“Metallurg” Mg - “Vanguard” - 5: 2. Account in the series: 3-1
Nikolay Kulemin
Last year, he was already a very decent working forward. This season, Kulemin significantly added and grew up in a very good sniper. “Vanguard” Kulemin scored three goals in four matches, and each of them was very important. A good sniper is not really the one who just scores a lot, but the one who regularly scores at the right time. Otherwise, his goals will not cost a penny. Well, unless some memorable figurine will be given. In the first match of the series, Kulemin scored the third goal of Magnitogorsk with a very slippery score of 2: 1. Then in Magnitogorsk he scored the third goal - although controversial, but the goal. How can this goal be overestimated? Finally, in the last match, he won the puck. Marek, with whom Kulemin had a gorgeous bunch, was also great in this episode - he gave an excellent pass from his zone.
Denis Platonov
The same three goals in four games as Kulemin’s. Not so important, however, in terms of the development of matches and the series as a whole. But the value of Platonov and not only in goals, after all. Big, persistent, he exhausted Omsk defenders so much that it was rather difficult to measure how much easier it was against them, exhausted, to his partners. But to imagine - easier than the lung. And three goals is a great bonus to the useful work that he performed.
Travis scott
Something truly extraordinary Canadian showed only in the very first game. But, who knows, if you hadn’t visited Scott for inspiration, could Magnitogorsk have won in Omsk? And so I won. And perhaps this particular victory has become a key one. Without it, there might not have been a terrific third period in the third match of the series. And the fact that the first match from the “super” category does not mean that he usually played in the rest. If usual, then only for yourself. For the playoffs. For the level of tasks facing Magnitogorsk. Scott showed how the goalkeeper of a large team should play in the playoffs. And “Ak Bars” in the final will have to tinker with it a lot.
Epilogue
It's not just “Magnitogorsk” that beat “Vanguard”. And also coach Kanareikin beat coach Belousov. Who would have thought? A man who came to Metallurg with the stigma of a loser furnished a seasoned rival, who had already become a legend in both Omsk and Magnitogorsk. Belousov looked bewildered. All his usual tricks did not work. It was impossible to dig in the defense. Attacking impulses did not bring results. Luck, unchanged, it seemed, Belousov’s companion, turned away. Finally, a big mistake of the Omsk coach - leapfrog with goalkeepers. He didn’t decide who was his first.
Today it already seems that the invitation of Maracl in the middle of the season was a mistake. Not the regular season now, so that Fomichev could not be allowed to rest, letting the young guy play. Two or three extra weather damages would not have been done. And then, in the playoffs, Belousov would not have had a painful choice - to put Maracl, who had helped Avangard well before, or Fomichev, because he was stronger at this particular moment. So Belousov rushed between them. He did not make a final decision. If only these castles were not conceived. Well then, the idea did not work. Yes, and this is a strange idea. Castles in the playoffs often harm than help.
At Magnitogorsk there is no more Belousov's curse. Will this make future meetings of Omsk and Magnitogorsk less important? Of course not. This couple has already become one of the hallmarks of our championship. Let's hope they meet again next year. Maybe another series was born today?