Double Olympic champion, hockey veteranSpartak » Alexander Yakushev told that the absence Ilya Kovalchuk in most playoff matches of the Fonbet KHL Championship, this is a temporary phenomenon: in the future, an experienced striker will definitely help the team.
In the quarter-finals of the Gagarin Cup, the “red-whites” will meet Magnitogorsk”Metallurgist “Earlier, Spartak defeated Cherepovets Severstal in five matches.
Kovalchuk trained in the team’s general group without restrictions on Friday. The forward played one game in the first round of the KHL playoffs with Severstal, but was ineffective. According to the official version, the 40-year-old hockey player did not play due to microtrauma.
— What can you say before the series with Metallurg?
— I would like to congratulate the team and coaching staff for reaching the second round. The team is showing dynamic and colorful hockey this season. The guys deserved what they did.
Matches with Metallurg will be no less intense than with Severstal. But I am sure that Spartak will put in a good match, as they have done throughout the season. Even if at some point there were slowdowns. I am sure our team should succeed in this round.
— Spartak has depth in its squad, even Ilya Kovalchuk is not always part of the final lineup…
— The team is full of young players. Almost everyone on defense is young, and on offense, the third and fourth lines are made up of them as well.
The fact that Kovalchuk is not playing is a temporary phenomenon. The team really needs Ilya. His authority is indisputable. I am sure that we will see Ilya on the ice in the near future and his appearance will be beneficial,” Yakushev told .
The first match between Metallurg and Spartak will take place on March 17 in Magnitogorsk. Watch the live broadcast of the match from 2:15 p.m. on the channel, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
Source : MatchTV
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