Metallurg Magnitogorsk Defeats Tractor Chelyabinsk in KHL Derby
Support from the home arena and fans contributed to Metallurg«s success
On Tuesday, January 27, a derby took place in Magnitogorsk between the local Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Chelyabinsk«s Tractor. The home team won with a score of 3:2, maintaining their lead in the KHL Eastern Conference after securing an early playoff berth.
Evgeny Koreshkov was generally satisfied with his team«s performance
The scoring opened in the second half of the first period. Makar Khabarov sent the puck into Tractor«s net, with assists from Daniil Vovchenko and Sergei Tolchinsky. However, the Chelyabinsk team quickly equalized: in the last minute of the first period, Alexander Rykov scored a goal with support from Mikhail Grigorenko and Andrei Pribylsky.
In the second period, Tractor took the lead thanks to a precise shot by Grigory Dronov, assisted by Joshua Leivo and Logan Day. Soon after, goalkeeper Sergei Mylnikov spectacularly saved a dangerous moment. But Metallurg equalized on a power play: Derek Barak scored, with an assist from Vladimir Tkachyov.
The decisive goal was scored in the middle of the third period. Nikita Mikhailis distinguished himself with a beautiful shot, and Ruslan Iskhakov and Alexander Petunin recorded assists. Tractor failed to change the course of the match, and the game ended with a score of 3:2.
Head coach of Tractor, Evgeny Koreshkov, commented on the game:
Our team played the match very well. For victory, we were just one puck short. With the score at 2:2, the game was up for grabs. The opponent, unfortunately, scored, and we couldn«t.
Metallurg«s coach Andrei Razin said:
This victory was very much needed for us, because a lot wasn»t working out. Physically, we were a bit off: we didn«t score on the penalty shot, and the power play in recent games, let»s say, has been lacking. But, despite all this, we played selflessly and disciplined. This is what we want to see going forward, especially in the playoffs. So, congratulations to us on the victory.
Tractor continues its away series and will face Avangard in Omsk on January 29.
