Gagarin Cup Finals. Ain’t no stopping Traktor in game 5

First period
Traktor preferred attack to defense right from the starting buzzer. In the very first attack Kontiola made a pass to the crease where Kostitsyn was blocked by Dynamo’s D-men. Later on Bulis blocked Derlyuk’s shot which allowed Chistov to go for a breakaway and open the score. It was only the beginning of another thrilling plot for a hockey game. First Nichushkin missed the net in another one-on-one; then Nesterov in true forward’s fashion dragged the puck into the attacking zone and left it to Glinkin; Anton hit the top corner with a killer wrist shot. Two minutes later Dugin won the draw, and all of a sudden Traktor’s captain Vladimir Antipov charged a laser of a shot that found the goal. 3:0 in 9 minutes – who would have thunk it? Dynamo, to their credit, got up after this knockdown and had some chances to pull one back it least, like when Gorovikov executed a tremendous solo run-through, but could not hit the net.

Second period
The game took a 180 degree turn in the second period, yet Traktor began the period with an advantage. After Karpov and Kuznetsov failed to bury Dynamo’s hopes, the fans all over the country saw a miraculous comeback. First Kvapil fired a scintillating wrister – 3:1. A minute later Petruzalek added the puck into the net after Garnett turned it aside. Traktor was able to hold Dynamo back for a while, but the home team was unstoppable. Five minutes before the horn  Soin caught  Garnett off guard with a shot to the near corner to complete Dynamo’s comeback. Despite this heartbreak, Traktor had an opportunity to grab the lead again, but Petri Kontiola could not convert Kostistyn’s pass.

Third period
The opponents exchanged jabs at the top of the period; both Soin and Kuznetsov missed their chances. Traktor then successfully killed a penalty and got a power play chance of their own. Once again Kuznetsov could save the day for the visitors, but was unlucky in the final stages of the attack. After some back-and-forth action Andrey Kostitsyn who had a true resurrection during these playoffs scored another important goal that prolonged the series. Traktor withstood Dynamo’s final onslaught that included Granak hitting the post and pulled one game back. Game 6 is on Wednesday, and once again it might become the season’s finale.


Stats and details

Dynamo vs. Traktor – 3:4 (0:3, 3:0, 0:1)

Goals: Chistov (Bulis), 4 (0:1); Glinkin (Nesterov), 7 (0:2); Antipov (Dugin), 9 (0:3); Kvapil (Gorovikov, Granak), 28 (1:3 –PP); Petruzalek (Kvapil, Gorokhov), 29 (2:3); Soin (Kokarev, Granak), 35 (3:3); Kostitsyn (Yakutsenya, Quint), 56 (3:4).

Dynamo (Moscow)
Yeremenko (0:00 – 59:15);
Granak – Novak, Knyazev – Soin – Babenko (C),
Solovyov – Jalasvaara, Kokarev – Tsvetkov – Mosalyov,
Gorokhov – Derlyuk, Kasyanchuk – Gorovikov – Sopin,
Mironov, Kvapil – Petruzalek.

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

PIM: 6 (2+2+2) - 4 (0+2+2).
Shots: 25 (7+10+8) - 20 (5+9+6).
Faceoffs Won: 27 (11+7+9) - 21 (6+8+7).
Time on Ice: Tsvetkov (23:52), Granak (22:03), Gorokhov (21:30) - Quint (28:17), Ryabykin (26:25), Kuznetsov (20:45).
Power Play Goals: 1-0.

Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov (Moscow), Jyri Rӧnn (Juvӓskulӓ, Finland).
Linesmen: Konstantin Gordenko, Viktor Tomilov (both – Ufa).

April 15, 2013. Luzhniki Sports Palace. Attendance – 8413.

Photo courtesy of Dynamo’s Press Office