“Ak Bars” - “Metallurg” Mg - 1: 2. Account in the series: 2-3 (2: 5, 5: 1, 1: 4, 4: 3, 1: 2)
Fedor Kanareikin
Until this season, this specialist had a reputation for failure. From April 21, Moscow time on April 13, no one else can say that Fedor Kanareikin does not have a career. This season can definitely be added to his asset. Taking the team from 15th place, the coach made it the first in the country.
Victory in the finals, first of all, coaching. Kanareykin beat Bilyaletdinov in all respects. First, he closed the Zinoviev’s link. Yes, perhaps the first three Ak Bars have lost their form. But, let's say, in the second meeting, she showed herself to the full extent, having received the slightest freedom. But Bill had no other arguments.
Secondly, Kanareykin three times outplayed his colleague precisely tactically. Bilyaletdinov caught up every time, but in the fifth game, Metallurg played better again.
Thirdly, - this is the most important thing - Kanareykin did not panic at all. Even when the team lost the fourth meeting on their ice. And he managed to reassure the guys who received a serious moral shock in Magnitogorsk.
And fourthly, the coach of Metallurg better prepared the team for the final. Because at least, what was visible with the naked eye, that the Urals of the opponent were disassembled by bones. Which, incidentally, can not be said about the Kazan team.
Travis scott
The best goalkeeper of the championship of Russia. At such moments, it is unfortunate that Scott does not have a Russian passport, otherwise it would never have occurred to anyone to call Khabibullin in the hope that he was fine with family circumstances. No one has shown such a cold-blooded game as the Canadian goalkeeper demonstrated in the fifth meeting. Perhaps in some matches his colleagues acted more abruptly, but to play the finale like that is fantastic. Even the goal, very offensive for the goalkeeper, did not break it.
It is worth noting that Scott with some unearthly pleasure climbed into a fight with Noronen and, if it were not for the referees, I am sure he would have defeated him. But on ice, he was better than his rival. Finn did not save in the final, but Travis helped out and helped out.
Vitaly Atyushov
As soon as the siren rang out, the defender of the Magnitogorsk club cried. He had every right. Having lost two teeth in one of the matches, seriously damaging the gums, he refused prosthetics and surgery, although, by the way, he hardly fell asleep at night from pain. And there is some kind of higher justice that one of the goals in the decisive match on his account. This is probably the best season of his career. And by the way, Vitaly does not want to leave for the NHL.
Epilogue
For the sake of this ending, one could endure such a sad season. All five matches turned out to be of the highest level. And if not without errors, even the most rigorous expert will find many shortcomings in the actions of the teams, but no one will deny that this was a real battle. All finals finals.
It’s nice that this season we have a new champion. Moreover, no one will say that this is a random winner. In the last two rounds Magnitogorsk dealt with both competitors in the fight for gold. With a victory, Magnitogorsk!
Alexey Shevchenko