2012/2013 Playoffs. Rollercoaster ride will end in game 7 in Kazan
Some changes to Traktor’s
line-up were made. Lemtyugov replaced Osnovin as the 13th forward;
plus Nichushkin and Glinkin swapped lines; Valery played in third line, Anton –
in fourth.
First period
Traditionally, the opponents began in a moderate pace. Traktor was the first to
create a semblance of a goal-scoring chance, but Kostitsyn was blocked and could not get a crease shot after Kontiola’s pass. Seven minutes into the
game Chistov gave Traktor a power
play opportunity which was quickly converted into 1:0 on the scoreboard at the
hands of Stanislav himself (assist) and Jan Bulis (goalscorer). Traktor could
momentarily put Ak Bars’ hopes in serious jeopardy; however, Yakutsenya could not outplay Barulin on
that exchange. Nonetheless, Traktor’s second goal came sooner than later; Glinkin precipitated into the attacking
zone, outmaneuvered Golubev and sent
the puck to the top corner; Barulin had no chance of stopping it. Traktor kept on rolling as Katichev obliterated Tereshchenko with a scintillating hit. Five minutes before the horn the puck miraculously
went wide of the goal after Vaslichenko cunningly threw it toward the net in the hope that somebody will deflect it. Ak
Bars had one notable scoring chance when Medvedev charged a blue-liner, but Garnett turned it away with a pad save.
Second period
Ak Bars dominated the beginning of the period, which Traktor expected and
withstood the pressure, reciprocating with Ryabykin’s scoring chance thwarted by Ak Bars’ D-men. The match became nervous again when Golubev, alone on the crease, pulled
one back for the visitors. Ak Bars continued the assault, but Garnett was very calm and collected,
keeping the score intact. Four minutes before the horn Karpov executed a lateral pass to Nesterov who was again blocked and not allowed to take a shot. The ending
of the period saw Ryabykin and Golubev get double minors for roughing.
Third period
As expected, Ak Bars spent the
better part of the period in Traktor’s zone. Zaripov had a breakaway chance at the top of the period; Garnett didn’t allow the puck in.
Traktor regularly reciprocated with sharp counters in one of which Nichushkin’s trademark solo run-through
ended only when Barulin froze the
puck. The third line didn’t leave the ice before the faceoff, and rightfully so
– Antipov turned the puck over and
immediately sent it to the crease where Popov scored a carbon copy of Ak Bars’ goal. Visitors had nothing to lose at this
point, so they started cooking on all cylinders, which gave them a glimmer of
hope when Morozov ventured a
blue-line wrist shot; Garnett was
blinded by heavy traffic and saw the puck only when it hit the net. The ending of
the match was not for the faint of heart; those who saw Garnett’s astounding save after Morozov fired horse and foot to try to tie it up certainly can
prove it. Ak Bars pulled the goalie, but Traktor avoided trouble and tied this tremendous
series, the conclusion of which we will see this Thursday in Kazan.
Stats and details
Traktor vs. Ak Bars – 3:2 (2:0, 0:1, 1:1)
Goals: Bulis (Chistov, Kuznetsov), 9 (1:0 – PP); Glinkin (Karpov), 11 (2:0);Golubev (Lukoyanov, Zherdev), 28 (2:1); Popov (Antipov), 46 (3:1); Morozov (Nikulin), 55 (3:2).
Traktor (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett;
Quint – Ryabykin (A), Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov,
Belov – Vasilchenko, Kostitsyn – Kontiola – Yakutsenya,
Katichev – Razin (A), Nichushkin – Popov – Antipov (C),
Shinin, Glinkin – Nesterov – Karpov.
Ak Bars (Kazan)
Barulin (0:00-59:05);
Korneyev – Nikulin (A), Zaripov – Kapanen – Morozov (C),
Medvedev – Kulyash, Pesonen – Immonen – Obukhov,
Zakharchuk – Khomitsky, Darzins – Tereshchenko (A) – Petrov,
Zherdev – Golubev – Lukoyanov.
Penalty Minutes: 16 (0+6+10) - 8 (4+4+0).
Shots: 23 (9+8+6) - 26 (5+12+9).
Faceoffs Won: 19 (9+4+6) - 44 (9+14+21).
Time on Ice: Quint (25:02), Ryabykin (22:41), Razin (20:54) - Nikulin (26:13), Korneyev (24:09), Medvedev (21:57).
Power Play Goals: 1-0.
Referees: Aleksey Anisimov (Moscow), Eduard Odins (Riga, Latvia).
Linesmen: Sergey Morozov (Moscow Region), Roman Shikhanov (Togliatti).
April 2, 2013. Traktor Arena, Chelyabinsk,
Russia. Attendance – 7500.
