In the three previous games, the SKA leader was inferior and managed only two goals. And he today he knocked on the door seven times already. And not just any, but the systemic “Ak Bars” Zinetula Bilyaletdinov. Forward Emil Galimov scored four times, who had scored exactly the same number since the start of the season.
Nizhnekamsk walk! First of all, because Neftekhimik from Moscow defeated Spartak in the battle for the playoffs. It is true that rivals solving the same problem appear in different conferences. And secondly, SKA striker Emil Galimov scored four goals. From which no one expected such agility. When he was invited to the national team a couple of years ago, expert Boris Mayorov asked in his usual way: “Who is this?” Galimov, for the second game in a row, wears the letter “A” for the assistant captain on his jersey. Now it is clear that it is not a coincidence. He stamped different washers, but this does not diminish the value of him.
In the first turn, Zykov’s teeth were knocked out, so Galimov played for him and that guy. By the way, when in the end the guests brought out the goalkeeper Bilyalov, the crowded “Ice” demanded to give the puck to the author of poker. Given, he shot, but missed.
Ak Bars has its own Galimov – young Artem, with golden hands and a shining head. Today he saw what he should strive for. By the way, Emil Galimov also played in Kazan, from where he moved to SKA.
In the first period, the opponents pleased with six goals – 3:3. In addition, the “leopards” were in the lead three times. But the key was the goal from Khusnutdinov’s army team 7 seconds after the second break. The hosts took the lead 5:4 and did not allow Radulov and company to do anything else in attack.
Of course, this match did not look like a collision in the final. Although someone will remember how Magnitogorsk with such a score (7:4) beat the Prague Lion in 2014 in the seventh meeting of the golden series and won the Gagarin Cup for the first time. And SKA drank champagne from the trophy immediately after the defeat in Kazan … Ak Bars – 6:1.
We will not throw pucks at the goalkeepers – Bilyalov and Podyapolsky. Frankly, they were unlucky with rebounding.
The loss did not stop Ak Bars from maintaining its lead in the Eastern Conference. But there were pranksters who suspected a Kazan team in… surprise. However, who wants to fly to the Far East in the first round of the playoffs? Today Amur defeated Avangard at home (3:2 W) and is about to break into the top 8 of the conference.
And Spartak is moving away from the playoff zone. After an embarrassment at home with Sochi (3:4), the rojiblancos decided to give ticket holders this embarrassing game for free for today’s game against Neftekhimik. It did not help: the Muscovites lost 2:3. And the calendar they have at the finish line of the regular season is not to be desired by the enemy, completely derby. Was it worth trading an experienced trainer for a nameless one?
CSKA kept the lead in the home game with Salavat Yulaev and moved back to second place in the conference. The direct competitor of the Moscow army team, Lokomotiv, after an accidental victory in St. Petersburg, resignedly lost in Cherepovets without opening the gate.
MARKER
SKA – Ak Bars – 7:4, Spartak – Neftekhimik – 2:3, Amur – Avangard – 3:2 B, Dynamo M – Barys – 3:2, ” Avtomobilist – Traktor – 1:2, Severstal – Lokomotiv – 3: 0, CSKA – Salavat Yulaev – 4:2.
