Khabarovsk “Amur” lost to “Metallurg” in Magnitogorsk

Khabarovsk scored first, but could not keep the advantage

A short break is finally over and the championship of the Continental Hockey League was removed from the pause. “Amur”, noted in early December three victories in four matches it is always difficult to enter the rhythm of the game after forced idleness. However, during the respite, the Khabarovsk team did not waste time and even held a small training camp in Sochi – five days, according to the plan of the mentors, were supposed to keep the team in good shape. From the Black Sea coast, the Khabarovskites moved to Magnitogorsk to give battle to one of the leaders of the Vostok.

“Amur” started the match very actively, “Metallurg” kept an eye on the opponent. The score could have been opened already in the first minutes of the fight, but the puck thrown by Ivan Nikolishin hit the crossbar, the hosts responded with their counterattack, but then Ruslan Pedan, who was left alone in front of the goal, blocked a dangerous shot. In the fourth minute Khabarovsk remains in the minority. The guests defended very actively, really not allowing the opponent to set up in their zone.

Having survived, Amur went on the attack again and even looked more active than Metallurg. Nikita Grebenkin, who has experience playing in the Steel Foxes, tried especially hard. Dangerous injections “Magnitogorsk” blocked Janis Kalninsh in this game, who took a place at the gates of the Khabarovsk team. Activity paid off in the 18th minute “Amur” opens the score. Artur Gizdatullin, who received the puck from Nikita Grebenkin in the middle zone, got to the opponent’s goal and threw it right away – 0:1. It was with this score that the teams finished the first period.

The score has not changed in the second game segment. Amur had a moment when it would have been possible to increase the advantage in the score – at the beginning of the second period, the Khabarovsk team earned the majority, but failed to realize the advantage. In general, the teams showed a fairly equal game, defending and attacking, creating dangerous chances at the opponents’ goal, but the goalkeepers played excellently. Or maybe the attackers acted very straightforwardly.

But the third period was fatal for Amur. On 51 minutes, Philippe Maillet was left alone in front of the Khabarovsk goal, receiving a pass from Nikolai Goldobin, who pulled the defenders on himself, and threw it into an open corner – 1:1. Then Metallurg had the majority. “Cupid” survived for two minutes, but Cameron Lee did not have time to go on the ice as the hosts’ attack ended in a goal. Josh Curry scored in the 57th minute.

In the last minutes, the Amur coaching staff removes the goalkeeper in a desperate attempt to transfer the games to overtime, but the Metallurg hockey players score into an empty net. The result of the match: the defeat of the Khabarovsk team with a score of 3:1.

– Probably, before the first missed goal, there was good hockey from our side. We knew that the opponent was more skillful, we focused on defense, on counterattack. Nevertheless, they created dangerous chances in the attack – the opponent’s goalkeeper played well. We need to play more concentrated in the end, probably. Missed a goal, did not hold. We survived in the minority, but in the next moment we conceded a goal. But I still praised the guys in the locker room after the match. Such a young team like ours needs to play and believe in the moment. This was not enough today. Why did Kalnins play today? Each of the goalkeepers has his own block, they play with blocks. He played great today, gave hope to our team. Missed goals are the result of the whole five, not his fault, – Vadim Yepanchintsev, head coach of HC Amur.

But the mentor of Metallurg critically assessed the game of his team for two whole periods inferior to Amur.

– You never know how you will enter the game after a pause. We didn’t do well today, let’s just say. I’m glad that we were able to get through the opponent’s bus – a defensive team that blocks a lot of shots. I am glad that we overcame and took two points. Drones? He played two days in a row, flew at once, so they gave him a rest. Also to Pasha Akolzin, he will play the next game. We have a certain rotation, – Ilya Vorobyov, head coach of HC Metallurg.

The loss in Magnitogorsk threw Amur out of the top eight. He is now in ninth place behind Barys, who took his place, by one point. Next match the Khabarovsk team will spend December 21 in Ufa with the local Salavat Yulaev.

Read also: Khabarovsk “Amur” lost to “Admiral” the third match of the derby

With whom and when will Amur Khabarovsk play in December 2022