Large cabinets fall hard
Kirill Kaprizov proved himself in the match against Montreal (4:1), scoring twice. After the first period, the score was 0:0. But then Mason Shaw scored in Minnesota, and behind him Kaprizov converted the majority when he corrected the puck from the spot. Towards the end of the period, Kirill scored another goal when he rolled down the left flank, took a shot and deftly grabbed the rebound.
It’s clear that Montreal has a weak team right now. But this double is important for Kaprizov, because his Minnesota did not start the championship in the best way either. Kirill The Thrill himself, after this double, took second place in the list of the best snipers in the league (8). Andrei Svechnikov, Gabriel Vilardi, Bo Horvath scored the same amount and Connor McDavid (11) was in the lead.
Incidentally, when Kaprizov scored the second goal, Montreal coach Martin San Lui took up the challenge, thinking Minnesota forward Marco Rossi had played with a high stick in that attack. But the replay showed the player didn’t lift him above the shoulder.
“I prayed it wasn’t a high stick,” said Rossi, who scored his first NHL point with an assist. – In the first eight matches, I didn’t score a single point. Maybe not everything works out when you think about it too much. You just have to play correctly.
And at another point, Rossi (176cm/83kg) knocked down Montreal forward Juraj Slafkowski (191cm/108kg) with a power grab. As they say at such times, “large cabinets fall loudly.”
Why have we written so much about 21-year-old Austrian Rossi? Because “Minnesota” is considered a team of one person – Kaprizov, and there is neither the depth of the composition, nor the perspective. But interesting young people always appear. Here, 21-year-old striker Matt Baldy has already scored 10 (6+4) points in 10 matches. So Minnesota, which has won five times in the last seven games, could still make some noise in the playoffs.
NHL. Regular season
Minnesota Wild (Saint Paul) – Montreal Canadiens (Montreal) – 4:1 (0:0, 3:0, 1:1)
Goals: Show, 9:09 p.m. Kaprizov, 23:30 (bol.), 34:55. Bold, 56:52. — Suzuki, 53:30 (bol.).
Sergachev: ‘It’s Kuch, his shot is amazing’
A brilliant game took place in Tampa, where Ottawa came. Three times the guests led the score, and Nikita Kucherov managed to turn the tide of the unsuccessful match. First, in the 53rd minute, he helped Braden Point score to make it 3:3. And then Kucherov himself, having received a pass from Mikhail Sergachev, accurately shot from the right flank, scoring the winning goal. Additionally, the goal was Kucherov’s 250th in his NHL career. Few Russians have reached this mark: Alexander Ovechkin (785), Sergei Fedorov (483), Alexander Mogilny (473), Evgeni Malkin (449), Ilya Kovalchuk (443), Pavel Bure (437), Alexei Kovalev (430), Vyacheslav Kozlov (356), Alexei Yashin (337), Pavel Datsyuk (314), Vladimir Tarasenko (255). And now Nikita Kucherov (250).
In total, Kuch scored 3 (1+2) points, becoming the game’s first star. Defender Mikhail Sergachev scored 2 (1+1) points. Andrei Vasilevsky had very little work, making just 12 saves. But even that was enough to win.
“When I gave the pass, I knew it would be open there,” Sergachev said, describing the winning goal. “His throw was incredible. There was a sharp corner there, but it’s Cooch.”
At the same time, Sergachev noted that Tampa won three times: “The team’s psychological resilience is on a different level,” Sergachev said. “But we still have a long way to go. I don’t think we’re playing the playoff hockey that we’re used to.”
And we have to add two more points. Tampa’s top defenseman Victor Hedman suffered an upper body injury, due to which he was released with the wording “any day.” But Sergachev, who signed a stunning contract this summer, carved out a place for himself in the Majority First Squad and played very well.
Moreover, Kucherov scores in the fourth game in a row and also scores points in the eighth game in a row (4+10=14). It can be seen that it has reached the expected potency.
Tampa Bay Lightning (Tampa) – Ottawa Senators (Ottawa) – 4:3 (0:1, 1:1, 3:1)
Goals: Sergachev, 23:17 (bol.). Killorn, 51:04. Spike, 52:55. Kucherov, 57:30. — Gambrell, 5:44. Joseph 32:21 (men.). Giroud, 51:44.
Battle of two giants
Nikita Zadorov scored his second goal of the season, although his Calgary lost to Seattle (4:5). At the same time, the Russian defender had a fight with Kraken defender Jamie Oleksiak, and there are two moments.
First, Zadorov is not a direct fan of fighting. And if they can be avoided, it is better to avoid them. Here, Nikita scored a goal in a match with Seattle (4-5) and it brought more advantages to his team.
Secondly, you need to understand the dimensions of Jamie Oleksiak (201 cm / 116 kg). Yes, Zadorov himself is rather big (197 cm / 107 kg), but he fought with the heaviest hockey player in the NHL.
In terms of weight, Oleksiak is the leader in the NHL, the second is Elmer Soderblom (112 kg). In terms of height, only Tyler Myers (203 cm) and the same Soderblom (202 cm) are taller.
And what assessment of the day without the Washington match? “Capitals” at home lost to “Vegas” (2:3). Alexander Ovechkin scored with an assist (0+1) and executed four powerful moves with a shot on target. But in the second game in a row, his team lost in overtime – now Shi Teodor has scored in overtime.
When Ovechkin left in the hall under the bleachers, in frustration, he even broke his club in the tunnel. Clearly there is a hunt for Gretzky’s record. But Washington has yet to qualify for the playoffs. And the team was knocked out by Niklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, John Carlson, TJ Oshie and several other important hockey players.
“I understand the circumstances and the situation. But that doesn’t mean I have to like the way we played in the third period,” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. “It looked to me like we sat down, left too many holes and missed a lot of chances.”
At the same time, we recall that Ovechkin now has 785 goals – one less than Gordie Howe’s record in the NHL for hockey players playing on the same team (Detroit Red Wings).
The birthday is not far away.
Calgary Flames (Calgary) – Seattle Kraken (Seattle) – 4:5 (0:1, 2:1, 2:3)
Goals: Zadorov, 26:28. Qadri, 28:14. Toffoli, 41:34. Lewis, 41:51. — Susi, 2:58 p.m. Geeks, 33:10. Sprong, 48:14 (bol.). Gurd 51:26 (men.). Beniers, 53:26.
Washington Capitals (Washington) – Vegas Golden Knights (Paradise) – 2:3 OT (1:1, 1:0, 0:1, 0:1)
Goals: Johansson, 3:39 (bol.). Van Riemsdyk, 21:01. —Eikel, 18:55 (bol.). Carrier, 54:04. Theodore, 61:35.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
