2012/2013 Playoffs. Power play is a deciding factor in game 1
First period
Ak Bars was on a hop throughout the period, taking a total of 23 shots, but Michael Garnett was as focused as ever. Before that though came Traktor’s
goal; Kuznetsov got a power play chance
for his team and pulled visitors ahead by himself. Ak Bars quickly regrouped
and seized the initiative, managing to hold onto it until the intermission. Immonen and Zakharchuk could both tie it up in a single attack; Garnett made the save. Ak Bars followed
up as Zaripov took a sharp shot that Garnett managed to turn aside. The home
team kept the pressure on, and eventually this dominance resulted in a
goal-scoring effort; Nikulin shot
the puck toward the net where Zaripov deflected it into the net. Smelling blood, Ak Bars clenched the claws around
the white bear’s throat; Morozov, Bodrov and Immonen had terrific chances on goal, yet Traktor’s brick wall aka
Michael Garnett fought like a lion to leave visitors in the game. Traktor hung
on to a relatively comfortable score, and both teams headed for a break.
Second period
After being hit from pillar to post in the first period, Traktor managed to
even the game out in the second. First Quint bothered Barulin a bit; Ak Bars
responded with a two-on-one neutralized by Garnett.
Close to mid-period Tereshchenko seemingly
hit the empty net, but Razin’s skate
stood in puck’s way. Traktor recovered from a minor shock during the power play
when Bulis had a couple of crease
chances but was blocked both times. Visitors had another scare when Ak Bars was
on the verge of their second goal of the game; much to Traktor’s relief Dugin spurted to clear the puck away
when it was dozens of inches before the line of the net. Traktor had decent
chances before the buzzer; Barulin thwarted Bulis and Kuznetsov, and the score remained
intact.
Third period
Any mistake in the third period would be too costly, so both teams preferred to
focus on defense. However, at times either Traktor or Ak Bars burst with
flurries of offense; first Bodrov continued his goalless streak, falling to Garnett’s confident play. Mid-period visitors had a power play chance; Kuznetsov fired a shot that could have
decided the game, but instead hit Medvedev in the knee. Before the horn Yakutsenya and Kostitsyn had their chances, but
Barulin reigned supreme on both exchanges.
Overtime
Traktor looked better in the starting moments of the overtime as Quint tried to hit the net with a
crafty shot to the near corner; Barulin was on guard. And then the fatal mistake occurred; Razin left Traktor shorthanded, and after a massive jostle on the
crease and several goal attempts Konstantin Korneyev shoved the puck into the
net to give Ak Bars the victory and the series lead.
Stats and details
Ak Bars vs. Traktor – 2:1 OT (1:1, 0:0, 0:0, 1:0)
Goals: Kuznetsov (Bulis, Chistov), 2 (0:1 – PP); Zaripov (Morozov, Nikulin), 11 (1:1 – PP); Korneyev (Morozov, Kapanen), 65 (2:1 – PP).
Ak Bars (Kazan)
Barulin;
Korneyev – Nikulin, Zaripov – Kapanen – Morozov (C),
Medvedev – Kulyash, Pesonen – Immonen – Obukhov,
Zakharchuk – Khomitsky, Lukoyanov – Tereshchenko – Petrov,
Zherdev – Bodrov – Golubev.
Traktor (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett;
Quint – Ryabykin (A), Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov,
Belov – Vasilchenko, Kostitsyn – Kontiola – Yakutsenya,
Katichev – Razin (A), Antipov (C) – Popov – Glinkin,
Nichushkin – Dugin – Karpov, Lemtyugov.
Penalty Minutes: 18 (2+14+2+0) - 6 (4+0+0+2).
Shots: 47 (23+12+5+7) - 24 (4+8+7+5).
Faceoffs Won: 37 (9+12+12+4) - 31 (9+6+13+3).
Time on Ice: Medvedev (25:50), Korneyev (24:10), Kulyash (23:09) - Quint (28:32), Ryabykin (28:10), Bulis (22:43).
Power Play Goals: 2-1.
Referees: Aleksey Ravodin, Sergey Karabanov (both – Moscow).
Linesmen: Viktor Birin, Aleksey Medvedev (both – Moscow).
March 23, 2013. Tatneft Arena, Kazan, Russia. Attendance – 6770.
Photo courtesy of Ak Bars’ Press Office
