This season, Torpedo’s play has become the main surprise of the championship thanks to quick, thoughtful and active actions in the attacking zone. However, not everyone thinks the automakers will play as successfully in the playoffs as they do in a fluid championship. And while the predictions of skeptics come true – Nizhny Novgorod loses in the series with Dynamo 1-2.
Nevertheless, the torpedo boats themselves do not lose faith in success. The interlocutor of “” after the third game was a 21-year-old striker Vladislav Firstov, who is spending his first season in the KHL. He still doesn’t have a beard in the playoffs – he’s not growing. But in the team of Igor Larionov, this guy immediately scored 26 points (11+15) and already scored his first goal in the Gagarin Cup.
And in the ability to conduct an interview, he will certainly not yield to his coach, the “teacher”. It looks like Larionov has already managed to teach his players this during the season.
“Dynamo players stand in the ‘fence’ and throw the puck”
– In the second period, we pressed Dynamo in the area, but did not convert our chances, – said Firstov. – It was better to close the goalkeeper or go past the players. Dynamo blocked a lot of our shots. Also, you should make fewer mistakes in your zone. Muscovites have an experienced team, they will not forgive mistakes, that’s 100%. These nuances influenced the outcome of the match.
— Dynamo claim to have changed their game compared to the Nizhny Novgorod matches. Did you feel something new in your opponent?
“I wouldn’t say they seriously changed anything. In the third period, we came into the “fence” and started to shoot the puck. Dynamo is certainly not going to change its system.
– Here you say – “fence”, “swamp”. But the main thing is that the fence must be broken and get out of the swamp. There is no other way for you to win. Do you see this path?
– Sometimes we come across individual stocks and it’s wrong. It is necessary to move the puck faster and roll into the Dynamo zone with the second wave. That is to say to return passes in order to stop the opponent, and to enter the zone at high speed. The only way. If we just throw the puck forward, the Dynamo will take advantage. They send it back and that’s it.
“There are times when my roof goes away”
– Torpedo has too many penalties, so you personally went to the penalty box twice.
– I’m struggling with this, I apologize to the team for what is happening. There are times when my own roof goes a little. And it happens, like today, I just picked up the stick, and the Dynamo player falls on it on purpose. I believe that for such moments of estrangement, one should not give. It’s the playoffs, a tough game. And the Dynamo player, like a girl, fell, rolled… It’s impossible, I think, you have to play with sporting anger (We are talking about the moment when Firstov fouls the Canadian leader of Dynamo Eric O’Dell.-“”).
– Didn’t you get the feeling today that Torpedo is playing at home? The support from the fans in the stands of Nizhny Novgorod was colossal.
Yes, the fans were very supportive. It was very nice to see and hear in Moscow. Thank you, our “sixth player” for the support. And I apologize for letting you down today. Next game we will try to please.
– Is such support part of your team’s achievements this season?
– Torpedo has never played such hockey before, it’s nice to watch him. Therefore, we attract public attention, many people march and support us.
The next match will be on March 8. Are you ready to give victory to all the women who support you?
— Of course, we will try to please all the women of Nizhny Novgorod. And I personally also have my mother and my grandmother, who made a considerable contribution to me. After the game, we’ll give everyone flowers, and I hope we go home in a good mood.
“There are a lot of haters around us, nobody believes in Torpedo”
Are you talking about other playoffs? Here, Severstal beat CSKA for the second time in a row. Or are you completely focused on your game?
– We try not to talk about other teams. But you can watch interesting moments at your leisure – who plays how. And so now we just have to analyze our match against Dynamo. God willing, we will pass the first round. Then we will begin to analyze the next opponent in detail.
– Do you have any maximalists in your team? It’s clear that SKA and CSKA are aiming for the Cup, and no one expects Torpedo to win. What’s your mood yourself – beat Dynamo to start, or will you definitely win the Cup?
– There are a lot of haters around us, nobody believes in Torpedo. They say we’re a regular season team, but I don’t think so. We went out in the first round against a difficult team, with which SKA and CSKA would not be easy to fight. But we’re going to try to play our hockey and do everything right, we’re going to pull everything out of ourselves to win.
Where and how do you celebrate playoff wins?
– We have a special white shield, we stick magnets on it. After the second game of the series, the first was attached, I hope that in the next game, the second will appear there and gradually bring them to sixteen.
“I don’t have a beard yet. I walk like a puppy”
– Are there any hockey superstitions that are observed in Torpedo?
– Everyone believes in certain signs … But lightly, I can’t even say, I need to think.
– For example, players grow beards during the playoffs.
– Well, they all grow it. I don’t have a beard yet, it doesn’t grow. I walk like a puppy. The goat grows like this – Vladislav, smiling, scratches his chin. – Guys don’t shave. We are also aware every day that hockey will be as difficult as possible and that we must take the moments more responsibly.
– Your team is fundamentally young. Does anyone other than Kruchinin have a normally growing beard?
– Yes, we will have four people with beards. Nuska has a strong beard, defender coach Kozyrev is generally healthy. But in general, yes, we don’t have any bearded ones yet.
– From your answers, it is clear that your mood is in perfect condition. What else should Torpedo improve to win the series?
“You always have to be positive. We haven’t lost anything yet. Now I just need to rest. Then, with a fresh head, analyze the lost match and move on to the next, as the series score is 0-0. And play your hockey.
Watch the fourth meeting of the Dynamo and Torpedo series on March 8 live on the and KHL PRIME channels, as well as on the matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru sites. The broadcast begins at 4:45 p.m.
Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
