Happy end

Traktor seemed to lack the emotional spark that the players had in the previous two games against formidable opponents like Salavat Yulaev and Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Medvescak, on their part, played their typical AHL-styled hockey. Having taken a mediocre total of 13 shots combined, the opponents headed for a break.

The second twenty started with a string of scoring chances by Traktor. A two-man breakaway was stopped by Medvescak goalie Danny Taylor; a one-on-one by Artyom Sevankayev also did not yield a goal. This could not continue forever, and it seemed as though either Traktor would finally break the goal silence or this might bite our team in the rear end in the form of a Medvescak goal. Fortunately, Dmitry Pestunov finally beat Taylor five minutes before the second break.

The third period was all about visitors trying to tie it up and Demchenko shutting the door completely. Late in the period, a quick double by Paul Szczechura (empty-netter) and Alexander Pankov (third goal in two games, mind you) sealed the deal on this one. Traktor wins third consecutive game and is currently sitting atop the Kharlamov Division leaderboards. 

Game details

TRAKTOR vs. MEDVESCAK – 3:0 (0:0, 1:0, 2:0)
Goals: Pestunov (Yakutsenya), 36 (1:0); Szczechura (Penkovsky), 59 (2:0 – empty net goal); Pankov, 60 (3:0).

TRAKTOR
Demchenko;
Koltsov – Belov, Mirnov – Pestunov (A) – Yakutsenya;
Denisov (A) – Borodkin, Kruchinin – Szczechura – Sevankayev;
Shinin (C) – Zhuldikov, Chernikov – Yuri Petrov – Pankov;
Alexey Petrov – Klimontov, Penkovsky – Sharov – Sholokhov.

MEDVESCAK
Taylor (58:35 - 58:40 – empty net goal);
Morrisonn – Parlett, McMillan – Mertl – Genoway;
Bezina – Larkin, Katic – Brule – Butler;
Krejcik – Perkovich, Giroux – Bolduc – Mahbod;
Smejkal – Arkalov – Glumak.

Shots on goal: 39 (8+11+20) – 31 (5+14+12).
Faceoffs won: 24 (8+8+8) – 31 (7+10+14).
Shots blocked: 14 (4+6+4) – 13 (7+4+2).
Hits: 18 (5+7+6) – 30 (10+8+12).
PIM: 6 (2+4+0) – 26 (2+4+20).
TOI: Belov (21:08), Yakutsenya (20:52), Szczechura (19:30) – Bezina (25:02), Parlett (23:22), Morrisonn (22:19).

Referees: Roman Shchenev, Nikolay Akuzovsky.
Linesmen: Alexander Nikolayev, Nikolay Kupriyanov.

September 21, 2016. Traktor Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia. Attendance – 7000.