“Chemist” M - “Ak Bars” - 3: 2 B. Account in the series: 1-2
"Ak Bars", in general, played out. It cannot be said that Khimik is not a rival to Kazan so much that they could not lose to it in Mytishchi. Could, of course. But they shouldn't have. It is clear that the shootouts are a lottery. Also, the skill of the performers, but “Chemist” has an order with them. Already for a series of shootouts is enough. So it was not necessary to bring to these shootouts. One way or another, the leopards themselves are to blame.
Although in the account, and in the game, too, “Chemist” should not have brought to the shootouts. Mytischi confirmed the cup aura of their arena. The puck categorically did not go into the goal of Kolesnik. True, Ak Bars was not like itself in terms of perseverance and ingenuity. The fact that the opponent was crushed in the third period and managed to equalize the score can be considered good.
Apparently, the “leopards” didn’t have enough motivation. Whatever you say, after two such convincing victories in Kazan, the guests were subconsciously not ready for an equal game. A game that needs to be pulled out not on the class at all - on the teeth and on the veins. Ak Bars seems to have lost the habit of this. And no wonder. The lack of serious competitors dampens.
After the match, journalists tortured Bilyaletdinov, so what did he say to his players in the second break? He replied: "He said how to play." It seems that it would be better to tell him how to play is not necessary. Because as they should, they are well aware. Not later than the day before yesterday showed. And then they suddenly forgot. Maybe tomorrow they will remember?
On a note
* Ak Bars interrupted its winning cup series. She settled on the sixteenth match.
* “Chemist” missed the first goal in Mytishchi, but extended the home winning streak. Hockey players near Moscow have won all four matches of this playoff on their ice.
* The leader of the Kazan club Alexei Morozov returned to duty. And in the game, the transfer was noted, and he realized the bullet. But the “leopards” did not help.
* Vitaly Kolesnik not only won his fourth home victory and missed the first goal on his ice, but also earned an assist.
* Sergey Zinoviev retains leadership in the dispute of scorers. On his account 10 (4 + 6) points.
“Locomotive” - “Vanguard” - 0: 2. Account in the series: 1-2.
Belousov and Gardner in this series are similar to chess players. And the Russian coach is clearly playing white. A successful debut in the second match and a successful castling of goalkeepers allowed the Yaroslavl Canadian to seize the initiative. But not for long.
Belousov decided that he should not shun plagiarism. And in the third game he repeated the Gardner trick. Well, or almost repeated. Because Fomichev, who took the place at the gate of Omsk, unlike Podomatsky, already played in this playoff. They let out a stretch at the Vityaz in the third match of the series. Also, by the way, was the first away game for Omsk. And a formal reason is available: on the eve, Maracl missed a bit too much. And not everything was supposed to be missed. But Gardner reverse castling did not help ...
Belousov confirmed for the umpteenth time and his cup flair. And he confirmed the tactical trick. Unlike home matches, he did not try to drag Loko into the attacking exchange, he did not pressurize, but patiently waited for the opponent’s mistakes. For which he was rewarded. However, this is a very common cup “Vanguard”. Under Belousov, he always played like that, as soon as serious matches began.
And still, it was Fomichev who became the main character. Because the "Vanguard" was waiting faulty. And the chances to score with Lokomotiv were more than enough. But the Omsk goalkeeper dragged everything.
The alignment in the series has changed again. The Yaroslavl club has very few chances. Or defeat on Saturday and the finish of the season. Or the fifth game. And to win in Omsk, and even the decisive match ... Well, you understand. Little chance. Very little.
Defender of “Loco” Denis Grebeshkov the day before on the pages of our site that he would not want to return to Omsk. Now his opinion has changed, there is no doubt.
On a note
* Alexander Fomichev spent two matches in this playoff, and in both of them kept his goal intact. By the number of “crackers”, it is second only to Vitaly Kolesnik, who has three of them.
* Lokomotiv for the first time in this playoff failed to hit an opponent’s goal.
* Pavel Rosa interrupted his productive series. In the previous six games, he always scored points.
CSKA - “Salavat Yulaev” - 3: 4 OT. Account in the series: 1-2.
Nothing is clear in this series. It seems to be a favorite - “Salavat Yulaev”. But he takes, and loses at home. This is fine, it happens. But then, still remaining a favorite, and having led three goals at the beginning of the third period, he allows CSKA to equalize. And further, when, it would seem, CSKA already had a psychological advantage - the game went on, the mood, courage, in overtime, it is our favorite who scores.
That is, it turns out that there is really no favorite in this pair. Yes, Salavat is stronger. But this does not mean at all that he must win. Well, because at least that allows itself such tricks, as from 0: 3 - to 3: 3.
Moreover, it remained incomprehensible - either the Ufa residents were shaken by the proximity of the victory, or they were so sure of it that they relaxed, or they played tactically incorrectly, or it was just luck to Bykov. And therefore it is absolutely unclear what to expect from the fourth game. All the better.
On a note
* Alexei Simakov over six matches more than blocked his sniper rate in the regular season (53 games). After taking a double into the goal of “Salavat Yulaev”, he already had six goals, and there were only four in the regular season. Forward CSKA playoff snipers list.
* “Salavat Yulaev” has already won the second victory in overtime. The first - over SKA in the 1/8 finals. The Ufa team also has a shootout victory.
“Siberia” - “Metallurg” Mg - 2: 3. Account in the series: 0-3
“Siberia” and in three matches managed to drink plenty of blood Magnitogorsk. And these 3-0 were given to “Magnitogorsk” harder than the other 3-1. And if in Magnitogorsk Metallurg had to simply squeeze an opponent who bite into the ice with his teeth, but that’s why he only held the defense, thinking only so as not to lose. In Novosibirsk, Magnitogorsk also had to save its own skin, because these Siberian teeth clattered already in its immediate vicinity. Magnitogorsk managed to dodge and finish off an opponent with incredible dexterity, for which honor and praise are to them. Two goals in 42 seconds is the first semi-finalist. And not to say that it should have been otherwise.
Fedor Kanareikin, who took the post of the head coach of Metallurg under puzzled exclamations and with a reputation as a chronic loser, has already won. The semi-final is a result that today's Magnitogorsk may not be ashamed of. Now you can swipe for more. The “chemist”, it seems, made this clear today.
On a note
* Metallurg remained the only club that did not recognize the bitterness of defeat in this playoffs.
* Sibir has lost to Magnitogorsk all six matches of this season, without ever losing more than three goals.