On Wednesday, February 15, in the key match for the distribution of places among the top 4 of the Western Conference, CSKA – Lokomotiv, the referees sanctioned different sanctions for similar offenses. Railway Alexander Elesin – two minutes, military Pavel Karnaukhov – (5+20).
The matchup of contenders for second place in the Western Conference kept nearly 6,000 spectators on edge at CSKA Arena. The first half was left to the guests, who embodied their advantage in Maxim Shalunov’s goal, which set a club record for snipers in the regular season (28 goals).
After the break, the champions seized the initiative, and CSKA’s record holder for snipers at the Russian championships, Mikhail Grigorenko, scored.
The rivals did not forgive each other, but within the rules. During the first forty minutes of uncompromising fighting, they collected a total of 6 penalty minutes.
In the 37th minute, the home team’s power forward Pavel Karnaukhov fell under the furious reception of defender Alexander Yelesin. Both, by the way, performed at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and returned from the Chinese capital with silver medals.
But there are no friends and comrades on the ice: one of the toughest defenders in the struggle for power (by the way, he himself comes out in a plastic mask) undoubtedly beat Karnaukhov on board. Judges Sergei Belyaev (last season’s “golden whistle”) and Denis Naumov issued a small fine to the violator. And they didn’t even go to the monitor to see a “movie”, but rather the subject of a large fine, which is accepted by the new regulations.
One of the most courageous players in the league, Karnaukhov, cut the bridge of his nose with a visor, but did not appeal to the referee, on the bench the doctor disinfected the abrasion.
And at the start of the third period, he himself was in Elesin’s shoes. The soldier in a strange zone was moving from the side on a parallel course with the defender of the guests Alexei Marchenko (his former teammate of his) and was about to strike shoulder to shoulder. Suddenly, the vice-captain of the railway workers turned sharply and became a victim of his own maneuver: he flew to the side and scratched his face with a cross, splashing the ice with blood.
The judges went to the movies. The commentators of the KHL channel, Vladimir Guchek and Artem Bozhko, did not see the crime in the actions of the military man, moreover, they did not see grounds for a large fine. But both are not fans of hockey: the first used to judge, and now he hosts the “Judicial” program on the profile channel, the second, until recently played at a professional level.
… The video review did not drag on. The army team was given the maximum – (5+20) minutes. Although Yelesin’s free kick seemed much tougher than Karnaukhov’s, as you can see for yourself.
At that time, the guests were leading 2:1, but the hosts were determined to level the score, as the game was in no way inferior. Yaroslavl realized the numerical advantage – 3:1, the game was over.
On Monday, February 20, the Sports and Disciplinary Committee put the judges’ decision into effect, imposing a fine on Karnaukhov.
There are double standards. We are waiting for an explanation from the main referee of the KHL Alexei Anisimov on the “Judges” program.
