Chalk up another win for Traktor

Traktor's lineup was left unchanged compared to the previous matchup against Dinamo Minsk.

First period
The first twenty could be called the goalies period. Both Garnett and Glass made severalcrucial stops.The period began with a Kostitsyn-Kontiola-Kostitsyn combo; Andrey missed the goal though. Shortly after Osnovin tore through the left wing and skated toward the goal; Glass was the winner in this episode. Some time later Vyacheslav Kozlov had a 100% scoring chance, but was too indecisive as to how he would want to score, and Garnett was able to fend him off. Traktor reciprocated with a Sayustov shot off the rebound - Glass turned the shot away. Spartak looked more mobile, especially in the attacking zone, regularly giving Traktor some hard time controlling the puck. The period ended with a brilliant stop by Garnett that kept two zips on board as the opponents headed to their respective locker rooms.

Second period
Spartak was being outplayed in the beginning of the period, but it was Kozlov who gave visitors the lead with a neat wrister. Traktor's trials and tribulations did not stop there; soon enough Garnett saved his team after a two-on-one by Volkov and Nikulin. The game was riddled with hits (a total of ten throughout the period; not too shabby by KHL standards). Past the half-hour mark Traktor began their ascent to victory. Kontiola earned a shot at power play and converted it all by himself. Spartak seemed to have lost some of the confidence, and hosts, feeling the momentum shift, rushed forward, and three minutes later Petri scored his second goal of the night in a delayed penalty situation.

Third period
Traktor quickly extended the goal margin when Kuznetsov gave a bomb of a pass to Chistov who only had to hit the empty net, which he did. During this episode an unfortunate incident occurred as Jeff Glass got injured and had to leave the ice. His substitute Aleksey Ivanov got in the game rather auspiciously, giving his team a chance at salvation. Spartak was able to absorb that confidence from the goalie and pull one back as Yunkov scored a classic PP goal with 13 minutes left to go in the third. Alas for Muscovite fans, that was it. Traktor hung on to the lead and got a little closer to the all important 8th spot on the East.

Game details

TRAKTOR vs. SPARTAK – 3:2 (0:0, 2:1, 1:1)

Goals: Kozlov (Vandell), 24 (0:1); Kontiola (Darzins,Vasilchenko), 34 (1:1 - PP goal); Kontiola (Kuznetsov), 37 (2:1); Chistov (Bulis,Kuznetsov), 42 (3:1 - PP goal); Yunkov (Bodrov, Kulik), 47 (3:2 - PP goal).

TRAKTOR (Chelyabinsk)
Garnett;
Kondratyev – Bondarev, Chistov – Bulis (A) – Kuznetsov (A),
Ryabykin (C) – Vasilchenko, Darzins – Kontiola – Kostitsyn,
Borodkin – Katichev, Glinkin – Popov – Kokuyov,
Artamonov – Khlystov, Valeyev – Osnovin – Sayustov.

SPARTAK (Moscow)
Glass (Ivanov 41:19 – 58:54, 59:43 – 59:56);
Sergeyev – Quint, Shpirko – Vandell – Anderson,
Bodrov (C) – Kulik, Kozlov (A) – Yunkov – Krutov,
Vasilyev – Mamkin, Nesterov – Nikulin – Volkov (A),
Nekolenko – Grishin, Peshehonov – Bobrov – Voronin.

PIM: 4 (0+2+2) - 8 (0+6+2).
Shots: 27 (9+8+10) - 28 (11+7+10).
Faceoffs won: 29 (10+9+10) - 30 (6+11+13).
TOI: Kuznetsov (22:08), Bulis (21:11), Chistov (21:01) - Sergeyev (23:54), Quint (23:44), Vandell (18:12).
PP goals: 2-1.

Referees: Sergey Kulakov (Tver), Yury Tsyplakov (Saint-Petersburg).
Linesmen: Aleksey Maytak, Yevgeny Pronskikh (both - Belgorod).

November 17, 2013. Traktor Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia. Attendance - 7000.