Second consecutive loss for Traktor

After a devastating loss to Magnitka Valery Belousov decided to shuffle the lines a bit. Thus, Guskov and Kondratyev changed pairs (third and first respectively). Klimontov was left off the lineup, conversely, Sayustov and Tsybin were included in it, taking their place in line 4. The empty spot in second line that appeared there after Darzins' injury was replaced by Dugin. This also caused a string of changes in the offensive lines - Popov was moved up to the first line and Kuryanov - down to the third.

First period
Traktor got a penalty right off the bat yet Salavat was not successful in their power play effort thanks in large part to Michael Garnett. Shrugging off the trouble of the starting moments, Traktor responded with a chance of their own - traditionally young fourth line could pull Traktor ahead - Vasilevskiy turned away both shots from Mokin and Sayustov. Since then both teams concentrated on the power game, and there was only one real chance on goal - Hartikainen wrapped around the net trying to catch Garnett off guard - Michael blocked the near corner to keep two zips on the scoreboard.

Second period
Salavat Yulaev scored a much needed goal to grab the lead at the top of the period (Zinovyev). Traktor was quick to retort - Kostitsyn took a shot that was caught by Vasilevskiy. Right after that hosts jacked up the pace, and it was only due to Garnett's solid and confident performance that did not let Traktor lose any control of the match. Visitors had to do something, and that something came in the form of a scintillating solo effort by Chistov who tied it up late in the second. As predictable as was the onslaught by Salavat that followed, it was also very heavy, however, Garnett did not flinch and was able to keep Traktor in the game with a total of 25 saves throughout the second twenty. 

Third period
Traktor's skaters almost forgot that it is not solely a goaltender who decides the fate of the team in any given match. For some time Michael was holding up, allowing Traktor to stay in it and throw a couple of jabs, but eventually the third and winning goal of the game came through at the hands of Denis Khlystov. Sergey Zinovyev put the dots above i in this matchup, utilizing a two-on-one chance three minutes prior to the final buzzer. 1:3 - Traktor heads to Magnitogorsk to try to avenge a recent crushing 0:5 defeat.

Game details

SALAVAT YULAEV vs. TRAKTOR – 3:1 (0:0, 1:1, 2:0)
Goals: Zinovyev (Dubrovskiy), 23 (1:0); Chistov (Ryabykin, Vasilchenko), 35 (1:1 - PP goal); Khlystov (Mereskin, Konev), 48 (2:1); Zinovyev (Pankov), 57 (3:1).

SALAVAT YULAEV (Ufa)
Vasilevskiy;
Zubarev – Koltsov, Filatov – Makarov – Hartikainen,
Vishnevsky – Babchuk, Dubrovskiy – Mereskin – Khlystov (C),
Sopel – Konev, Pihlstrom – Zinovyev – Pankov,
Isangulov, Musatov – Glukhov – Stepanov.

TRAKTOR (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett;
Kondratyev – Bondarev, Chistov (A) – Bulis – Popov,
Vasilchenko – Ryabykin (A), Dugin – Kontiola – Kostitsyn,
Guskov – Katichev, Glinkin – Kuryanov – Panov (C),
Flyagin, Tsybin – Sayustov – Mokin,
Osnovin.

PIM: 2 (0+2+0) - 10 (2+2+6).
Shots: 49 (13+26+10)- 21 (6+8+7).
Faceoffs won: 35 (10+10+15)- 29 (8+13+8).
TOI: Vishnevsky (21:14), Zubarev (19:55), Koltsov (19:32)- Vasilchenko (22:20), Ryabykin (22:01), Chistov (20:21).
PP goals: 0-1.

September 29, 2013. Ufa Arena, Ufa, Bashkir Republic, Russia. Attendance - 7900.