No success in Podolsk

After an underwhelming performance against Dynamo Traktor's coaching staff decided to shuffle the lineup drastically. Thus, Mamashev returned to the first D pair, Ryabykin was moved to the second one. Third pair consisted of Katichev and Guskov; Flyagin became the seventh defenseman. The first offensive line was a throwback to last year (Chistov-Bulis-Kuznetsov); Kuryanov was moved to the center of the third line, Darzins - to second line's right wing. Kokuyov and Mokin swapped places with young Mikhail becoming the extra forward.

First period
The hosting team began the match with substantial advantage which quickly gave them the power play. However, 9 seconds later it became 4-on-4, and this was when Vityaz pulled ahead at the hands of Branislav Mezei. Traktor responded with Lauris Darzins' scoring chance stopped by Backlund. Couple of shifts later Vityaz made it 2-0 as Iggulden put his name on the scoreboard. Traktor did not even have time to try to shrug it off - Shitikov made it three zip after the very next faceoff.

Second period
If three was not enough, Traktor continued to spiral downwards and allowed the fourth goal scored by Mad Max, Maksim Afinogenov. Traktor finally woke up after the cold shower and cut the goal margin to two thanks to scoring efforts of Katichev and Popov. Same three goals in the period, but before the final twenty the match did not seem as one-sided as before.

Third period
Another ex-NHLer, Aleksandr Korolyuk, reestablished the goal differential of three right at the top of the period. To their credit, Traktor pulled one back again very quickly (Panov). However, this was all noteworthy that happened until the final buzzer, bar 8 collective PIMs not converted by either of the opponents. Traktor struggles at the beginning of the season; however, the team will have another chance to change the zero in the points column on Sunday against Torpedo.

Game details

VITYAZ vs. TRAKTOR – 5:3 (3:0, 1:2, 1:1)
Goals: Mezei (Rybin, Korolyuk), 10 (1:0); Iggulden, 13 (2:0); Shitikov, 13 (3:0); Afinogenov (Rybakov), 26 (4:0); Katichev (Darzins, Kontiola), 30 (4:1); Popov, 34 (4:2); Korolyuk (Iggulden, Malevich), 41 (5:2); Panov (Bulis), 43 (5:3).

Vityaz
Backlund;
Pyett – Khafizulin, Rybin (C) – Hennessy – Afinogenov;
Malevich – Mezei, Korolyuk (A) – Iggulden – Shitikov;
Rozin (A) – Golovkov, Makeyev – Rybakov – Korolyov;
Seleznyov, Kuderman – Mamin – Podzins.

Traktor
Garnett;
Mamashev – Bondarev, Chistov – Bulis – Kuznetsov (A),
Ryabykin (A) – Vasilchenko, Kostitsyn – Kontiola – Darzins,
Guskov – Katichev, Dugin – Kuryanov – Panov (C),
Glinkin – Popov – Kokuyov,
Mokin.

PIM: 8 (2+2+4) - 16 (6+4+6).
Shots: 32 (13+8+11) - 16 (3+7+6).
Faceoffs won: 32 (11+11+10) - 31 (11+9+11).
TOI: Afinogenov (24:58), Mezei (21:05), Khafizulin (21:02) - Vasilchenko (22:06), Ryabykin (22:01), Kontiola (20:05).
PP goals: 0-0.

Referees: Yakov Deyev (Moscow), Sergey Belyayev (Moscow Region).
Linesmen: Stanislav Pavlov, Ivan Sazonov (both - Moscow).

September 6, 2013. Vityaz Ice Palace, Podolsk, Moscow Region, Russia. Attendance - 4000.

Photo courtesyof Vityaz Press Office