CSKA - Ak Bars - 1: 2. Account in the series: 1-3
Coaches CSKA
They bent, bent their line. And, finally, they gave out an almost perfect match in Moscow when they managed to defeat Kazan. There was a feeling that the coaches, for example, strictly forbade discussing their goals. That is, skipping, the team forgot about it at the same second, and everyone continued to work in full, as if nothing had happened.
It is said that before the third period of the final match, Vyacheslav Bykov went into the locker room with a smile on his face. And he acted as if his team would win five goals. The installation was made easy: they say, do not slow down, everything is according to plan, victory is in your pocket. Because he felt that everyone was too overheated by the match. And just about can break loose, lose heart and lose. And let, in the end, the army team still lost, but did it in an equal game with the best team in the country. Who else knows how to feel the players?
Mika Noronen
The upcoming finals are the battle between the two best goalkeepers of the Russian championship, Noronen and Scott. No one will say which of them is stronger. Perhaps the Kazan goalkeeper had less work in the semifinals, he spent not so much emotion, but the Finn has an excellent quality: he always keeps the game under control. He is not fooled by the fact that throws are made every five minutes. He can save in the most important situation.
So in the fourth match on the account of Noronen, not just two dozen reflected shots, but also “save” after Yegor Mikhailov’s exit one on one.
Vadim Yepanchintsev
The main hockey player of CSKA in the playoffs was not Alexei Simakov, who suddenly started to score points according to the schedule of Sergey Makarov. And not Alexei Kosourov, who has two victory goals. The best player of the team, and not only in the playoffs, was Vadim Yepanchintsev.
Who thought that he could again become the Yepanchintsev whom all rivals feared? It was believed that he came to play in CSKA, spared Bykov, who was signed by such hockey players. And Vadim took, and became not just the main player, but the core of the team. And the fact that the team reached the semifinals in the playoffs is largely his merit. Maybe he will be called to the national team. Although he is unlikely to go. We must save strength for the next season.
Epilogue
The main surprise of this series is that with the naked eye it was seen how the army team was progressing and the Kazan team were standing still. CSKA coaches worked on installations, picked up the keys to the opponent. And they did everything to win. Unfortunately, the level of hockey players is not high enough to realize all the plans.
It remains unclear what is happening with the trio of Sergei Zinoviev. In none of the four meetings did she look like herself. It seemed that all of a sudden "ate" hockey. Honestly, it is not even clear whether the “leopards” will be able to recover to the finals. And if, by and large, such hockey players as Rozin or Ozolin could cover them, then what will happen when Atyushov and Varlamov come out on the ice?
The entry of the army into the semifinals is an excellent achievement, proving, by the way, what the league should strive for. It is not necessary to collect the national team of stars, pay them a lot of money and shake every day, demanding victories. We must think about hockey. The material, of course, is important, but much depends on the master.
Alexey Shevchenko