Traktor overcame Torpedo in a brilliant fashion
First period
Traktor was full of confidence in the starting moments of the match. In the very first attack Kuznetsov wrapped around the net and passed the puck to Chistov who sent it right to Koval’s pads. Sayustov and Antipov soon had a similar moment, but the score remained intact. Visitors responded with sharp attacks by Hietanen and Makarov. Middle-period Quint was sent to the penalty box, and Torpedo capitalized on the opportunity to perfection with Thörnberg executing a nice shot and leaving Garnett no chance. Zainullin had a breakaway momentarily, but this time Garnett stopped the shot. As the period was coming to a close, Torpedo doubled their lead. Thörnberg scored his second goal in the match with a shot to the top corner.
Second period
After the break the machine, better known as Traktor, finally began to spin.
First off, Kostitsyn completely obliterated Torpedo’s defender, proving once
again that he is one of the best powerhouses in all of KHL. Around the middle of
the period Karpov and Kuznetsov had a great chance to curtail the goal margin,
but Koval turned the first shot away, and Kuznetsov missed the net. Halfway
through the match Katichev pulled one back with a scintillating shot from the
blue line. Two minutes after Kuznetsov could tie the game when Kontiola sent
the puck to the far post, but somehow Koval was able to move to the corner and
make a pad save. Goal was imminent, and it came rather sooner than later. Deron Quint
slapped heavily from the blue line and tied the match. The period was far from
over though as Panov turned the puck over in the attacking zone, turned around
and gave Traktor the lead.
Third period
Four minutes into the period Traktor solidified the advantage. Kostitsyn feigned
a shot and made a surgically precise pass to the far post where Yakutsenya
could not miss. Both teams took a short breather that quickly ended with
Zainullin pulling one back and bringing the intrigue back to the seemingly
settled match. However, the intrigue quickly evaporated as Petri Kontiola
restored the two-goal margin – 5:3. Late in the third Traktor was left with
two-man disadvantage that made the raucous Chelyabinsk
crowd rise to their feet and cheer for their favorites as hard as ever. Traktor
persevered and score their sixth game’s goal. While playing shorthanded,
Kontiola and Yakutsenya constructed a swift attack, and the latter scored his
second goal in tonight’s game. Traktor came off with a splendid comeback
victory and solidified their lead in the Eastern conference standings with 34
points.
Stats and details
Traktor (Chelyabinsk) vs. Torpedo (Nizhny Novgorod) – 6:3 (0:2, 3:0, 3:1)
Goals: Thörnberg (Makarov, Hietanen), 14 (0:1 – power play); Thörnberg
(Makarov),19 (0:2);Katichev (Kuznetsov), 31 (1:2); Quint (Kontiola, Yakutsenya), 38
(2:2 – power play); Panov, 40 (3:2); Yakutsenya (Kontiola, Kostitsyn), 44
(4:2); Zainullin (Nillson, Yevseyenkov), 51 (4:3); Kontiola (Kostitsyn), 54
(5:3); Yakutsenya (Katichev, Kontiola), 58 (6:3 – shorthanded).
Traktor (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett;
Quint – Razin (A), Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov,
Belov – Vasilchenko, Yakutsenya – Kontiola – Kostitsyn,
Katichev – Ryabykin (A), Panov (A) – Sayustov – Antipov (C),
Nesterov, Glinkin – Popov – Karpov.
Torpedo (Nizhny Novgorod)
Koval;
Malenkikh – Hietanen, Galuzin – Makarov (A) – Thörnberg,
Vasiliev – Kousa, Potapov (A) – Schastlivy – Varnakov (C),
Tyulyapkin – Yevseyenkov, Zainullin – Gorbunov – Nillson,
Valuysky – Arkhipov – Chernov.
Penalty Minutes:6 (2+0+4) - 4 (0+2+2).
Shots:34 (9+13+12) - 29 (11+8+10).
Faceoffs Won:34 (11+8+15) - 30 (6+13+11).
Time on Ice: Kuznetsov (24:15), Belov (21:09), Kontiola (20:50) - Kousa
(22:34), Hietanen (20:27), Tyulyapkin (19:58).
Power Play Goals:1-1.
Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov, Aleksandr Soin (both – Moscow).
Linesmen:Dmitry Golovlev (Naberezhnye Chelny), Aleksandr Sysuyev (Ufa).
October 17, 2012. Traktor Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia. Attendance – 7500.
