If you haven’t noticed, you should know that the top three scorers in the KHL are now three Spartak players – Nikolay Goldobin (14+16), Pavel Poryadin (9+14) and Ivan Morozov (6+15). . And it’s the most productive line in the league, with 29 goals already scored.
The first and last time in the history of the KHL this happened in 2014, when three Metallurg players finished the championship in the top 3 – Sergey Mozyakin (34 + 39 = 73), Jan Kovar (23 + 45 = 68) and Danis Zaripov. (25 +39=64). Each of them can be called a legend.
And now on the path to the legend are 28-year-old Goldobin, 27-year-old Poryadin, 23-year-old Morozov. They are at the hockey age and everything is working out for them on the ice. And if you estimate their statistics, then this season they follow the following schedule: Goldobin (50+57=107), Poryadin (32+50=82), Morozov (23+58=81).
Yes, imagine, Goldobin can score 107 points in this KHL championship if he continues in the same spirit! The record for points in a championship so far belongs to Mozyakin (48+37=85). But Nikolai can interrupt the master.
How many of these three did we see in the KHL, which later became the epic of the league? The famous Kazan team Alexei Morozov – Sergei Zinoviev – Danis Zaripov. Or the St. Petersburg troika, where Artemy Panarin – Vadim Shipachev – Evgeny Dadonov shone. Ak Bars now has an excellent connection: Dmitry Yashkin – Vadim Shipachev – Dmitry Kagarlitsky.
But the trio Goldobin – Morozov – Poryadin is not yet so popular. Fans haven’t even come up with a nickname for him. I announced a competition on the Telegram channel. Someone immediately suggested: “Goldiators.” Not bad.
A observer met three Spartak strikers and asked them why they play so well together. Do you know what unites them? Before this season, they did not play for the “reds and whites” at all. They are doing so well with a clean slate!
Poryadin: “Kolya has the instinct to score”
Pavel Poryadin was born in Moscow, studied at the Krylyev Sovetov school and played for the Zelenograd and Stupino teams. And in 2015 he left for the Neftekhimik system, where he spent eight seasons. This year, Spartak received the player’s sports rights in exchange for Dmitry Zlodeev, Artyom Serikov and monetary compensation. And at the end of June he officially signed a three-year contract with striker Poryadin.
— What is most important for your team and for Spartak as a whole?
“It’s important for us to show that we can progress. For example, this season we led 2:0 in the match against CSKA, but lost 2:3 in overtime. And now the same story is repeating itself. We play CSKA again, again we lead 2:0. The idea crept in that the image was similar. But we drew conclusions and tried very hard not to give up on this match. We performed well both offensively and defensively. And finally they won (5:3).
— Spartak is the most productive team in the KHL. Your trio with Nikolai Goldobin and Ivan Morozov is the best in the league in terms of goals. How does this affect the fact that the famous master Alexei Kovalev works with the attackers? And how important is it for you to play aggressively yourself?
– We talk about it a lot. And they tell us different nuances. They tell us what to do and how to play so that we complement each other well. Because anyway, I think we are slightly different players. But if each of us does what we can better, it will benefit everyone.
Kolya scores well and converts the chances. That means we have to try to get him to throw. Vanya takes the puck very well and sees the ice. Of course, we must complement each other. Then everything will work out for us.
At the same time, there is something to work on. There is still a lot of information to digest and discuss. But the most important thing is that we enjoy the game together. We also like Spartak hockey and the team behaves interestingly. In general, the atmosphere is incredible, from the coaching and the locker rooms, to the stands and our supporters.
— What is Goldobin’s secret? Why is it so effective?
— Kolya is a good striker. He just knows how to play. In addition to converting chances, he has a goal instinct. He does not disperse his forces at specific times. And he waits for this moment. And when it comes up, Kolya will definitely implement it. He uses his experience. A good striker, a sniper, should play like that.
— Ilya Kovalchuk came to the Spartak – CSKA match. It will be interesting to see how he can return to the KHL. On the other hand, Spartak plays so cool that no world veteran will strengthen you. Where should we put Kovalchuk?
– Ilya will help us, of course! I myself do not know for sure whether Kovalchuk will come to us. I read the news myself, sit down and ask myself questions. If Ilya comes to us, we will only be happy. It will be a great honor for us to play with him. Hockey players at this level will only add to our skills and experience. They are valuable not only for their game, but also in life, they can give valuable advice and tips. When the most important matches come, psychology is very important.
Ilya had a great career, he participated in different matches, at different levels. We not only want to make the playoffs, but we also set ourselves as many goals as possible. And in the fight for the Gagarin Cup, everything is made up of little things. And here Kovalchuk, of course, will help us a lot.
Morozov: “I increased my speed in America”
Ivan was born in the town of Verkhnyaya Salda, 176 km north of Yekaterinburg. He studied hockey at “Gazovik” in Tyumen, took his first steps at “Ugra” in Khanty-Mansiysk and in 2018 found himself in the system of SKA St. Petersburg. I completed all the stages and even played at the senior world championship. He went to Vegas for a season and ended up joining the Henderson farm club.
Spartak received this center forward as a result of a successful exchange, when defender Alexander Nikishin went to SKA and the “red and white” took the rights to nine players at once.
— Spartak recently beat CSKA, which has won two Gagarin Cups in the last two seasons. Does this mean you can aim for the playoffs yourself?
— I won’t say that everything went well for us in the match against CSKA (5:3). We blurred the ending. But they scored their goals. We tried to score more, but it didn’t work. There is therefore no need to idealize ourselves. But we try, of course.
— You brought a different person back from North America, where you played 58 games in the AHL for Henderson and scored 17 (6+11) points. What did this business trip bring you?
– Yes, I gave a lot. There is a different league there, otherwise you have to play. Different site size. And a lot depends on luck. Which team will you be on – strong or weak? Who are you going to play with, whether there is a majority or not.
I think I increased my speed there. I started making decisions more quickly. This helps me now.
– Now another Russian was sent to Henderson – Grigory Denisenko. What advice would you give him for playing it?
“I can only wish him good luck.” He wants to gain a foothold there and prove it. I hope everything works out for him. He didn’t give up and headed to the NHL. Good game. A striking example of how a Russian can shine in the Golden Knights is Ivan Barbashev. He now has a very good frontline connection with Jack Eichel. What I’m talking about is a person being on the right team and playing with great partners.
— Can Vegas win the Stanley Cup again this season?
– Their chances are very high. The team retained its core and specifically strengthened itself. Vegas has the same championship roster. All that remains is to realize this potential.
— Do you yourself plan to try your hand at the NHL again after a while?
— Anywhere you want to be a leader and you don’t need to make plans. The main thing now is to have a good season and qualify for the playoffs. And then we’ll think about it.
Goldobin: “I no longer react to haters”
Nikolai was also born in Moscow, studied at the Polar Bears School and played for the Russian Knights. And in 2012, he left for North America, where he first played in the Canadian Junior League with a stop at the Finnish Championship, then joined the first team of San Jose and then Vancouver. This is not to say that everything went well there. Afterwards, Goldobin returned to Russia, where he played for CSKA and Magnitogorsk. And he has built a reputation as a talented but very unstable striker. In June, Spartak received the rights to Goldobin, sending Danila Kvartalnov to Magnitogorsk.
— Why do you use massage glasses after the match?
– Then I fall asleep deeply for exactly two minutes. Yes, like a two minute deletion. This time is sufficient to rest and recover. All the guys in the team look at me and also want to buy such glasses. Very good for the eyes, and it is a working tool for a hockey player. The vision of the site is extremely important.
— Can we say that the Spartak first line worked partly thanks to the points?
“I don’t want to give them publicity, otherwise they will think of something.” And in general, these glasses were given to me. But it really helps.
— The first and last time three scorers from one club led the KHL was in 2014, when Sergei Mozyakin, Jan Kovarzh and Danis Zaripov made the difference in the league. How did you manage to find a common language so quickly? You have never played with Poryadin and Morozov before.
— We play together quite a bit. Well, yes, the first year. But we communicate a lot. And not only on ice – for example, we go to the bathhouse together, walk and visit restaurants. Communication helps. You immediately understand each other perfectly, which makes collaboration easier.
– Is it that simple?
– Of course not. Bathing alone won’t help. You still have to try, and of course you need luck.
— Goldobin is said to score points against weak and average teams. What do you think?
—And I no longer react to haters. I don’t care, let them talk.
Watch live broadcasts of the Fonbet KHL championship matches on the channel, as well as on the matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru sites.
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.
