First five
Atyushov - Grebeshkov, Radulov - Happy - Kharitonov
As a starting five, Happy and his comrades got worse. And this time there were failures in the defense - Donika, for example, in the first period fled one on one with Eremenko. And they didn’t add to the attack. Although it is felt that Radulov is mastering the team. Alexander regularly climbed a piglet, for which he was rewarded with a goal in the third period, boldly took the game upon himself and a few times acutely passed on partners.
Second five
Markov - Potter, Frolov - Malkin - Kovalchuk
They left an ambiguous impression. It was not possible to add in two days, although some elements were obtained not bad. Kovalchuk regularly rolled back under the blue line and threw from afar. Frolov from the gate rolled out on a piglet. Malkin tried his best to find interesting options for the development of the attack. Everyone went about their own business, and it pleases, in fact. Because Kovalchuk should throw more often, Frolov has the very place in front of the goal, and Malkin is there to connect these elements together.
But it connects so far unsuccessfully. Most likely, precisely because the game did not go for a pass at this level, each periodically took the game upon itself, which also did not bring any result. It was delayed with a throw, then with a transmission. They were fried periodically on the defensive, but the Ukrainians were not able to punish.
Worst of all was with the majority. If getting up in the zone most often turned out, then the movement and the original moves were clearly not enough. Positional attacks in general are still a weak point of this link, and the rest too, with the exception of Kazan.
Third five
Proshkin - Nikulin, Morozov - Zinoviev - Zaripov
Six abandoned washers best describe the game of this link. While the other five tried to establish some kind of interaction, the Zinoviev team did the result. They rolled Ukrainians to look expensively. And in most, and in equal compositions. Chic shuffling and castling. Throws from near and far. This link played so well today, which is even alarming. Such rivals will disassemble our main weapon so far on the cogs, and they will come up with an antidote. But there is no certainty that the rest of the combinations will find themselves by that time.
Fourth five
Emelin - Kondratiev, Kulemin - Nepryaev - Ovechkin
They also played not brilliantly, although perhaps better than the first two links. Due to Nepryaev’s lack of organizational skills, Ovechkin was often taken to lead the game. Some of his programs were very sharp, and indeed it is clear that all three are trying to play the pass, not falling down on individual actions. Even if not everything is working out so far. In the third period, Bykov did try Ovechkin for the most part as a defender, hooking him to today's first link. Alexander began this rally not very much - two inaccurate programs, one of which led to a counterattack, albeit not dangerous. But then he was taken to the throw - and Radulov scored, playing on finishing.
Goalkeeper
Alexander Eremenko
I conceded, although in the minority, but the goal is at least optional. Klimentyev, of course, threw cool and hit successfully, but Alexander opened the near corner to him. In the future, however, he calmed down himself, and the team began to play more cheerfully. But a couple of opportunities to help were presented, and the goalkeeper did not disappoint. However, in this match Eremenko definitely could not convince Bykov that he was stronger than Koshechkin.
Special brigades
In most of the Bulls, so far he puts Malkin and Zinoviev in full force on the five. But the very first experiment with the transfer of Ovechkin to the link to the Happy came out successful. And this means, most likely, that Bykov will try this option further. Moreover, Malkin and his partners have so far achieved little.
No special brigades are observed in the minority. All eight defenders and nine attackers played against Ukraine in this capacity. Either Bykov has not yet decided, or there are no plans for any minority brigades.
Summary
There is nothing wrong with the fact that so far the tone of the five from Ak Bars sets the tone in the Russian national team. Not only that, it's perfectly normal. The remaining links are assembled at random, and therefore can well be ground to each other, without fear for the result that will provide the only link played. In the end, rivals such as Denmark and Ukraine are for this purpose, no offense they will be told.
But the lack of progress in cooperation is nevertheless alarming. The links with Malkin and Happy were even less played with Ukraine than with Denmark. And time for grinding remains less and less. Does Bykov have the patience and faith in the chosen combinations - the question.