First Shutout in KHL 3×3 Super Final and Minsk’s Win Over Ak Bars

KHL.ru reports on the KHL 3×3 Championship Super Final matches played on July 9.

The match between Traktor and Avangard saw Sergei Shumakov shine in the first period. The Chelyabinsk player first scored from open play and then converted a penalty shot in the final seconds of the frame. In the second period, Shumakov`s teammates took over – Artem Udod scored assisted by Sergei, while Kirill Kadyshev and Maxim Askarov further extended Chelyabinsk`s lead. Omsk`s only response came from a goal by Anton Kovalev. The third period was evenly played, which suited Traktor perfectly. Udod netted two more goals in the final part of the game to complete his hat-trick, and Shumakov added another assist. Another standout player was Artem Borodkin, who once again led in ice time (12:03) and recorded three assists. The final score was 7:3.

Metallurg became the first team in the KHL 3×3 Championship Super Final to record a shutout victory. The Magnitogorsk team effectively sealed the win in the first period by scoring three unanswered goals. In the second, Andrey Oleynikov made the score 4:0, and that concluded the scoring for the game. Salavat Yulaev attacked actively – the shots on goal ended up being equal – however, Metallurg`s goaltender Albert Utkin stopped all 18 shots directed at his net. Metallurg`s leader, Pavel Varfolomeev, had an excellent game, tallying 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist).

The game between Ak Bars and Dynamo Minsk started with considerable action. In the fourth minute, Artemy Knyazev was penalized twice, first for hooking and then for unsportsmanlike conduct. A resulting penalty shot was not converted, but Knyazev himself opened the scoring just 13 seconds later! The next two goals also came from penalty shots – Vitaly Pinchuk tied the game, and Vladislav Shlyakhtov put Ak Bars ahead for the second time. After that, only the Minsk players found the back of the net, with the `Bisons` scoring five more goals! Vyacheslav Andryushchenko and Daniil Lipsky each scored two goals, while Pinchuk added an assist to his goal.