Traktor beats Metallurg 2-0 in their season’s debut
First period
The first period
was evenly matched as both teams had their fair share of scoring chances. The gunplay
began with each forward of Traktor’s third line having a goal-scoring
opportunity, but Metallurg’s goalie Ari Ahonen turned the shots aside. Four
minutes into the match, Aleksey Vasilchenko performed a nice hit on visitors’
captain Denis Platonov who immediately wanted to exact revenge. To Aleksey’s credit,
he remained unprovoked. A bit later on Mats Zuccarello (the most active of
Metallurg’s players in the first period) outplayed three Traktor’s players and
took a wrist shot that made Michael Garnett do a leg-split to make the save.
Towards the middle of the period Traktor seemed to have taken the initiative. Seven
minutes into the game Aleksandr Suglobov hit the post; Stanislav Chistov could
not score from one-meter distance in the very next shift. Four minutes later Traktor’s
first line constructed a scintillating three-way combination, but Jan Bulis
couldn’t put it away. After the fireworks settled down a bit, the match took a much
calmer pace. The only moment in the end of the period worth mentioning is Denis
Platonov’s goal-scoring chance stopped by Michael Garnett.
Second period
Second period was
equally as emotional as the first one. During the first seven minutes both
teams were able to accumulate two substantial goal-scoring chances, Traktor
being the only ones to be a threat to opponent’s goaltender. Firstly Kuznetsov could
not catch Karpov’s pass; then Traktor’s third line locked the visitors in their
zone, but failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Eight minutes into the
period Jan Bulis got the fans in attendance excited as he completely
obliterated Denis Bondarev with a vicious hit, thus establishing Traktor’s
dominance in the power game. After the match passed the 30-minute mark, both teams
had a power play but only managed to amass two shots (one for both Traktor and
Metallurg). Khabarov’s slap shot was turned away by Garnett, Quint’s shot – by
Ahonen. Nevertheless, the Traktor’s third line managed to have their way. After
one of Metallurg’s players got the gate, Kontiola found Quint with a marvelous pass
through the whole zone, and the latter executed the shot perfectly, getting his
team ahead. In the closing moments of the period a little brawl took place near
Metallurg’s goal. As a result. the referees decided to send Justin Hodgman
(Metallurg), Vladimir Antipov and Gennady Razin (both – Traktor) to the penalty
box.
Third period
Traktor began the last period shorthanded but, thanks to good defense, managed to avoid trouble. Around the middle of the period Yakutsenya and Belov could have pretty much sealed the deal by scoring the game’s second goal, but Ahonen was brilliant. Traktor had the initiative and constantly was on the offensive while Metallurg preferred rare outings into Traktor’s zone. 49th minute saw the sensational save made by Michael Garnett who turned aside Matt Zuccarello’s three-meter distance shot. Other period’s noteworthy moments include Yevgeny Kuznetsov’s puck juggling and empty net goal that set the game’s final score. The season’s debut for Traktor marks the first victory, first season shutout for Michael Garnett and first ‘Molodtsy’ (eng. ‘way to go’) chant given by the raucous Chelyabinsk
crowd.
Stats and Details
Traktor (Chelyabinsk) vs Metallurg (Magnitogorsk) – 2:0 (0:0,
1:0, 1:0)
Goals: Quint (Kontiola),
40 (1:0 – PP), Kuznetsov, 60 (2:0 – empty net).
Traktor (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett (G);
Quint – Ryabykin (A), Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov,
Belov – Vasilchenko, Karpov – Kontiola – Yakutsenya,
Razin – Katichev, Glinkin – Popov – Antipov (C),
Zakiev – Sayustov – Suglobov.
Metallurg (Magnitogorsk)
Ahonen (G);
Biryukov (A) – Misharin, Kaygorodov – O`Reiily – Platonov (C),
Antipin – Tverdovsky (A), Kazionov – Hodgman – Zdunov,
Bondarev – Khabarov, Lisin – Yakubov – Zuccarello,
Bernatsky, Potekhin – Schenfeldt – Kosov.
Penalty Mintues: 16
(0+16+0) - 8 (0+6+2)
Shots: 26 (8+7+11) - 27 (8+9+10)
Faceoffs Won: 31 (7+10+14)
- 26 (7+10+9)
Time on Ice: Ryabykin
(26:35), Quint (24:08), Bulis (20:39) - Misharin (20:51), O`Reilly (20:17), Khabarov
(19:50)
PP Goals: 1 - 0
Referees: Yevgeny Romasko
(Tver, Russia), Jyri Ronn (Finland).
Linesmen: Sergey Misyur (Nizhny Tagil, Russia),
Stanislav Raming (Yekaterinburg,
Russia).
September 6, 2012. Traktor ice Arena, Chelyabinsk,
Russia.
Attendance – 7300.
