On February 28, 2025, Traktor Chelyabinsk pulled off an impressive comeback to defeat Ak Bars Kazan 3-2 at the Traktor Ice Arena. The victory was pivotal for Traktor as they continue to solidify their position at the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
The match, attended by 7,500 enthusiastic fans, began with both teams demonstrating strong defenses and tactical play, typical of the style encouraged by Ak Bars coach Anvar Gatiyatulin. The opening period showcased tight competition with no goals scored, highlighting the players’ commitments on both sides.
Things began to shift drastically during the second period. Ak Bars struck first at the 27:58 mark when Ilya Safonov’s shot, initially intended to clear the puck from Traktor's zone, accidentally ricocheted off his own skate and slipped past Traktor goalie Zakari Fukale. Just three minutes later, the Kazan team doubled their lead as Stepan Falkovsky scored with a powerful shot following great plays from Artem Galimov and Alexander Barabanov, leaving Traktor down 0-2.
Traktor, undeterred by the two-goal deficit, mounted their comeback late in the second period. Nikita Korosteleva, who was instrumental throughout the game, found the net at 34:34 after receiving the puck from Maxim Shabanov, narrowing the score to 1-2. Korosteleva then capitalized on another opportunity just before the period buzzer, scoring again at 39:47 with help from Artem Blazhievsky and Andrey Svetlakov, tying the game at 2-2.
The third period mirrored the first, with intense defensive efforts from both sides. Ak Bars struggled to regain their earlier momentum, yet the breakthrough for Traktor came when Alexander Kadeikin scored the decisive goal with just under five minutes left to play, at the 55:45 mark. This goal was orchestrated once more by Korosteleva, who had a remarkable influence on the match, earning two assists and one goal himself.
Following their win against Ak Bars, who have now faced their sixth loss out of the last eight games, Traktor stands solidly at the top of the Eastern Conference with 82 points. Meanwhile, Ak Bars remains on the fourth spot with 76 points, but they need to generate momentum quickly if they wish to secure their playoff position.
After the match, Traktor's coach expressed pride, stating, "I am proud of our team's resilience. Coming back from two goals down was no easy feat." Ak Bars’ player remarked, "Losing two points to Traktor is disappointing, and we need to regroup and focus on the next match." Ak Bars coach recognized the need for improvement, especially concerning their ability to maintain consistent gameplay throughout the entire match.
Moving forward, Traktor is set to continue their fierce schedule as they prepare for their next home match against Barys. The team is relishing their winning streak and remains focused on making a strong push toward the playoffs, whilst Ak Bars is earnestly working to recover their winning form.
This victory solidifies Traktor's credentials as strong contenders for the playoff championship, as they look for sustained excellence leading up to the postseason. The next games will likely reveal whether Traktor can keep their winning ways against formidable opponents like Barys, and whether Ak Bars can bounce back effectively from recent setbacks.