Olympic alert: only one Russian goal in 11 games! Who will score in Beijing?
Yes, only 11 games played on Sunday night Moscow time are taken into account. But in two days – Washington – Calgary (3: 4 OT) and Ottawa – Rangers (2: 3), we have only two goals (Kuznetsov and Ovechkin). But everyone is sure that the Russians’ trump card is precisely the attack. Only New York goalkeepers – “Ranger” Georgiev (third star) and “Islander” Sorokin (first), whose Islanders defeated Arizona – 3: 0, got into three stars of these 13 matches – 3: 0. It is curious that this biscuit is only the third in the NHL in the current championship. Previously, Swede Jacob Markstrom (Calgary) and Canadian Edin Hill (San Jose) distinguished themselves in the culinary field.
The two Russian winners of the Vezina Trophy, Vasilevsky and Bobrovsky, played differently. Without Kucherov, “Tampa” capitulated in the second meeting. This time before the “Colorado” -3: 4 in shootouts. MVP For the fifth time this season, conceded at least three goals from the game in the Stanley Cup 2021! This also speaks to the general vulnerability of the defensive orders of the reigning champions. Although Sergachev has the right to add this evening to his asset – with Nizhnekamts on the ice, the “lightning” was not missed even once, and the defender himself earned a “plus 1”. Although Mikhail’s total usefulness is catastrophic – “minus 7” in five rounds. Which cannot but worry: we all regard Sergachev as the main bayonet in defense in the Beijing campaign.
But Bobrovsky is in perfect order. Sergey has four wins in a row with 94.2% of reflected shots and 1.99 goals per game. In Philadelphia, Florida have already achieved their fifth Victoria (4: 2) and with 10 points topped the league table.
Do not know losses and “St. Louis” Tarasenko, “Minnesota” Kaprizov, “Carolina” Svechnikov Jr.
“Bluesmen” banged at home “Los Angeles” – 7: 3. The third match in a row is scored by Barbashev. Moreover, Ivan, like Kuznetsov in Washington, took the lead in the minority (2: 1). Perron scored a hat-trick for the hosts, and the Russians assisted him in all three cases – Tarasenko (two assists), Kostin (one). Buchnevich has served a two-legged suspension and the day after tomorrow will help St. Louis in the second match with the Kings.
Whims skated 22 and a half minutes, with five in the majority, his “savages” in overtime defeated “Anaheim” (4: 3). However, Kirill himself did not score even a point, grabbing “minus 1” for utility. Wilde’s most valuable player, having signed a new $ 45 million five-year deal, has yet to hit the net.
But Svechnikov, on the contrary, for the first time in the championship left the ice without a goal. Although Andrey’s contribution to the away victory over Columbus (5: 1), as always, was solid – two assists. In the majority, the Siberian helped Aho to excel (4: 1), but did not get into the protocol, as he turned out to be the third extra assistant.
Our young growth continues to chuckle in the press box. For the second round in a row, Vasily Podkolzin (Vancouver) and Vladimir Tkachev (Los Angeles) remained out of the application. Three other young strikers – Mikhail Maltsev (Colorado), Yegor Chinakhov (Columbus), Yakov Trenin (Nashville) are still at the base. But management’s patience has a limit. We urgently need to prove ourselves, otherwise a link to the reserve is inevitable.
Such are the unhappy things less than four months before the Winter Olympics in the Celestial Empire.