Traktor finishes the regular season on a positive note

First period
Visitors dominated throughout the first period and deservedly scored twice. Two minutes into the game Andrey Popov hit the post. Metallurg reciprocated as O’Reilly tried to open the score; Garnett was on point. Soon enough the opening goal of the contest came about; Dugin utilized Karpov’s sharp pass to perfection, not leaving Ahonen a chance. Traktor continued the onslaught and soon got two power play chances that were not converted into goals. Visitors were not upset for long and scored in full strength; Nichushkin skated through the whole rink, outplayed two of Metallurg’s D-men and doubled Traktor’s lead.

Second period
Even though the period was not rich with goal-scoring chances, it was certainly rich with goal-scoring efforts. Some three minutes into the period Kuznetsov used his breakaway opportunity in a brilliant fashion, sending the puck between Ahonen’s pads and into the net. The next noteworthy event on the ice occurred when Metallurg had a two-man advantage, but Traktor proved once again the reputation of the best team in all of KHL in terms of shorthanded play. Three minutes before the buzzer Traktor scored for the fourth time; Glinkin permeated through the attacking zone, tried to upset Ahonen from close range, and Dugin was there to score his second goal of the night. To their credit, Mettalurg was able to pull one back before the break at the hands of Mats Zuccarello.

Third period
Not much has changed in the final twenty minutes of the match; Traktor was in control and did not let the home team create anything substantial in the attacking zone. The only two highlights of the period were Katichev’s picture-perfect hit on Zdunov and Yakutsenya’s one-on-one chance that did not result in a goal. 4:1 as the final score; Traktor ranks third in the overall Eastern Conference standings and awaits their opponents in the first round of the playoffs.

Stats and details

Metallurg Magnitogorsk vs. Traktor – 1:4 (0:2, 1:2, 0:0)

Goals: Dugin (Karpov), 8 (0:1); Nichushkin, 18 (0:2); Kuznetsov (Katichev, Yakutsenya), 23 (0:3); Dugin (Nesterov, Glinkin), 37 (0:4); Platonov (O’Reilly, Zuccarello), 39 (1:4 – PP).

Metallurg (Magnitogorsk)
Ahonen (Gelashvili – 40:00);
Antipin – Biryukov, Platonov – O’Reilly– Mozyakin (C),
Misharin – Bondarev, Zdunov – Hodgman – Korolyuk,
Metlyuk – Bernatsky, Zuccarello – Gulash – Kazionov,
Khabarov, Kosov – Yakubov – Lisin.

Traktor (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett;
Quint – Ryabykin (A), Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov,
Belov – Vasilchenko, Panov (A) – Kontiola – Yakutsenya,
Katichev – Razin, Glinkin – Popov – Antipov (C),
Shinin – Nesterov, Karpov – Dugin – Nichushkin.

Penalty Minutes: 4 (4+0+0) - 10 (2+6+2).
Shots: 20 (3+9+8) - 27 (15+8+4).
Faceoffs Won: 29 (9+12+8) - 15 (7+4+4).
Power Play Goals: 1-0.
Time on Ice: Mozyakin (20:56), Khabarov (19:45), O’Reilly (18:56) - Ryabykin (18:54), Kuznetsov (18:09), Chistov (17:12).

Referees: Roman Gofman (Moscow), Jyri Rӧnn (Finland).
Linesmen: Gleb Lazarev (Perm), Sergey Morozov (Moscow Oblast).

February 17, 2013. Metallurg Arena, Magnitogorsk, Russia. Attendance – 7700.

Photo courtesy of Metallurg’s Press Office