Severstal - Chemist - 6: 2. Account in the series: 2-2 (0: 3, 0: 4, 2: 0, 6: 2)
The Moscow Region club played as it did during the third round: completely toothless in the attack and full of holes in the defense. By the 12th minute the score was already 3: 0 in favor of the hosts, and Vitaly Kolesnik went to the bench, losing the goal to Konstantin Barulin.
It was possible to blame the Kazakhstan goalkeeper in only one puck - the third. He didn’t close the corner in time when Radovan Somik attacked from an average distance. Prior to that, the two goals were abandoned from under the defenders, who were more likely to help other people's forwards than to interfere.
“No, no, I won’t say anything,” said Severstal forward Nikolai Bardin, one of the best players in the match, embarrassed. “We don’t want to make anything at all.” And we will give all interviews only after the fifth match.
“Did you expect it to be that easy?”
“Yes ... I don't know.” Let's talk in Mytishchi.
Judging by recent matches, “Chemist” will not be a favorite at home. Healthy Severstal (and the first two games fell on the flu epidemic) scoffed at the opponent as it wanted.
Neftekhimik - Siberia - 0: 1. Account in the series: 1-3 (0: 2, 2: 3 OT, 2: 0, 0: 1)
The most stubborn confrontation of the 1/8 finals, where in each match the attackers earned scoring chances with sweat and blood, and goalkeepers turned into key figures, ended in Nizhnekamsk.
If we compare the teams, then Novosibirsk had a slight advantage. Their head coach Sergei Kotov, although considered a young specialist, is much more experienced than Ayrat Kadeikin. The composition of the Siberians is few, but still superior to the opponent. And even though it is in Nizhnekamsk that Sergei Konkov, who constantly calls up to the national team, plays, this does not change the matter.
And in the goalkeeper position, certainly you will not give preference to any of the clubs. Petri Vehanen is not stronger and not weaker than the Ukrainian and almost namesake Alexander Vyukhin.
The Nizhnekamsk team fights to the last in any match, regardless of the opponent. This time she also fought, only after the experienced defender Alexander Karpovtsev in the 9th minute she did not notice. And he scored the only puck.
Novosibirsk has already set a club record, hitting the top eight best clubs in the country. “Siberia”, like CSKA, completed the task for the season and will now continue the playoffs without psychological burden.
Unless, of course, the club management finds money and rewards hockey players for reaching the quarterfinals.
Alexey Shevchenko