KAZAN (Interstat) — Dmitry Nikolayev made 42 saves as Traktor Chelyabinsk defeated Ak Bars Kazan 3-2 Friday in a Kontinental Hockey League game at TatNeft Arena. Attendance was 8,416. Kirill Semyonov opened scoring for Ak Bars 23 seconds into the first period, with assists from Stepan Terekhov and Grigory Denisenko. Artemy Nizameyev answered for Traktor at 2:16. Mikhail Grigorenko assisted Mikhail Rolgizer in the second period, then Nathan Legare scored with help from Alexander Rykov as Traktor took control. Alexei Marchenko scored in the third for Ak Bars, assisted by Terekhov and Andrei Stas, but the hosts could not equalize. Nikolayev finished with 44 shots against. Semyonov had a goal, three shots and a hit. Denisenko added an assist, five shots and three hits. Marchenko recorded a goal and two shots. Grigorenko contributed an assist and two shots. Legare scored on his only shot and added a hit. Nizameyev scored and had two shots and two hits. Mitchell Miller recorded eight shots for Ak Bars. Traktor improved to 5-5; Ak Bars dropped to 7-5.