CHELYABINSK (Interstat) — Lokomotiv Yaroslavl stayed unbeaten with a 4-1 victory over Traktor Chelyabinsk on Tuesday night in a Kontinental Hockey League game at Traktor Sport Palace in Traktor Arena. The announced attendance was 7,500. Lokomotiv improved to 5-0-0, while Traktor dropped to 1-3-0. Alexei Melnichuk made 23 saves on 24 shots for Lokomotiv, turning aside nearly every Traktor chance. Lokomotiv scored once in the first period and three times in the second, while Traktor scored once in the first. The game featured 10 minor penalties and plenty of physical play, but Lokomotiv controlled the scoreboard after a tight start.

Traktor got its lone goal from Artemy Nizameyev, who finished with four shots on goal. Alexander Rykov and Vladislav Valentsov assisted on the play. Lokomotiv answered with four straight goals to take control. Alexander Radulov led the attack with one goal, one assist and three shots on goal. Georgy Ivanov scored and recorded three shots. Ilya E. Nikolayev added a goal, one shot, two penalty minutes and three hits. Matvei Kotkov also scored, finishing with one shot and three hits. Denis Alexeyev, Alexander Yelesin, Rushan Rafikov and Yegor Surin each contributed an assist as Lokomotiv spread the offense throughout the lineup.

Ivanov tied the game when he scored off assists from Radulov and Yelesin. Nikolayev then put Lokomotiv ahead with help from Nikita V. Kiryanov and Nikita V. Cherepanov. Kotkov extended the lead with assists from Alexander Polunin and Alexeyev. Radulov closed the scoring with assists from Surin and Rafikov. Rafikov finished with four shots on goal, while Yelesin had two shots and one hit. Surin added two shots and one hit to his assist. Alexeyev recorded one shot. Melnichuk protected the lead with steady work in net, and Lokomotiv’s defense limited Traktor’s best chances after the opening goal. The win kept Lokomotiv atop its early-season form and handed Traktor another loss in a difficult start.

The game grew chippy as the teams combined for 10 minor penalties. Lokomotiv’s Yegor Surin was called for hooking at 7:08 of the first period. Traktor’s Alexander Rykov received a tripping minor at 8:38, Vladislav Valentsov was whistled for too many players on the ice at 13:19, and Vladimir Zharkov was sent off for tripping at 19:19. In the second period, Lokomotiv’s Ilya E. Nikolayev and Andrei Pustovoi each received high-sticking minors. In the third, Traktor’s Alexei Rykmanov was called for high sticking, Valentsov received a tripping minor, and Nathan Legare and Lokomotiv’s Alexander Polunin were assessed roughing minors at the same time. Lokomotiv took four minor penalties, while Traktor took six.

Lokomotiv has now won both meetings with Traktor this season after a 5-1 home victory on Sept. 5. Lokomotiv entered the game after a 3-2 road win at CSKA Moscow on Sept. 13, a 2-1 overtime win over Severstal Cherepovets on Sept. 10 and a 3-1 home win over Shanghai Dragons on Sept. 8. Traktor had lost 2-1 at Ak Bars Kazan on Sept. 9 and won 4-3 in overtime at Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg on Sept. 7 before falling to Lokomotiv. Lokomotiv will next host Avangard Omsk on Friday and Barys Astana on Sunday. Traktor will host Spartak Moscow on Friday and Avangard Omsk on Sunday. After the weekend, Lokomotiv is scheduled to travel to Admiral Vladivostok on Sept. 23, Amur Khabarovsk on Sept. 25 and Sibir Novosibirsk on Sept. 27.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Lokomotiv 4, Traktor 3, and its ELO system gave Lokomotiv a 67 percent probability to win. No point spread or over-under information was available.