Metallurg Mg - Ak Bars - 4: 1. Account in the series: 2-1 (5: 2, 1: 5, 4: 1)
Mika Noronen
The worst match of the Finnish goalkeeper in the current championship of Russia. To the dismay of Ak Bars executives, this game was in the final series. But, probably, the coaches of the Russian team were very happy, mentally noting: Finland has not everything perfect at the last frontier. That's just the Finns have many more great goalkeepers.
Zinetula Bilyaletdinov
It was a pity to look at the coach of the Kazan club. After the score was 0-3, the champion of the country last season seemed dumbfounded. He didn’t support his guys, didn’t explain anything, as if he didn’t even try to change the course of the meeting. He himself was knocked out and did not leave him until the end of the meeting. Everyone could see such a bewildered Bilyaletdinov in the lockout year, when he did not know what to do with the stars who were doing everything they wanted on the ice. And, alas, not in a good way. The current staff, perhaps, would have listened to the thoughts of the coach, if they were.
In general, Noronen’s nerves and Bilyaletdinov’s silence brought Metallurg ahead.
Evgeny Varlamov
Two goals of the defender of the Ural club made him the hero of the match. Frankly, there was nothing wrong with his throws, but that was enough for Noronen. Although who cares now before the Finnish goalkeeper played? Look, as they say, in the protocol.
“I will not say anything about their goalkeeper,” said Eugene after the game. - Let the Kazan coaches have a headache about this.
And it hurts.
What's next
Bilyaletdinov, probably in a panic. The team played open hockey - they got 2: 5. I tried to act on defense - 1: 4. We have already seen that the Kazan club is able to gather after the defeats, but before the second meeting in Kazan there was a slightly different situation. Everyone, for example, recognized that Metallurg would be safe, because taking away even one victory from the exit was already good. Now the Urals will definitely play at full speed. They are not going to return to Kazan.
In addition, Bilyaletdinov may get nervous himself due to the fact that he actually has no goalkeepers. Who should be released in the fourth meeting? Floating Noronen? Or too late Eremenko? With the goalkeeper, of course, the coach was smart. He trusted the Finnish goalkeeper to the last, but he simply could not stand the tension. Although, I must admit that before the final, Noronen did not fail.
It seems that the series will end on Wednesday. After all, Fedor Kanareykin does not need to change anything.
Alexey Shevchenko