Traktor beats Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Traktor’s coaching staff had to
resort to several changes in the line-up due to Chistov’s food poisoning and
Kontiola’s injury that kept both of them out of the game. The line-up was balanced
out by Vasilchenko who completely recovered from his injury, and Vyacheslav
Osnovin who made his KHL debut in this match.
First period
Starting minutes of the contest saw both goalkeepers successfully turn several
shots aside. Then Traktor’s first line converted their efforts into a goal –
Quint slapped from the blue line, and Karpov added the puck into the net, in the
process scoring his 7th season goal. Kuznetsov could increase lead momentarily,
but his one-on-one exchange was brilliantly stopped by Metallurg’s goaltender,
Aleksandr Lazushin. Metallurg was quick to respond; Mitryakov passed the puck
from behind the net to the crease where Yury Nazarov managed to tie the game.
However, Traktor still went to the locker room with a one-goal lead; Belov’s
shot was deflected into the net by Maksim Yakutsenya who tallied a second
game’s power play goal for Traktor.
Second period
Traktor began the period shorthanded and almost paid for it when Megalinsky hit
the bar. Having just had a collective sigh of relief, Traktor was left with a
one-man disadvantage again. This time the home team showcased their brilliant
ability of penalty killing and was later rewarded in kind; Yakutsenya disguised
his shot perfectly, and Lazushin failed to discern it. 3:1 as a result, and
Metallurg’s coaching staff had to switch the goalies to shake things up a
little. Shortly thereafter Traktor continued the period’s trend with two more penalties,
but visitors once again did not capitalize. Traktor, on the other hand, could extend the lead, but both Osnovin and
Popov wasted their goal-scoring opportunities.
Third period
Traktor did not even think about breaking the habit in the third period (six
penalty minutes against Metallurg’s two). Traktor’s trouble began right off the
bat with a two-man deficit; comfortable two-goal margin was in jeopardy, but it
was Michael Garnett’s amazing pad save that kept the score intact. Some time later
Yevgeny Kuznetsov rushed to get one-on-one, but Metallurg’s defensemen thwarted
him from taking a shot in the most opportune of times. Metallurg gave it their
all to save the game, and could very well take the first step when Bumagin
seemingly had Garnett outdone, but Michael somehow made a save. Vladimir
Antipov could spare the jitters and make it a 4:1 game, but miraculously missed
the empty corner. For better or worse, Traktor came off victorious and now
meets Amur on December 28.
Stats and details
Traktor (Chelyabinsk) vs. Metallurg (Novokuznetsk) – 3:1 (2:1, 1:0, 0:0)
Goals: Karpov (Quint, Kuznetsov), 7 (1:0 – PP); Nazarov (Mitryakov), 10 (1:1); Yakutsenya (Belov, Shinin), 20 (2:1- PP); Yakutsenya (Bulis), 28 (3:1).
Traktor (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett;
Belov – Vasilchenko, Yakutsenya – Bulis – Kostitsyn,
Quint – Ryabykin (A), Kuznetsov – Popov – Karpov,
Shinin – Katichev, Panov (A) – Dugin – Antipov (C),
Klimontov – Razin, Glinkin – Osnovin.
Metallurg (Novokuznetsk)
Lazushin (Klyuchnikov 27:53 - 60:00);
Metlyuk – Megalinsky, Kagarlitsky (A) – Robitaille – Bumagin,
Grishin – Romanov, Islamov – Mereskin (C) – Lazarev,
Arzamastsev – Sopel (A), Vyglazov – Chernykh – Zhafyarov,
Yezhov – Skutar, Mitryakov – Turukin – Nazarov.
Penalty Minutes: 16 (2+8+6) - 10 (6+2+2).
Shots: 21 (9+8+4) - 21 (6+5+10).
Faceoffs Won: 33 (13+11+9) - 34 (9+14+11).
Time on Ice: Kuznetsov (29:06), Belov (20:16), Bulis (19:03)-
Kagarlitsky (25:02), Metlyuk (23:39), Robitaille (21:58).
Power Play Goals: 2-0.
Referees: Konstantin Olenin (Moscow), Jury Rönn (Finland).
Linesmen: Konstantin Gordenko, Viktor Tomilov (both – Ufa).
December 26, 2012. Traktor
Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia. Attendance – 6500.
