2012/2013 Playoffs. Exciting victory and series lead for the first time

First period
Barys dominated the beginning of the period and logically scored the game’s opening goal; the notorious North American line struck again when Dawes passed the puck along the net where Brandon Bochensky added it into the goal. Barys could instantaneously double the lead as Krasnoslobodtsev was on a breakaway, but Michael Garnett was able to keep Traktor in it with a brilliant stop. These two exchanges helped the home team come to their senses; shortly Chistov had a rendezvous with Poluektov, but the puck got off the hook at the very last moment. However, Chelyabinsk faithful was not upset for long; Kuznetsov made a goal horn go off with a monstrous slapshot. Traktor began to feel it and did not let the foot off the pedal; during a power play Ryabykin fired a half-zone shot while Bulis deflected it nicely right into the net. Barys bounced back with a couple of goalless attacks. The period was swiftly coming to a close when Antipov made a full circle around Poluektov’s net and hit a fine-looking backhander to further cement Traktor’s lead; 3:1 before the break.

Second period
At the top of the period the opponents exchanged several penalties. As a result Traktor acquired a two-man advantage and quickly converted this chance into a goal-scoring effort; Bulis added the puck into the net from close range, scoring his second goal of the game. Traktor did not give an inch and continued to dominate; Vasilchenko and Kostitsynboth deserved a round of applause for their awesome hits; but hits are hits, and goals are goals. Shortly after mid-period mark Nichushkin gave the home team another power play shot, and once again it was converted into a goal by the book; Chistov-Quint-astounding slapshot-5:1 on the scoreboard! Obviously Traktor decided to take a breather, but a minor negligence cost an allowed goal at the hands of Savchenko seconds before the horn.

Third period
Traktor was dominant in the third period and proceeded to win the game in calm and collected fashion. Nonetheless, Garnett had an opportunity to shine on couple of exchanges; Bochensky and Spiridonovcould upset Michael from close range, but all to no avail. After a moment of standstill Yakutsenya found himself one-on-one with Poluektov; this time Barys’ goaltender did everything to prevent the goal. Couple of minutes later Panov pulled his fourth series goal out of nowhere, reestablishing a four-goal margin. To visitors’ credit, they continued to fight until the last drop of blood and managed to upset Garnett one more time before the final buzzer; the unfading North American line found another goal at the hands of Boyd. All in all, 6:3; and on Sunday in Astana Traktor will try to finish the series in game #6.


Stats and details

Traktor vs. Barys – 6:3 (3:1, 2:1, 1:1)

Goals: Bochensky (Troshchinsky, Dawes), 10 (0:1 – PP); Kuznetsov (Chistov), 12 (1:1); Bulis (Ryabykin, Chistov), 14 (2:1 – PP); Antipov, 19 (3:1); Bulis (Quint, Chistov), 24 (4:1 – PP); Quint (Chistov, Ryabykin), 34 (5:1 – PP); Savchenko (Poluektov), 40 (5:2 – PP); Panov (Kontiola), 57 (6:2 – shorthanded); Boyd (Dawes), 60 (6:3).

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

Barys (Astana, Kazakhstan)
Poluektov;
Savchenko – Troshchinsky (A), Romanov – Polishchuk (A) – Krasnoslobodtsev,
Hutchinson – Belyakov, Rudenko – Upper (C) – Pushkaryov,
Mnatsyan – Grigoryev, Dawes – Boyd – Bochensky,
Novopashin, Aleksandrov – Solarev – Spiridonov,
Rakhmanov.

Penalty Minutes: 14 (4+8+2) - 10 (2+8+0).
Shots: 30 (14+11+5) - 36 (12+11+13).
Faceoffs Won: 32 (13+12+7) - 32 (12+12+8).
Time on Ice: Quint (20:56), Ryabykin (20:18), Bulis (18:18) - Grigoryev (22:11), Belyakov (20:45), Savchenko (20:36).
Power Play Goals: 3-2.

Referees: Aleksey Belov (Yaroslavl), Anatoly Zakharov (Moscow).
Linesmen: Sergey Misyur (Nizhny Tagil), Stanislav Raming (Yekaterinburg).

March 1, 2013. Traktor Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia. Attendance – 7500.