Triumph and heartbreak in Chelyabinsk

The only change Traktor’s line-up underwent was in the third line – team’s captain Vladimir Antipov was back to replace Dmitry Sayustov as the line’s center.

First period

If someone deserved to be praised for their performance in the first period, it was Michael Garnett who turned 14 shots aside and allowed only one goal from Kvasha (assisted by Datsyuk) early in the period. Some time after that Traktor got the power play. Yevgeny Kuznetsov was Traktor’s most prolific player in terms of shots on goal during this power play. As CSKA’s penalty expired, Yakov Rylov made a beeline from the penalty box to Garnett’s net, but his shot missed the goal. Middle-period it was CSKA’s turn to get the power play which quickly became five-on-three. CSKA organized a natural siege that lasted almost a minute and a half. Garnett was the hero of the moment, having stopped three shots made by Rylov, Grabovsky and Datsyuk. Later on Lyubimov had a carbon copy of Rylov’s breakaway, but Garnett rose to the occasion yet again with a save. In fact, Traktor only took four shots during the period, and the fourth one turned into a goal-scoring effort. Vyacheslav Belov scored his first goal in Traktor in a true forward’s fashion, tying the game late in the first.

Second period

The game’s second period was more emotional but less effective goal-wise. After the modest pace of the first five minutes both teams exploded with goal-scoring chances. First Igor Radulov missed the net by an inch, then Kontiola tried to outsmart Bryzgalov with a tennis-like lob, but missed the net as well. Couple of minutes after Kuznetsov got hit with a glove. To Yevgeny’s credit, he decided to respond with sportsman like actions as he took the puck in the neutral zone and charged a wrist shot. Bryzgalov had to do a leg-split to prevent the puck from going in. Traktor was also more efficient offensively in four-on-four game middle period – Kuznetsov hit the cross bar, and Quint couldn’t catch Antipov’s pass.

Third period

Traktor began the period shorthanded but managed to keep the score intact. Four minutes into the period Panov made CSKA’s defense commit a foul. However, Traktor failed to create any meaningful scoring chances; then the goals’ horn of abundance emptied in a hurry. First, Datsyuk won the draw, and Ryasensky took a cannonball of a shot, making Garnett submit to it and pulling his team ahead. Traktor recovered quickly as Kontiola managed to find a nook between the corner of the net and Bryzgalov’s shoulder, tying the game at two apiece. The very next shift saw CSKA take the lead for the third time in this match – Grabovsky outplayed the defense and scored from the goal crease. Nonetheless, it was not all the fans were to witness on this given night – Traktor tied the game momentarily as Kontiola won the faceoff, and Andrey Kostitsyn delivered a scintillating shot right into the net. As the score was tied once again, Traktor stormed CSKA’s goal and was awarded for their efforts. Two minutes before the buzzer Glinkin wrapped around the goal and passed the puck to Andrey Popov who somehow managed to put it away while standing back first to the net. The hometown heroes had a power play during the closing segments of the match as Chelyabinsk faithful gave their team a standing ovation.4:3 – Traktor gets the sixth win in eight games, prolonging the winning streak to three matches.

Stats and details

Traktor (Chelyabinsk) vs. CSKA (Moscow) – 4:3 (1:1, 0:0, 3:2)

Goals: Kvasha (Datsyuk), 2 (0:1); Belov (Kontiola), 20 (1:1); Ryasensky (Datsyuk), 46 (1:2); Kontiola (Belov), 49 (2:2 – power play); Grabovsky (Guskov), 50 (2:3); Kostitsyn (Kontiola), 51 (3:3); Popov (Glinkin), 59 (4:3).

Traktor (Chelyabinsk)