Clear-cut dichotomy, as expressed through contrasting colors, beginning and ending sequence, and operational function.
In the initial skirmish of the 2025 Gagarin Cup playoffs semifinals with the Fonbet tournament, Traktor took down Moscow's Dynamo 4:3, claiming home turf victory. This rematch against Dynamo, happening for the second year straight, seems destined for thrilling uncertainty.
Last season, these heavyweights clashed only at the quarterfinal stage, with Traktor triumphing in four games. Offering a similar dose of intensity, both teams have bolstered their rosters this time around, gearing up for an unpredictable series.
Both teams have displayed remarkable resilience, with Traktor mastering comebacks while Dynamo managed to win despite losing the first two games against Ak Bars. Goalkeeping prowess has been under the spotlight, with Dynamo's squad led by Vladislav Pod'yapolsky garnering favor among experts. Meanwhile, concerns loom over Zak Fucale, once the rock of Traktor, as his save percentage and reliability coefficient have dipped in the 2025 Gagarin Cup. A micro-duel between top scorers Maxim Shabanov from the black-and-white team and Maxim Komtuay of Dynamo's white-and-blue squad has emerged in this series.
The first game started cautiously, with goalies barely in the action. The home team picked up the pace, and the guests pounced during their first positional attack near the break. Jordan Will broke free, passed to Artem Sergeyev for a long shot, and Pavel Kudyravtsev reclaimed the puck, setting Will up for the goal. Fucale faced little trouble defending in the remaining minutes of the initial period.
A week-long break following the Minsk Dynamo series seemed to disrupt Traktor's rhythm initially. On the other hand, Benoit Groulx's proteges found themselves in a comfortable position, boasting experience in such circumstances. In fact, during the second period, they extended Dynamo's lead to two goals, only for Will O'Neill to score his second goal right off Fokin's assist. However, Fokin was at fault, failing to react to a dangerous angle shot. He made amends shortly afterwards, saving penalty shots from Artem Ilyenko and Dylan Sikura, providing hope for the home team.
Semen Der-Arguchintsev brought Traktor closer with a pass from Shabanov, following a hard check on Cedric Paquet, although the officials overlooked the infraction. Later, Der-Arguchintsev threatened to equalize with a close call on the crossbar. In the third period, the Ural team staged another comeback. Alexander Kadeikin made a move with Logan Day, scoring from the blue line, taking advantage of Pod'yapolsky's obstructed view by Robinson and Korostelev. Robinson outwitted Pod'yapolsky with a goal from behind the net off the goaltender's back two minutes later. Daniil Pylenkov leveled the game with a powerful shot in a power play, but Traktor reclaimed the lead with a goal from Vasily Glotov, whose shot deflected off Pod'yapolsky's shoulder. Despite extended opportunities, including a 6-on-5 attack and a 5-on-4 advantage, Dynamo failed to equalize, forfeiting the game 4:3 to Traktor, who gained a 1:0 lead in the series.
Alexander Ilyin
[1] KHL Official Website - 2025 Gagarin Cup Playoffs - Traktor vs Dynamo - Match 1 Results[2] KHL Official Website - Real-Time Series Progression - Traktor vs Dynamo[3] Hockey-Arena.ru - Traktor vs Dynamo - Previous Playoff Matchups[4] Hockey-Arena.ru - 2025 Gagarin Cup Playoffs - Traktor vs Dynamo - Expert Analysis[5] Sports.ru - 2025 Gagarin Cup Playoffs - Traktor vs Dynamo - Series Preview
- Traktor's victory over Dynamo in the 2025 Gagarin Cup playoffs semifinals, a 4:3 home win, marked the second consecutive year these two teams faced off, with uncertainty looming for the rematch.
- In the 2022 Gagarin Cup playoffs, Traktor and Dynamo also met, but only at the quarterfinal stage, with Traktor advancing in four games.
- Maxim Shabanov of Traktor and Maxim Komtuay of Dynamo are the top scorers in the series, serving as the micro-duel that has emerged between the two teams.
- Chelyabinsk-born goalie Zak Fucale, who was once the rock of Traktor, has seen a dip in his save percentage and reliability coefficient during the 2025 Gagarin Cup playoffs, causing concerns for the Ural team.
