Traktor defeats Salavat Yulaev for the first time in modern history

First period

The first 20 minutes of the match up were evenly matched, the score board being the living proof of this statement. The first goal-scoring chance came four minutes into the game when Khlystov tried to hit the far corner, but Garnett was able to save the net. Three minutes later Traktor go tap owerplay, butdidn’t produce any substantial scoring chances except for maybe Bulis’ shot taken from the goal crease.Aleksandr Pankov was Salavat Yulaev’s busiest man in the first period. It was indeed Pankov who middle-period got away from Traktor’s defense, but Garnett was on point as usual. Soon enough Salavat got a power play, but counter intuitively, allowed the game’s first goal. Kuznetsov spurteda cross the left wing and hit Tarkki’s net from zero angle, giving his team the lead. Salavat tied the game in the very next attack – the aforementioned Pankov executed a scintillating wrist shot, immediately getting the home team back in the game. A minute later Razin could vault Traktor into lead once again, but his slapshot was turned aside by Tarkki. Salavat responded quickly when Filatov had a break away, but his shot missed the goal.

Second period

Second period turned out to be quite a spectacle. Two minutes after the period began, Atyushov had a sure-fire goal-scoring opportunity with a slapshot, but Garnett was all eyes yet again.Forthen ext five minutes both teams have taken a short break before getting the second wind. Yakutsenya broke the silence with a well-executed pass to the goal crease where Kontiola got slashed, giving Traktor a power play. Sadly enough to Traktor faithful, the visiting team didnot seize this opportunity to pull a head.Lateron Traktor could score in two-on-one when Panov passed the puck to Suglobov who missed the net.Thenit was Garnett’s turn to demonstrate why he is the number one goalie in Traktor. Michael turned away Kuteykin’s and Mirnov’s shots. A bit later on Quint and Khlystov engaged in a little brawl, as a result of which both had to spend five minutes inside the box for bad guys. When Traktor was left shorthanded, it took a miracle (which also happens to bear the name of Michael Garnett) to keep the game’s suspense and intrigue alive.

Third period

The final 20 minutes of the match were dominated by Traktor, which has already become a routine turn of events. Three minutes into the period Traktor took the lead – Kuznetsov’s solo effort and his subsequent pass was transformed into 2:1 on the scoreboard by Jan Bulis. Some six minutes later Salavat got a power play, but made the mistake that sealed their fate. Suglobov turned the puck over center of the rink, passed the hockey implement to Konstantin Panov who doubled Traktor’s lead. Traktor was left short handed again momentarily, and again weaseled out of the predicament with a goal-scoring effort – Kontiola got the puck, made one defender sit on his backside, then made a theatric-like pause and hit the net that had already been abandoned by Tarkki. Quitefrankly, at this point Salavat gaveup the fight, and Traktor confidently held up the lead, defeating Salavat Yulaev for the first time in modern history and collecting six out of nine points from Kazan-Nizhnekamsk-Ufa voyage.

Stats and details

Salavat Yulaev (Ufa) vs. Traktor (Chelyabinsk) – 1:4 (1:1, 0:0, 0:3)

Goals: Kuznetsov, 14 (0:1 – shorthanded); Pankov (Zubarev, Trubachev), 14 (1:1); Bulis (Ryabykin, Kuznetsov), 44 (1:2 – powerplay); Panov (Suglobov), 49 (1:3 – shorthanded); Kontiola (Kuznetsov), 49 (1:4 – shorthanded).

Salavat Yulaev (Ufa)