It is not clear what happened to the leader of St. Petersburg Yashkin – for the third period the Russian Czech did not go on the ice. Dmitry was also not on the bench.
But nothing: the army team managed without a captain. They proved that they can not only attack luxuriously, harmoniously, in a variety of forms, but also reliably dry the result. After a storm of goals in the second third – 3:3, the hosts with a minimal lead – 5:4 decided to focus on defense in the last twenty minutes and they succeeded. Further, four seconds before the final siren, goalkeeper Nikolaev with a throw across the field almost hit Torpedo’s empty goal – Kulbakov was replaced by a sixth fielder. The puck slipped an inch off the bar.
I would call Nikolaev the main hero of the meeting at SKA. Certain questions arose for Dmitry after the previous series with Dynamo Minsk. However, now in St. Petersburg, Nikolaev brilliantly played both fights against the workers of the car plant.
Photo source: HC “Torpedo” (Nizhny Novgorod)
In full pursuit, Igor Larionov lamented bad luck: they say that the Volga residents were not lucky enough in this big shooting. Strongly disagree with the teacher! Fortune’s smile must be earned! Doesn’t Torpedo’s coach see that Goncharuk and Yan’s goal has clearly gone astray? This time Firstov missed, in general, Letunov is not visible at the crossroads with SKA. Kruchinin, the team’s top scorer in the regular season, can’t get his goal feeling back after injury?
Fortunately, the fundamental principle of the two-time Olympic champion and three-time Stanley Cup winner works: all four links must obtain equal returns. Belarusian Belevich fired a double shot today, Mikheev scored the second goal in the playoffs, and Kovalenko scored the third. That is who maintains the level from one game to another! However, I repeat, his teammates for some reason suddenly forgot how to score. As well as the second trio of Firstov – Letunov – Yan skidded in the dry. Whatever one may say, if the leaders are silent, it is hardly worth counting on success for a long time.
Photo source: HC “Torpedo” (Nizhny Novgorod)
I will say more, it was luck that allowed Torpedo to hang on to the result for the 60 minutes. All his goals in one way or another were the result of favorable rebounds. Even when Kovalenko made the score 4:5 on a solo pass, during which the puck successfully rebounded towards him, the post also played in favor of the striker, not the goalkeeper.
Igor Nikolaevich, in order not to relax his wards, not to hover in the clouds, but to draw the right conclusions, it is worth recognizing that SKA deservedly won. And what is probably the most offensive to Volzhan fans – they outclassed Torpedo in their own style. Roman Rotenberg showed the guests a mirror, but of a much higher quality.
That’s for sure – you can’t call the five goals of the Petersburgers randomly! You are amazed at how well each soldier knows what to do in each episode, with whatever development of the attack. The first and second goals from him are just Soviet classics. Well-coordinated maneuvers by all five players from their zone to the Kulbakov gate, perfect deployment, masterful completion! As assistants to the authors of the Glotov and Vorobyov discs, it was possible to record the other four servicemen who were on the site.
Photo source: HC SKA
Another three goals are the result of pressure in the Kulbakov area. And again, all the inhabitants of St. Petersburg knew where to roll, where to open up, where to give. Therefore, no one was surprised that the defender Kamalov was suddenly left alone in the penny (4: 2), and the hero of Pyeongchkhan Gusev, before firing Torpedo’s goal from his favorite position from the left service circle , had the darkness of time to take the puck, aim and score – 5:3.
The series moves to Nizhny Novgorod. So far, SKA seems much more convincing than the young professor. Even if Yashkin cannot return to the ice, it is still unclear how and how Torpedo will respond. And luck has nothing to do with it!
