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Kulikov Returns In 2-1 Win Over Traktor

Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov showed little rust from a long absence during a 2-1 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl victory over Traktor Chelyabinsk in Wednesday action from the KHL. Kulikov logged 17:07 minutes of ice time, took one shot on goal and finished with a -1 rating during the home ice win. He was paired with veteran Alexander Guskov for much of the game.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Artem Anisimov opened the scoring for Lokomotiv at the 13:31 mark of the first period. The even strength goal was set up by Yegor Averin.

Sergei Plotnikov would extend the lead to 2-0 early in the second period. Anisimov and Alexei Kalyuzhny collected the helpers.

Traktor’s Evgeny Kuznetsov would beat Curtis Sanford just 53 seconds into the third period to close the gap to one. Stanislav Chistov and Gennady Razin picked up the assists.

Curtis Sanford turned aside 28 shots to pick up the win for Lokomotiv while Traktor’s Michael Garnett made 25 saves in a losing effort.

The win pushed Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s lead over CSKA Moscow in the Tarasov Division to five points.

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