Gagarin Cup Finals. Traktor takes the first series win

Instead of the injured Andrey Popov the third’s line center for the game was the returning Yegor Dugin.

First period
Traktor dictated the pace of the game throughout the period. Not even a minute into the game Chistov and Kuznetsov created a decent scoring chance, but Kuzya couldn’t hit the moving puck. Later on Katichev laid out yet another opposition’s player (this time it was Mironov) with a devastating hit. Traktor was on a hop; Kostitsyn, who has been molten hot in recent weeks, had a scoring chance that was turned away by Yeremenko. Mid-period the game evened out a bit, yet Traktor was still a little more active. Stanislav Chistov had a great run-through, but couldn’t quite choose what to do with the puck, squandering one heck of a goal-scoring opportunity. All Dynamo had to say to Traktor’s attacking efforts was several counters.

Second period
Dynamo had a great first shift of the period, locking the home team in their own zone; Garnett was on guard. After that attempt on goal Traktor completely took the game under control. First Nichushkin performed his trademark run-through and presented the puck to Antipov; Captain was ready to strike, but Yeremenko made a pad save to keep the score at bay. However, Traktor’s attack rekindled right after that; Glinkin and Karpov roared into the attacking zone and somehow found themselves in a two-on-one. Anton fired a bullet, Yeremenko stopped the shot, but no one was able to block Karpov who transferred the puck into the empty net – 1:0. Traktor gear up and tried to double the lead; Bulis slapped the puck right in Yeremenko; Kontiola to Yakutsenya – no shot taken; Traktor has a power play – Yeremenko is in the zone. Nonetheless, quantity soon transformed into quality; Deron Quint who is having a blast of a playoff took the puck in the attacking zone, wrapped around the net and hit a scintillating backhander to the fat corner of the net. 2:0 as the teams headed for another break.

Third period
Traktor was penalized at the top of the period. Dynamo was very active; Tsvetkov took a nice shot that missed the net. Traktor was ready for the pressure and had the best answer to it – another goal! Yegor Dugin who apparently was craving for hockey while he was injureddidn’t leave Yeremenko any chance with a close-range shot. Dynamo’s proud prevailed though – visitors could not let Garnett have another shutout game which he eventually did not, all thanks to a sharp counterattack spearheaded by Denis Kokarev. Dynamo felt they could pull off the impossible and organized a siege on Garnett’s net; Traktor’s fortress, defended by mighty knights in helmets and hockey gear, didn’t fall. Kostitsyn had another scoring chance before the final buzzer; Andrey was ready to obliterate Yeremenko with a blistering slapshot, but couldn’t hit the jumping puck. All in all, great performance by the home team which is back on the winning track and will try to tie the series in game 4.


Stats and details

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

Goals: Karpov (Quint, Glinkin), 24 (1:0); Quint (Dugin), 35 (2:0);Dugin (Nichushkin, Antipov), 44 (3:0); Kokarev (Tsvetkov), 46 (3:1).

Traktor (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett;
Quint – Ryabykin (A), Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov,
Belov – Vasilchenko, Kostitsyn – Kontiola – Yakutsenya,
Katichev – Razin (A), Antipov (C) – Popov – Glinkin,
Nichushkin – Nesterov – Karpov.

Dynamo (Moscow)
Yeremenko (0:00 – 57:41);
Granak – Novak, Konkov – Soin – Babenko (C),
Jalasvaara – Solovyov, Kokarev – Tsvetkov – Mosalyov,
Mironov – Gorokhov, Kasyanchuk – Gorovikov – Sopin,
Barantsev, Kvapil – Pestunov – Petruzalek.

Penalty Minutes: 4 (2+0+2) - 4 (0+2+2).
Shots: 31 (8+12+11) - 18 (6+6+6).
Faceoffs Won: 19 (6+6+7) - 23 (4+11+8).
Time on Ice: Quint (25:27), Ryabykin (24:07), Katichev (19:42) - Granak (24:36), Novak (21:25), Gorokhov (20:51).
Power Play Goals: 0-0.

Referees: Sergey Kulakov (Tver), Sergey Gusev (Serov).
Linesmen: Aleksandr Zakharenkov, Aleksandr Sadovnikov (both – Moscow).

April 11, 2013. Traktor Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia. Attendance – 7500.