Magnitogorsk attackers “Metallurgy” found in game system “Lokomotiv” shortcomings due to great desire, the two-time Olympic champion told Boris Mikhailov .
After three matches of the Gagarin Cup final series with Lokomotiv, Metallurg leads with a score of 3-0.
— To be honest, I didn’t expect such a score after three matches. The games are quite strict in terms of team building and defense. Depending on the intensity, I like the series. There shouldn’t be any questions about performance either: hockey players play selflessly and fight to the end. Of course, I would like more goals, but all the attention of the coaches, it seems to me, is focused on the fact that they will score, and if they miss, then they will have to score one more goal to earn. Here everything is simple: whoever makes a mistake loses. In the confrontation between Lokomotiv and Metallurg, I am interested in the battle of the characters.
— Doesn’t Lokomotiv disappoint you, given that the last three series showed the best hockey in Russia?
— Anyone who closely follows Nikitin’s work knows that such a game is typical for the current head coach of Lokomotiv. For me, the game of the Yaroslavl team is not new, it’s just surprising that they lose. The current game is the politics of the head coach and coaching staff. But the Metallurg attackers find gaps in the systemic play of the Yaroslavl team due to their great will and self-sacrifice at one time or another. This also applies to the Lokomotiv attack, but, unfortunately, it does not work for them, so the Metallurg goalkeeper will fail somewhere and somewhere the defense will play competently, Mikhailov told .
The fourth match of the four-win series will take place in Yaroslavl on April 24.
The game will be available live on the channel and on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru. The broadcast begins at 6:15 p.m. Moscow time.
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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.
