Ain’t no joking matter

Pavel Francouz started the game in the net for Traktor. As for the skaters, the only change in the black-and-white lineup was Danil Mamayev replacing Konstantin Klimontov.

The first twenty was a rather uneventful affair, with both teams taking a collective total of 13 shots on goal. However, despite that reserved nature of the game, visitors managed to eke out the opening goal of the game. Dmitri Pestunov put his name on the scoreboard in a power play situation. At first glance, it seemed that Alexander Chernikov was the goalscorer, but a quality replay revealed that the puck went in off of a Jokerit D-man’s skate.

Second period carried on in the same vein – Jokerit attacked, Traktor tried to sting the Finns with counterattacks. Jokerit’s encroachments on Pavel Francouz net were not that dangerous, except for maybe one when Joey Hishon did everything for his partner, Sakari Salminen, but Traktor goalie made a superb save to keep the visiting team in the lead after two periods of action.

The lulling pace of the third period was broken up when Ville Lajunen tied the game up with a power play goal. After that, Traktor got full control of the puck and allowed hosts to enter the attacking zone for only a couple of times.
However, things changed in the overtime. Jokerit was in total control of the game and deservedly won this hockey game when Rasmus Rissanen sent the puck into the near corner.

Traktor loses but does not leave the ice without points for five straight games. The next Traktor game is slated for December 4 as Dinamo Riga meets the black-and-white on a neutral territory in Tallinn.

Game details

JOKERIT vs. TRAKTOR – 2:1 OT (0:1, 0:0, 1:0)
Goals: Pestunov (Szczechura), 9 (0:1 – PP goal); Lajunen (Hishon, Jaakola), 51 (1:1 – PP goal); Rissanen (Jalvanti, Salminen), 65 (2:1).

JOKERIT
Zapolski;
Genoway – Rissanen, Joensuu (A) – Regin (C) – Jormakka;
Lauridsen – Jensen, Huhtala – Hishon – Salminen;
Jaakola – Lajunen (A), Gymer – Niemi – Pihlström;
Rautanen – Jalvanti, Talaja – Mäki – Anttila.

TRAKTOR
Francouz;
Shinin (C) – Belov, Kruchinin – Szczechura – Yakutsenya;
Koltsov – Denisov (A), Chernikov – Yuri Petrov – Zinovyev;
Alexei Petrov – Borodkin, Sharov – Pestunov (A) – Roy;
Mamayev, Gubarev – Penkovsky – Mosharov.

Shots on goal: 28 (7+11+7+3) – 22 (6+9+6+1).
Faceoffs won: 30 (9+8+10+3) – 21 (5+11+5+0).
Shots blocked: 6 (2+2+2+0) – 3 (0+2+1+0).
Hits: 22 (8+6+7+1) – 14 (7+3+3+0).
PIM: 4 (2+2+0+0) – 4 (2+0+2+0).
PP goals: 1-1.
TOI: Pihlström (21:48), Huhtala (21:38), Lajunen (21:36) – Denisov (24:26), Borodkin (21:51), Koltsov (21:34).

Referees: Viktor Gashilov, Alexei Vasilyev.
Linesmen: Alexander Zakharenkov, Alexander Sadovnikov.

December 1, 2016. Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Arena. Attendance – 8469.