Traktor claims second consecutive victory
First period
Avtomobilist didn’t seem very hospitable in the first 20 minutes of the game as
they attacked a lot more than the visitors, even though it was a series of penalties
for Traktor that helped Avtomobilist get the advantage. Two minutes into the match
Aleksey Vasilchenko was sent to a penalty box as he thwarted a promising
counterattack bound to end with a goal. However, Avto could not capitalize as Traktor’s
defense was on point, having deflected all the shots. Then it was time for Michael
Garnett’s heroic efforts. Four minutes into the game the referees signaled for coincidental
penalties; in four-on-four situation Avtomobilist had a couple of scoring chances
but Garnett was flawless. Towards the middle of the period Traktor was left shorthanded
again as Sayustov was given a penalty for attacking Avto’s goaltender Christopher
Holt. To Traktor’s credit, they avoided serious trouble, several times throwing
themselves selflessly in puck’s way. Five minutes before the intermission Yevgeny
Kuznetsov gave Traktor a one-man advantage. During the power play Quint took a
nice shot, but Holt made the save. The game got evenly matched in the end of
the period, in spite of the fact that Garnett had to do his best to keep the
score intact after two close-range shots in the closing moments of the period..
Second period
Second period saw the teams switch roles – Traktor was on the offensive from
the get-go, and it was Christopher Holt this time that had to move to and fro
in his goal to keep the score at nil. Garnett was at ease for the better part of
the period until Makarov found himself alone right beside Traktor’s goalie, but
Michael Garnett isn’t called Michael Garnett for no reason. Traktor’s
goaltender made a scintillating save, and two nils still kept their place on
the scoreboard. Right after that Traktor received another shot at the power
play. Kuznetsov alone took three shots at Holt’s goal during those two minutes.
Avto didn’t have any substantial scoring chances during the period as visitors’
defense didn’t allow much breathing room. Three minutes before the game’s second
break Traktor had a real chance to change the figures on the scoreboard –
Ryabykin made a picture-perfect pass through the lines to Zakiev who tried to
hit the far corner, but Holt turned the threat away yet again.
Third period
Traktor had the advantage in the final 20 minutes of the match as well. Avto’s defender
Denis Sokolov got injured in the beginning of the period and headed to the
locker room. It took both teams almost seven minutes to construct something
meaningful attack-wise – Kontiola had a breakaway but came up on the short end
of the stick as Holt refused to let the puck in. However, it was only a matter
time before Traktor established the lead. Shortly after the 50-minute mark Kuznetsov
scored the game’s first goal with a splendid wrist shot. Despite taking the
lead, Traktor didn’t repose on their laurels, and the award quickly found their
heroes. Maksim Karpov picked up the puck behind Avto’s net and executed a
through pass to Popov who cemented Traktor’s advantage, making it
two-to-nothing game. Avto’s coach pulled the goalie two minutes before the end
of the match, and Karpov amassed his second game point, assisting Maksim
Yakutsenya who tallied an empty net goal. The final buzzer signaled Traktor’s second
consecutive victory and Michael Garnett’s second consecutive shutout.
Stats and Details
Avtomobilist (Yekaterinburg) vs Traktor (Chelyabinsk) – 0:3 (0:0, 0:0, 0:3)
Goals: Kuznetsov, 52 (0:1); Popov (Karpov), 56 (0:2); Yakutsenya (Karpov),
58 (0:3 – empty net).
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
Holt;
Mezei – Sokolov, Straka – Shpirko – Simakov (C),
D. Makarov – Yukseev, Piros – Malykhin – Bulatov,
Sazonov – Gusev, K. Makarov – V. Streltsov – A.Streltsov,
Stepanov, Gimatov – Zavarukhin – Ustyantsev,
Zakirov.
Traktor Chelyabinsk
Garnett;
Quint – Ryabykin (A), Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov,
Belov – Vasilchenko, Karpov – Kontiola – Yakutsenya,
Razin – Katichev, Glinkin – Popov – Antipov (C),
Zakiev – Sayustov – Suglobov.
Penalty Minutes: 8 (4+2+2) - 6 (6+0+0)
Shots: 23 (11+5+7) - 41 (7+16+18)
Faceoffs Won: 28 (11+6+12) - 38 (11+10+17)
Time on Ice: Mezei (24:51), Makarov (24:11), Simakov (20:24) - Ryabykin
(23:40), Quint (22:28), Kuznetsov (21:44)
PP Goals: 0 - 0
Referees: Vladislav Kiselev (Ufa, Russia), Vladimir Nalivayko (Minsk,
Belarus).
Linesmen: Konstantin Gordenko, Viktor Tomilov (both Ufa, Russia).
September 10, 2012. Yekaterinburg, Russia. Uralets Arena. Attendance – 4500.
Photo courtesy of Avtomobilist’s Press Office