Metallurg cruising, Traktor struggles to score

Due to Kuznetsov, Darzins and Popov being sidelined Traktor's offensive lineup suffered some more changes. Thus, Dugin was moved to the first line, Chistov took Yegor's place in line three, Panov was also moved up to line one, Mokin was placed along Glinkin and Kuryanov. The newly made fourth line consisted of newcomer Igor Valeyev, Dmitry Sayustov and Semyon Kokuyov.

First period
Traktor tried to seize the advantage from the get-go - Bulis could pull visitors ahead in the very first attack of the match, but was unlucky. Metallurg, however, quickly took the reins of the game in their hands. First, Zaripov could not launch a shot; then the home team received a power play chance; Garnett saved Traktor after Lee's slapshot, Bulis blocked a similar shot moments later. Some time later Zaripov could once again upset Garnett, but Michael was able to catch and freeze the puck. Nonetheless, Metallurg converted their advantage - seconds after Traktor was in full strength, the lone Sergey Mozyakin found the back of the net to give the hosts the much needed lead.

Second period
Kontiola could tie the game while Traktor was 4-on-5, but missed the goal by a whisker. Later on Garnett had to muster his skills to fend off Zaripov. Visitors then kicked it into another gear, but efforts by Panov, Dugin and Katichev all led to pretty much nothing. Metallurg managed to clear their own zone each time Traktor was trying to gain any attacking momentum. Once in full strength, Metallurg doubled their lead - Mozyakin scored his second goal of the night.

Third period
The last twenty was dominated by Traktor, but in final stages of the attacks the visiting team's forwards were absolutely unlucky. Garnett thwarted Mozyakin's hat trick, and it was then that Traktor morphed into full throttle mode. The fourth line was the most aggressive in these moments; alas, all of their shots either went wide or were stopped by Koshechkin. After this last flurry Traktor lost any pep in the step they had left, and Metallurg further extended their lead two minutes before the horn at the hands of Grigorenko. Three zip; Traktor heads back to Chelyabinsk with large zero in points column after two games on the road.

Game details

METALLURG (Magnitogorsk) vs. TRAKTOR (Chelyabinsk) – 3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Goals: Mozyakin (Lee, Kovar), 19 (1:0); Mozyakin (Zaripov, Kovar), 37 (2:0); Grigorenko (Hodgman, Platonov), 58 (3:0).

METALLURG (Magnitogorsk)
Koshechkin;
Ibragimov – Biryukov, Mozyakin (C) – Kovar– Zaripov,
Lee– Tereshchenko, Gulash – Kazionov – Schenfeld,
Khabarov – Malenkikh, Potekhin – Hodgman – Timkin,
Metlyuk, Kosov– Malinovskiy – Platonov,
Grigorenko.

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

PIM: 2 (0+2+0) - 6 (6+0+0).
Shots: 31 (9+13+9) - 23 (3+6+14).
Faceoffs won: 27 (9+10+8) - 23 (8+7+8).
TOI: Tereshchenko (21:17), Khabarov (20:51), Ibragimov (20:39) - Ryabykin(23:39), Kondratyev (22:16), Bondarev (20:09).
PP goals: 0-0.

October 3, 2013. Metallurg Arena, Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Region, Russia.