2012/2013 Playoffs. Traktor wins on rival’s turf and extends the season
The only change in Traktor’s line-up was Fokin replacing Mezin as a substitute goaltender.
First period
The opposing teams began the match in a moderate pass, focusing rather on defense. First attacking bell rang four minutes into the match when Pesonen somehow couldn’t hit an empty net. Traktor was not to be denied though; Quint made Barulin show all his skills on couple of exchanges. Mid-period the ever active Lukoyanov appeared on Garnett’s crease; Michael did not budge and kept the score at nil. After this exchange Traktor took over the initiative, and the goal was just a matter of time; the time came five minutes before the horn when Bulis fired a shot that caught Barulin off guard and gave visitors so much needed lead. Traktor caught the vibe and executed a couple of attacks, but this time to no avail. Right before the buzzer Traktor was left shorthanded, and it was Garnett’s turn to show who is the unquestionable #1 goal in Traktor as he turned away Zaripov’s cunning shot.
Second period
Period number 2 cost many fans several thousands of nerve cells. Ak Bars jumped right into the game and quickly garnered a power play. The play was molten hot; on one exchange the puck was deflected and it seemed was about to land right behind Garnett’s back and into the net, but, much to the relief of Chelyabinsk fans, missed the goal. Traktor was ‘biting’ the ice, trying to hang on to the lead; Kontiola spurted in a counterattack that helped visitors cut some of the penalty time; then Antipov blocked Zakharchuk’s mighty slapshot. Roles were quickly changed as Ak Bars was left four-on-five this time. Bulis was the most prominent figure during this power play, but both times he was unlucky or stopped by Barulin. The opponents were quick to organize another 5-on-4, this time at the hands of Traktor. Once again Chelyabinsk team showed wonderful resiliency; Chistov carried the puck that was slowly crawling into the net away from it; a bit later on Morozov could slap the game back to a tie, but two of Traktor’s D-men threw themselves selflessly to block the shot.
Third period
The home team logically rushed forward trying to tie the game and found itself on the receiving end of a breakway; Antipov had the right idea to send the puck between Barulin’s pads, but Ak Bars’ goaltender guessed this right and neutralized the threat. Traktor was left three-on-five momentarily, and Ak Bars was glad to capitalize; Ilya Nikulin found a recess between Garnett’s pads. Other notables of the rest of the period include Glinkin missing the top corner by a lick of paint and Ryabykin destroying Kirill Petrov with a scintillating hit.
Overtime
It was one of the most emotional overtimes of this season for both teams. Traktor played two consecutive four-on-fives and hung on to the last straw; during these moments Garnett was the brick wall that the banners portray him to be, saving Traktor from imminent goal. Visitors survived and were rewarded for the will to compete with a penalty shot; Deron Quint was supposed to execute it, but got a minor injury and was replaced by Kontiola. Traktor’s resident Finn did everything right and had Barulin outplayed, but the puck traitorously hit the post, and the nerve rack continued. The opponents exchanged slow jabs, just like exhausted heavyweights in the closing rounds of a fight, and when it seemed that the coaches would be giving some more pep talk, Valery Nichushkin executed one of his trademark run-ins, kept the puck and passed it to Kontiola who delivered the knockout uppercut eight seconds before the gong. Traktor pulls one game back and gives Chelyabinsk faithful at least one more chance to see a hockey game in this season.
Stats and details
Ak Bars vs. Traktor – 1:2 OT (0:1, 0:0, 1:0, 0:1)
Goals: Bulis (Quint, Chistov), 16 (0:1);Nikulin (Korneyev, Morozov), 51 (1:1 – PP);Kontiola (Nichushkin), 80 (1:2).
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.
Traktor (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett;
Quint – Ryabykin (A), Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov,
Belov – Vasilchenko, Kostitsyn – Kontiola – Yakutsenya,
Katichev – Razin (A), Antipov (C) – Popov – Glinkin,
Shinin, Nichushkin – Nesterov – Karpov.
Penalty Minutes: 4 (0+4+0+0) - 14 (2+4+4+4).
Shots: 42 (9+13+9+11) - 40 (12+9+8+11).
Faceoffs Won: 45 (12+9+10+14) - 28 (5+7+8+8).
Time on Ice: Nikulin (35:49), Korneyev (34:41), Medvedev (26:21) - Ryabykin (34:36), Quint (33:43), Chistov (28:44).
Power Play Goals: 1-0.
Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov (Moscow), Jury Rӧnn (Juvӓskulӓ, Finland).
Linesmen: Konstantin Gordenko, Viktor Tomilov (both – Ufa).
March 31, 2013. Tatneft Arena, Kazan, Russia.
Photo courtesy of Ak Bars’ Press Office
First period
The opposing teams began the match in a moderate pass, focusing rather on defense. First attacking bell rang four minutes into the match when Pesonen somehow couldn’t hit an empty net. Traktor was not to be denied though; Quint made Barulin show all his skills on couple of exchanges. Mid-period the ever active Lukoyanov appeared on Garnett’s crease; Michael did not budge and kept the score at nil. After this exchange Traktor took over the initiative, and the goal was just a matter of time; the time came five minutes before the horn when Bulis fired a shot that caught Barulin off guard and gave visitors so much needed lead. Traktor caught the vibe and executed a couple of attacks, but this time to no avail. Right before the buzzer Traktor was left shorthanded, and it was Garnett’s turn to show who is the unquestionable #1 goal in Traktor as he turned away Zaripov’s cunning shot.
Second period
Period number 2 cost many fans several thousands of nerve cells. Ak Bars jumped right into the game and quickly garnered a power play. The play was molten hot; on one exchange the puck was deflected and it seemed was about to land right behind Garnett’s back and into the net, but, much to the relief of Chelyabinsk fans, missed the goal. Traktor was ‘biting’ the ice, trying to hang on to the lead; Kontiola spurted in a counterattack that helped visitors cut some of the penalty time; then Antipov blocked Zakharchuk’s mighty slapshot. Roles were quickly changed as Ak Bars was left four-on-five this time. Bulis was the most prominent figure during this power play, but both times he was unlucky or stopped by Barulin. The opponents were quick to organize another 5-on-4, this time at the hands of Traktor. Once again Chelyabinsk team showed wonderful resiliency; Chistov carried the puck that was slowly crawling into the net away from it; a bit later on Morozov could slap the game back to a tie, but two of Traktor’s D-men threw themselves selflessly to block the shot.
Third period
The home team logically rushed forward trying to tie the game and found itself on the receiving end of a breakway; Antipov had the right idea to send the puck between Barulin’s pads, but Ak Bars’ goaltender guessed this right and neutralized the threat. Traktor was left three-on-five momentarily, and Ak Bars was glad to capitalize; Ilya Nikulin found a recess between Garnett’s pads. Other notables of the rest of the period include Glinkin missing the top corner by a lick of paint and Ryabykin destroying Kirill Petrov with a scintillating hit.
Overtime
It was one of the most emotional overtimes of this season for both teams. Traktor played two consecutive four-on-fives and hung on to the last straw; during these moments Garnett was the brick wall that the banners portray him to be, saving Traktor from imminent goal. Visitors survived and were rewarded for the will to compete with a penalty shot; Deron Quint was supposed to execute it, but got a minor injury and was replaced by Kontiola. Traktor’s resident Finn did everything right and had Barulin outplayed, but the puck traitorously hit the post, and the nerve rack continued. The opponents exchanged slow jabs, just like exhausted heavyweights in the closing rounds of a fight, and when it seemed that the coaches would be giving some more pep talk, Valery Nichushkin executed one of his trademark run-ins, kept the puck and passed it to Kontiola who delivered the knockout uppercut eight seconds before the gong. Traktor pulls one game back and gives Chelyabinsk faithful at least one more chance to see a hockey game in this season.
Stats and details
Ak Bars vs. Traktor – 1:2 OT (0:1, 0:0, 1:0, 0:1)
Goals: Bulis (Quint, Chistov), 16 (0:1);Nikulin (Korneyev, Morozov), 51 (1:1 – PP);Kontiola (Nichushkin), 80 (1:2).
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.
Traktor (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett;
Quint – Ryabykin (A), Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov,
Belov – Vasilchenko, Kostitsyn – Kontiola – Yakutsenya,
Katichev – Razin (A), Antipov (C) – Popov – Glinkin,
Shinin, Nichushkin – Nesterov – Karpov.
Penalty Minutes: 4 (0+4+0+0) - 14 (2+4+4+4).
Shots: 42 (9+13+9+11) - 40 (12+9+8+11).
Faceoffs Won: 45 (12+9+10+14) - 28 (5+7+8+8).
Time on Ice: Nikulin (35:49), Korneyev (34:41), Medvedev (26:21) - Ryabykin (34:36), Quint (33:43), Chistov (28:44).
Power Play Goals: 1-0.
Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov (Moscow), Jury Rӧnn (Juvӓskulӓ, Finland).
Linesmen: Konstantin Gordenko, Viktor Tomilov (both – Ufa).
March 31, 2013. Tatneft Arena, Kazan, Russia.
Photo courtesy of Ak Bars’ Press Office
