After all, what is a game system? This is what is practiced in training - by itself. But more importantly, it undergoes repeated testing in combat conditions. In the game, that is. And where, when, and with whom did this Ak Bars test its ability to play second number? Well, of course, Magnitogorsk, motivated, in good shape, caught the fine line between confidence and self-confidence (the slamming of the second match came in handy here) is not the best option for a test of strength in the second game. And this would be just a test of strength, because today's Ak Bars is not at all imprisoned for such a game. Well, that's perfect. And this is not a minus to coach Bilyaletdinov or his players who are unable to change themselves. This is a given.
All of the above is an eyeliner to the opinion itself. I did not try to play Bilyaletdinov from defense. He is more than a smart trainer to understand the pointlessness of such a maneuver. “Ak Bars” in all three games tried to do the same thing. What I'm used to: dominate. Lead the game, dictate? conditions. But the whole thing is that trying and doing - things are different. Kanareykin and his Metallurg did exactly the same thing.
In this series, both teams pull a blanket over themselves. And this is its distinguishing feature. And her charm in this, too. Such a game cannot be called open hockey in the usual sense. No one flies ahead with an open visor. Both try to maintain a reasonable balance between defense and attack. As quickly as possible to go on the attack and return. In the first and third games, Magnitogorsk kept the balance, Ak Bars didn’t. In the second - on the contrary. And the third is not given.
And another very important point. With any scheme of the game, the goalkeeper must drag - this significantly increases the chances of his team to win. Scott dragged in Kazan for the time being. Dragged in Magnitogorsk. Noronen did not play a single game without the “butterflies”. This is probably the main reason that Metallurg is currently leading the series.
When equal teams meet, the outcome of the confrontation is not decided even by details, but simply by particulars. It is already clear with the character - in the finale there are no simply weak-willed, here, by definition, equality. But the goalkeepers are just such a particularity (the name of the language will not even turn into a detail). That is, you can come up with a thousand tricky tactical moves, choose the most effective and inconvenient game system for your opponent, but it’s all down the drain if your goalkeeper catches into the near corners or past your hands.
Ak Bars has found a great goalkeeper. He has a good school and a good reputation. And to predict such "shoals" on his part was impossible. Well, there was absolutely no reason for this. What is the reason here, it’s probably not easy to understand, even while on the team and watching the player daily. And from the side and even more so. But it’s clear that it was not just that Bilyaletdinov believed in Noronen. Yeremenko, the goalkeeper is very strong. But he continued to sit on the bench.
Now it’s very interesting how the Ak Bars coach will come out of this situation. Belousov twitched in the semifinals, began to shuffle the goalkeepers. And this did not help him in any way. Although Maracl and in the earlier stages did not shine. Noronen spent the previous three rounds convincingly. At the level of intuition, it seems that, having put Finn on the fourth game, Bilyaletdinov does not fail. But who can vouch for it today? And who undertakes to advise? After all, Eremenko was clearly sitting up. Any option is extremely risky. But the fourth game at 1-2 - is this not the time to take risks? Bilyaletdinov has no other choice. Hit or miss.