2012/2013 Playoffs. Boulevard of Missed Opportunities
First period
The opponents seemed to have forgotten the grueling battle they endured 24
hours ago and jumped right in it from the get-go. The secondhand of the watch
did not even make three full circles when Nichushkin found himself a chance and utilized it like only he can. Later on Zaripov could once again upset Traktor,
but Garnett saw this coming and
neutralized the threat. Mid-period young Glinkin and Nesterov each scored nice hits;
Ak Bars responded in kind with a heavy slapshot from Zakharchuk which was saved by Garnett.
Some five minutes before the horn Traktor doubled the lead; Vasilchenko sent the puck toward the
net where Maksim Yakutsenya successfully deflected in
into the net. Lesser team would have been broken, but not Ak Bars; visitors
quickly tallied a power play goal, and after a long consideration the referees
allowed Morozov’s goal, setting the
final score of the period.
Second period
From the starting buzzer fans witnessed the game of seesaw that continued until
the final horn. Five minutes into the period Kulyash tied the game in a swift counterattack, like there was no
tiring game 3 just yesterday. A bit flabbergasted, Traktor still managed to
respond, but Popov did not
capitalize on Glinkin’s pass. Soon
enough Ak Bars delivered a knockdown blow in another counterattack; Lukoyanov was the executor, thus
completing Ak Bars’ comeback. The seesaw swung again, and Traktor, led by a
strong sense of urgency, rushed forward in search of a goal. Barulin was holding on for some time, but
not until Traktor got two power plays in a row. First Ryabykin charged a blue-liner to have Bulis deflect it into the net; and then Jan scored again when he
utilized Chistov’s laserlike pass. Obukhov’s goal-scoring chance was squeezed
between these two exchanges, but was quickly forsaken as Traktor once again
overtook the lead.
Third period
Traktor began the period shorthanded and once again played it by the book, not
allowing the opposition to take a single shot at Garnett’s net. Until mid-period there was not much happening on the
ice except for power game, but when the 50th minute came around, Kontiola increased Traktor’s lead in a
three-on-two counterattack. Zaripov had an emotional outburst momentarily that led to the double minor penalty.
During these four minutes Traktor could have sealed the deal but treated this
chance rather superciliously and paid for it big time. Within a span of thirty seconds Morozov and Darzins reestablished a tied score to turn the game into overtime.
Overtime
Traktor had a formidable advantage throughout the overtime. Kuznetsov, Popov and Quint could
give Traktor so much need win two minutes after the period – no luck. Around
mid-period Kuznetsov once again
found a scoring chance after standing beside the net with the puck for 20
seconds as he quickly wrapped around the net, trying to find the net; Barulin was able to block the corner. Soon Andrey Kostitsyn hit the bar (again!). Traktor was closing in on a goal; Kuznetsov had a zillionth scoring chance,
but found the frame of the net yet again (!!!!!) instead of the goal. This could
not continue for eternity; the very first Ak Bars’ chance gave this match a
Shakespearian twist when Zaripov was
smart to estimate the puck’s recoil from the boards and add it into the net,
becoming Traktor’s undertaker in the process. 5:6 and 1:3 in the series; Traktor
was one step from getting back into the series, but squandered a bevy of
scoring chances and now heads to Kazan to face Ak Bars on Sunday in a match
that may very well be their last in 2012/2013 season.
Stats and details
Traktor vs. Ak Bars – 5:6 OT (2:1, 2:2, 1:2, 0:1)
Goals: Nichushkin (Nesterov, Quint), 3 (1:0); Yakutsenya (Vasilchenko,
Kontiola), 16 (2:0); Morozov, 19 (2:1 – PP);Kulyash,
25 (2:2); Lukoyanov (Golubev, Kulyash), 27 (2:3); Bulis (Quint, Ryabykin), 37
(3:3 – PP); Bulis (Kuznetsov, Chistov), 40 (4:3 – PP); Kontiola (Yakutsenya),
50 (5:3); Morozov (Medvedev), 56 (5:4); Darzins (Tereshchenko), 56 (5:5);Zaripov
(Medvedev), 77 (5:6).
Traktor (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett;
Quint – Ryabykin (A), Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov,
Belov – Vasilchenko, Kostitsyn – Kontiola – Yakutsenya,
Katichev – Razin (A), Antipov (C) – Popov – Glinkin,
Nichushkin – Nesterov – Karpov.
Ak Bars (Kazan)
Barulin;
Korneyev – Nikulin (A), Zaripov – Kapanen – Morozov (C),
Medvedev – Kulyash, Pesonen – Immonen – Obukhov,
Zakharchuk – Khomitsky, Darzins – Tereshchenko (A) – Petrov,
Zherdev – Golubev – Lukoyanov.
Penalty Minutes: 4 (2+0+2+0) - 8 (0+4+4+0).
Shots: 39 (11+9+6+13) - 30 (9+8+7+6).
Faceoffs Won: 26 (7+6+6+7) - 43 (8+17+7+11).
Time on Ice: Quint (33:55), Ryabykin (32:28), Belov (24:04)- Nikulin
(32:46), Korneyev (31:19), Medvedev (27:42).
Power Play Goals: 2-1.
Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov (Moscow), Sergey Gusev (Serov).
Linesmen: Aleksandr Zakharenkov, Aleksandr Sadovnikov (both – Moscow).
March 28, 2013. Traktor Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia. Attendance – 7500.
