Ural derby goes to Metallurg, wins for Spartak, Torpedo. March 8 round-up

Sunday’s three KHL games began in Magnitogorsk, where Traktor blew a 2-0 lead against Metallurg and, with it, the chance to confirm its playoff place. Spartak won 5-2 on the road at Lada and Torpedo took a 4-3 verdict at home to Sochi.

Fightback costs Traktor chance to clinch playoffs

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

Magnitka rallied from 0-2 to win the latest South Urals derby. The visitor was looking for a win that would clinch its playoff spot, but must wait a while longer to lock down post season. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference leader has no worries on that score but did need to improve on a run of four losses in five games.

Traktor grabbed an instant lead, capitalizing on a mistake from Robin Press on his first shift for Vasily Glotov to open the scoring. Metallurg tried to take the initiative but struggled to seriously test Dmitry Nikolayev in the visitor’s net. Indeed, the goalie’s greatest headache was self-inflicted when his clearance was intercepted by Nikita Korotkov; Nikolayev managed to dig himself out of that hole and stop the shot.

Although Metallurg saw more of the puck and had more attempts on goal, Traktor took a 2-0 lead to the intermission. Yegor Korshkov found space on the slot to beat Ilya Nabokov in the 14th minute.

It might have been 3-0 at the start of the second when Vitaly Kravtsov skated through on Nabokov’s net, but this team the home goalie made the save. But that scare was followed by a home lifeline. After 28 minutes, Alexander Petunin’s redirect deflected Valery Orekhov’s long shot into the net and, after a long video review, Metallurg was back in the game.

In the 35th minute, the home team tied the scores through Ruslan Iskhakov, who skated into the Traktor zone and fired an unstoppable shot over Nikolayev’s pads.

Traktor had the better of the game at the start of the third, with Nabokov making a good stop to deny Glotov. Later, Grigory Dronov went close to scoring on his hometown team and Mikhail Grigorenko forced another good stop from Nabokov.

Overtime could not separate the teams, and in the shoot-out Nabokov got the better of Kravtsov, Josh Leivo and Glotov, while Sergei Tolchinsky’s successful attempt won it for Metallurg.

Tochilkin at the double in Togliatti

Lada Togliatti 2 Spartak Moscow 5 (0-2, 1-1, 1-2)

Spartak made it back to back wins at Lada, with an aggregate score of 12-3 over two games.

Today’s victory was secured thanks to two goals from Germn Rubtsov. He struck midway the first period, building on an early opener from Danil Pivchilin.

Then Rubtsov’s second of the game made 3-0 in the 24th minute.

That proved to be the gamewinner. Lada made a game of it, with Nikita Serdikov pulling a goal back in the middle frame, than Andrei Chivilyov scoring on the power play early in the third period.

But Spartak was the more clinical team in front of goal. In the closing stages, Alexander Belyayev made it 4-2, scoring moments after his earlier attempt forced Alexander Trushkov into a smart glove save. Late on, Joey Keane wrapped it up with an empty-netter. Yegor Filin assisted on that one, and finished with four helpers; Spartak made it five wins from six.

Revenge win for Torpedo

Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 4 HC Sochi 2 (2-1, 0-0, 2-2)

A week ago, Sochi thumped Torpedo 5-1 in a game disrupted by air-raid warnings. Today, Alexei Isakov’s team got revenge, with Sergei Goncharuk’s goal bringing victory by the odd game in seven.

That put the home team back on track after back-to-back losses cost 10 goals in two games. Meanwhile, Sochi continues to alternate victory and defeat and failed to climb out of the Western Conference basement.

Amir Garayev gave Torpedo an early lead, but Daniil Seroukh cancelled that one out midway through the first period. It wasn’t long before Nikita Shavin made it 2-1, and the home team carried that lead to the intermission.

The second period was goalless, although Torpedo failed to convert a five-on-three power play midway through the session.

In the third, Sochi’s PP proved more effective. Timur Khafizov, who scored twice when the teams last met, tied the game early on. Vitaly Atanasov restored the home lead, but another power play saw Yegor Petukhov make it 3-3 with 12 minutes to play.

However, Torpedo got back in front on Goncharuk’s goal, and that effort in the 52nd minute finally ended the Leopards’ resistance.