Defeats for Conference leaders. February 12 round-up

There were only two KHL games on Wednesday, and both ended with a Conference leader going down by a 3-1 scoreline. In the East, Traktor stumbled at home to Metallurg in the South Ural derby. Then in the west, Dinamo Minsk won 3-1 at home to Lokomotiv. 

Magnitka too strong in derby clash

Traktor Chelyabinsk 1 Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3 (0-2, 1-0, 0-1)

A day after securing its playoff place without even playing a game, Traktor returned to the ice for the fourth edition of this year’s South Urals derby. However, the home team was unable to celebrate securing its post-season spot with another victory, going down at home to local rival Metallurg.

The visitor got off to a strong start, opening the scoring in the fifth minute when Danila Yurov finished off a quick counterattack. Both teams were playing fast, aggressive hockey and several players were on the receiving end of some bone-shaking hits – not least Magnitka’s Luke Johson. Despite that, it was a clean game, with no penalties assessed in the first period.

Playing at equal strength did not disrupt the Metallurg offense and in the 17th minute the Steelmen scored their second goal. Artyom Minulin produced a fine tennis style finish to bat home a flying puck following Yegor Korobkin’s feed. That gave Magnitka a 2-0 lead at the intermission.

Traktor needed a quick response and got it early in the second. Mikhail Goryunov-Rolgizer finished off a three-on-one rush with a fine shot, halving the deficit. After that, though, the scoring dried up. Although both teams had spells of pressure and created frequent chances, it remained 2-1 until the second break.

At the start of the third it took a fine save from Ilya Nabokov to deny Traktor a tying goal. Still chasing the game, Benoit Groulx’s players held the initiative and tried to get as many shots as possible at Metallurg’s goalie. The visitor was reduced to intermittent counterattacks, but defended stoutly to preserve its advantage. With three minutes to go, Traktor benched netminder Sergei Mylnikov. The extra skater helped to create chances for Maxim Shabanov and Vasily Glotov in the final minute, but neither could find the net. Instead, Daniil Vovchenko had the final word, potting an empty-net goal to complete a 3-1 win for Metallurg.

Revenge win for Bison

Dinamo Minsk 3 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 1 (1-0, 1-1, 1-0)

Lokomotiv’s uneven form continued with defeat on the road in Belarus. The Railwaymen, still missing injured goalie Daniil Isayev, fell to a fifth defeat in seven games. Dinamo avenged its 2-0 loss in Yaroslavl in its previous game.

The first period was a slow burner. Neither team produced a lot of chances. Lokomotiv was the first to get a power play opportunity, but could not take advantage of Brady Lyle’s O-zone infringement midway through the session. Late in the frame, though, Dinamo opened the scoring: an uneventful home PP had just finished when Yegor Borikov converted Ilya Usov’s feed from behind the net in the 17th minute.

Loko responded at the start of the second stanza. Maxim Shalunov surged into the zone and dished off the puck for Artur Kayumov on the left flank. Kayumov continued to advance before shooting into the far corner to make it 1-1.

Midway through the second, Dinamo got another power play and this time the home team took advantage. Sam Anas was the scorer, blasting home a powerful shot after Roman Gorbunov’s cross-ice feed. Immediately after that, Lokomotiv had a power play of its own but failed to tie the game. Alexander Radulov’s snipe from the face-off circle was the closest the Railwaymen came to beating Vasily Demchenko.

The third period began with another good Dinamo chance – Anas denied by Melnichuk from close range – but the home team managed to increase its lead in the 47th minute. Gorbunov picked up his second assist of the night as Vadim Moroz made it 3-1.

After that, Dmitry Kvartalnov’s team did a solid job of closing out the game. Not even a high-sticking penalty for Daniil Sotishvili in the final minutes gave Lokomotiv a way back into the game.