, Salavat was content with giving the puck to visitors, rarely stinging Traktor with sharp counters. However, the closest thing to a goal was still created by the black-and-white when Alexander Rybakov sent the puck wide after an accurate pass by Anton Glinkin.

Six minutes into the period, Andrei Popov outplayed a D-man and was all alone against Svedberg but hit the post. Salavat responded with a breakaway opportunity by Alexander Nesterov, but Vasili Demchenko proved his worth and kept the score goalless. A little bit later on, Nikolai Prokhorkin put together a solo effort but sent the rubber just wide of the post. Before the second intermission, Traktor’s top line was on the verge of scoring the opening goal but lacked something (luck, maybe) in the finishing stages of the attacks. Clearly, the one and the only would be enough to decide this game; both teams realized that, heading to their respective locker rooms.

Sami Lepistö could have been the one who scored this only goal, but the puck inexplicably went way over the net after his wrist shot. Shortly thereafter, Enver Lisin played tremendously in his own zone, thwarting a sure-fire breakaway by Alexei Kruchinin. Traktor forward suffered a minor injury in this skirmish when his own momentum drove him hand first into the goal post. Luckily for the black-and-white, his injury was not that serious, and minutes later Kruchinin once again hit the ice. And boy oh boy, was it in the nick of the time! Nine minutes before the buzzer, Popov delivered a fine pass to Alexei who one-timed the puck into the top corner of the net. All Traktor had to do was hang on, and they did just that, not forgetting to try and squeeze out another goal here and there. Eventually, Salavat pulled the goalie in an attempt to tie the game, but visitors managed to secure a shutout victory for Vasili Demchenko. One nothing, a soccer-like yet victorious score as Traktor still has a chance to prolong the regular season. A lot is at stake in tonight’s game between Avtomobilist and Neftekhimik, Traktor’s main rivals for the coveted spot number 8.

Game details

SALAVAT YULAEV vs. TRAKTOR – 0:1 (0:0, 0:0, 0:1)
Goal: Kruchinin (Popov, Yakutsenya), 51 (0:1).

SALAVAT YULAEV
Svedberg (0:00 – 59:24);
Loginov – Lepistö, Omark – Engqvist – Grigorenko (C);
Tsulygin – Derlyuk, Lisin – Khlystov (A) – Saprykin;
Bodrov – Arzamastsev, Nesterov – Vorobyov – Lazarev;
Goncharov – Vishnevsky, Chernov – Prokhorkin (A) – Hartikainen.

TRAKTOR
Demchenko;
Novak – Martynov, Kruchinin – Popov – Yakutsenya;
Borodkin – Denisov (C), Afonasyevsky – Pestunov (A) – Osnovin;
Shinin – Klimontov, Glinkin – Rybakov – Kokuyov;
Petrov (A) – Zhuldikov, Gubarev – Sharov – Zinovyev.

Shots on goal: 31 (6+15+10) – 23 (8+8+7).
Faceoffs won: 36 (12+16+8) – 19 (5+6+8).
PIM: 4 (2+2+0) – 4 (0+4+0).
Shots blocked: 8 (4+2+2) – 13 (5+4+4).
Hits:7 (3+2+2) – 13 (5+5+3).
PP goals: 0-0.
Ice time: Loginov (20:36), Prokhorkin (20:05), Lepistö (19:38) – Denisov (19:20), Yakutsenya (18:44), Borodkin (18:35).

Referees: Mikhail Buturlin, Anatoli Zakharov (both – Moscow).
Linesmen: Alexei Maytak, Yevgeni Pronskikh (both – Belgorod).

January 19, 2016. Ufa Arena, Ufa, Russia. Attendance – 6415.

Photo courtesy of Salavat Yulaev Press Office