“Ak Bars” - “Chemist” - 5: 1. Account in the series: 2-0.
The first regular team meets with the eighth. Therefore, it is logical that this series looks the most understandable and is expected to be fleeting. It’s just not clear what Chemist can oppose, pretty worn out by a five-match standoff against Severstal, a fresh and championly convincing Ak Bars. We restrict ourselves to two observations.
The first one. Defense "Chemist" works without interruption only in Mytishchi. And, it is possible, only against Severstal (we will soon find out for sure). In Kazan, against the opponent, who played calmly and without excessive load, he lived, but in an organized manner, the Moscow Region defense showed obvious gaps. For example, before shooting the gates of Kolesnikov, Kazionov got the opportunity to look around the opponent’s area, consider the location of each, scratching the back of his head, and then, looking around and thinking, move forward to improve his position. And only after that, the Ak Bars striker deigned to quit and hit. In the playoffs, this should not be just because it should never be.
The second one. The leading link of Ak Bars is actually not some kind of magical “chemistry” of Bilyaletdinov (not to be confused with the “chemistry” of the team - it is envy of many). A banal class of players, plus their compatibility with each, and only secondarily, all three together. Zaripov's sniper talent, Zinoviev’s creative abilities. And, of course, just a great master Morozov. In the absence of the latter, the link, of course, loses in efficiency, but remains the link. Zinoviev organizes, Zaripov scores. Or Zinoviev scores himself. Golovin, who instead of Morozov, closes the zone and tries not to interfere. It even seems that for the first three Ak Bars Zinoviev’s loss is more tangible than the absence of Morozov.
On a note
* Dmitry Kazionov did not take part in the games of the 1/8 finals against the Novokuznetsk Metallurg. And in the quarter-finals he scored points in both matches with Chemist. Therefore, I rested with benefit.
* Danis Zaripov scored five goals in five games this season with Chemist.
* Alexei Morozov due to illness missed the second match in a row, but, as Zinetula Bilyaletdinov said after the game, he should return to duty in Mytishchi.
* Ak Bars won the 15th consecutive playoff victory.
“Vanguard” - “Locomotive” - 3: 4. Account in the series: 1-1.
The top quarter-series series of pre-launch expectations is fully consistent. Lokomotiv is not at all afraid of Vanguard. He understands, of course, that in terms of the sum of components, in terms of what constitutes the concept of “level”, he is inferior to the opponent. But not afraid.
Based on this understanding, it is looking for opportunities to counter it. In the first game I felt the options - it didn’t work. “Vanguard” pushed, then pulled “Loco” into the attacking exchange. For Yaroslavl it ended badly. But not deadly.
Gardner is then Canadian, to feel in the playoffs like a fish in water. And to know what it is, even if it is still poorly represented by its Russian variety. Belousov, too, does not sew bast. And he "brought up" all kinds of foreigners in his lifetime. As recently as last year, the Canadian also got - King Magnitogorsk. However, he is not clairvoyant. The starting impulse of the Gardner Lokomotiv - purely Canadian again - could be expected. But such goals - two in the first minute - are all a coincidence.
Yes, and if Belousov had foreseen, the five of us wouldn’t stand at the gate. The Vanguard. Also at home. And then it only remained to find out whose "coaching" would prevail. The main Russian specialist in this component, who needs to break the game. Or an ordinary Canadian, whose task is a little easier (ahead of another 59 minutes) - save.
The Canadian won. And in Yaroslavl we are waiting for even more exciting matches of the most exciting quarter-final standoff.
On a note
* For the first time in this playoff, a place at the Lokomotiv goal took Egor Podomatsky. No wonder it was dark after the first game Gardner ...
* Alexey Cherepanov scored the 21st goal of the season, repeating Sergei Samsonov’s record for players under 18, set in the 95/96 season. Samsonov, however, then scored another puck, but it was already another tournament - the MHL Cup.
* Pavel Rosa scored again, he scored points in all six playoff matches.
“Salavat Yulaev” - CSKA - 1: 3. Account in the series: 1-1.
Vyacheslav Bykov, as usual, after the game spoke about the mood. This is his favorite topic. Well, that evening his wards really tuned in to fame. Especially Konstantin Simchuk. The Ukrainian goalkeeper caught the courage and was clearly in a blow, despite the ridiculous goal conceded in the opening - the puck crawled into the goal from the skate of defender Platil. Or maybe it was just such an extraordinary episode that inspired Simchuk. One way or another, the Ufa team failed to score more. The goalkeeper of CSKA took everything - long-range shots, close and one-on-one exits. And already in the third period, when the owners were exhausted from fruitless attempts to increase their advantage, the army went about it. The last chance of salvation, "Salavat Yulaev" deprived Shirokov. Or Mezin, how to look: an army soldier’s throw cannot be attributed to unruly.
Well, the more interesting. It is unlikely that luck will be turned away from the Ufa residents in Moscow, and Simchuk will not be able to pull out two more games. And the mood of the Bykov team, to put it mildly, is not constant.
On a note
* Ian Paid for hooligan behavior in the first match of the series fined 5 thousand rubles.
* Igor Volkov for the first time in this playoff did not score points for performance.
Metallurg Mg - Sibir - 2: 1. Account in the series: 2-0.
If Alexander Vyukhin was right, on the eve of this series he said that “Sibir” was playing better at a party, then the issue was resolved with the winner. "Magnitogorsk" was pushing, creaking, but twice it crushed its extremely unstable opponent. And the breakdown of the Magnitogorsk teeth today seems to be hardly a task for Novosibirsk. Fortunately for Vyukhin and his team, there are statistics that show that home Siberia is a much more formidable force than its away option. The problem now is that the Novosibirsk team lost to Metallurg this season all five matches.
On a note
* In the second consecutive game, the victory to Metallurg was brought by Igor Korolev's exact throw. In total, he already has three goals in the playoffs, while in the regular season he scored only twice.
* For the first time, Sergey Nikolaev took the place at the gates of Sibir. Unlike the similar step of the Lokomotiv coach, the goalkeeper permutation of luck did not bring Sergey Kotov.