2012/2013 Playoffs. Traktor slips as series moves back to Omsk

Konstantin Panov got a minor injury and didn’t appear on the ice; Lemtyugov was included on the line-up instead of him. This change caused several shuffles in the lines as Kostitsyn appeared in the second line to replace Panov while Glinkin was put in the third one to take Kostitsyn’s place along with Antipov and Popov.

First period
The first 20 minutes of the match were predictably calm if we take into account the fact that it could have been the last match of the season for Avangard. However, it was the visitors that threw the first jab; Ivanov’s shot was turned away by Garnett. Traktor responded with Karpov slapping the puck a tad over the bar. Later on Avangard got a power play chance but failed to build anything substantial; instead Traktor executed a sharp two-on-one with Kontiola and Yakutsenya, but Avangard’s defenseman saw it coming and read the situation perfectly, not allowing the home team to pull ahead. After being back to full strength, Traktor received a power play chance of their own thanks to Glinkin. Traktor had a great scoring chance during these two minutes, but having received Kuznetsov’s pass, Chistov could not outplay Karri Ramo. Before the horn Traktor’s first line locked visitors in their own zone, but got no dividends out of it. As the buzzer sounded, the playoffs record was finally established – Michael Garnett’s clean streak reached the record number of 208 minutes and 4 seconds and was still counting.

Second period
Avangard got a hold of the situation in the second period. Three minutes after the starting buzzer Traktor slipped during the shift; Sergey Kalinin got an opening and was able to open the score in a breakaway. Business picked up immediately; after a little bustle on the crease Kuparinen and Katichev got coincidentals. Traktor looked better in four-on-four play; Yakutsenya missed the top corner by a whisker. Unfortunately for Chelyabinsk crowd, Avangard soon doubled the lead; after another minor defensive lapse Semin was on a breakaway and got knocked down. The victim himself executed a penalty shot to increase Avangard’s lead. Traktor got really angry at this point; the first line was juking and jiving trying to pull one back, and they very well could do it had Chistov not hit the bar.

Third period
Avangard controlled the pace of the game in the period’s get-go, not allowing Traktor to wield the puck. The home team woke up when Kontiola and Belov had a little altercation and later found themselves in penalty box. Four-on-four play was once again Traktor’s MO; Kuznetsov skated two laps in the attacking zone before leaving the puck to Quint; Ramo thwarted it from coming in. Mid-period, however, Avangard’s Finnish goaltender could not save his team when Traktor’s first line utilized a power play chance to perfection as Chistov pulled one back. It seemed as if Omsk’s Hawks could waver, but it was not to be. 1.17 before the horn Traktor pulled their goalie only to have Zaborsky tally an easy empty-netter. Avangard survives as both teams head to Omsk for game 5 with lots of uncertainties still left in this series.


Stats and details

Traktor vs. Avangard – 1:3 (0:0, 0:2, 1:1)

Goals: Kalinin (Salmela), 24 (0:1); Semin, 27 (0:2 – penalty shot);Chistov (Ryabykin, Kuznetsov), 52 (1:2 – PP); Zaborsky, 59 (1:3 – empty net).

Traktor (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett (0:00 – 58:43, 58:52 – 60:00);
Quint – Ryabykin (A), Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov,
V. Belov – Vasilchenko, Kostitsyn – Kontiola – Yakutsenya,
Katichev – Razin (A), Antipov (C) – Andrey Popov – Glinkin,
Nichushkin – Dugin – Karpov.

Avangard (Omsk Region)
Ramo;
Valentenko – A. Belov, Perezhogin – Aleksandr Popov – Frolov (C),
Pujacs – Lyamin, Zaborsky – Semin – Kalinin,
Piganovich – Pivtsakin, Volkov – Kuryanov – Ivanov,
Salmela, Taratukhin – Kuparinen – Pervushin.

Penalty Minutes: 6 (2+2+2) - 10 (2+4+4).
Shots: 15 (6+4+5) - 30 (11+10+9).
Faceoffs Won: 28 (6+7+15) - 26 (7+11+8).
Time on Ice: Quint (26:01), Ryabykin (24:33), Kuznetsov (20:34) - Pujacs (22:42), Lyamin (22:16), Pivtsakin (20:18).
Power Play Goals: 1-0.

Referees: Aleksey Ravodin, Sergey Karabanov (both – Moscow).
Linesmen: Konstantin Gordenko, Viktor Tomilov (both – Ufa).

March 13, 2013. Traktor Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia. Attendance – 7500.