“Ovechkin is a beast”: what coaches and hockey players said after the victory of the Russian team over Sweden at the 2019 World Cup

The Russian national team defeated the Swedish team in the final, seventh match of the group stage of the World Hockey Championship. After the first period, the “red car” was inferior with a minimal difference in the score, however, in the second 20-minute, the gates of Jacob Markström struck six times. Then, the wards of Ilya Vorobiev somewhat slowed down and allowed their opponents to reduce the backlog.

"Burst All"

Despite a major victory, the head coach of the Russian national team was extremely focused and reasonable, noting both positive and negative points of the meeting. Vorobyov pointed out the unsuccessful actions of his players in the opening match, and also shared his opinion about the future opponent in the quarterfinal - the US national team.

- How to evaluate the result of the match with the Swedes?

- The first ten minutes did not quite work out. After the guys managed to adapt and perform well in the second period. Then acted on the account. Pleased that burst all.

- Tried to motivate the team in the break between the first and second periods?

“We were slowly entering the game, but over time they looked better.” In the locker room explained what to do. Athletes are very well understood.

- The fact that Alexander Ovechkin distinguished himself from the transfer of Yevgeny Malkin is an accident?

- They have already been called a bunch. But in fact, one of them just appeared on the ice, while the other did not change.

- Have you met with opponents of this level for a long time?

- We had a good rival in Switzerland.

- Given the big advantage in the long run, was it difficult to tune in for the third period?

- Said to act solidly.

- Defenders of the Swedish team is called the best in the world. Today, the Russian team managed to question it?

- Today, much worked, played well, scored many goals. It would be great if the same thing happened at the end of the World Cup.

- Ilya Kovalchuk often replaced Mikhail Grigorenko in the link of Yevgeny Malkin. What is the reason?

- Michael often leaves in a special brigade of minority, spends forces. Kovalchuk appears in this top three to balance playing time.

- The Russian national team hit the heaviest part of the grid. In 1/4 finals will play with the national team of the United States, and then there is a chance to meet again with Sweden.

- So then be it. We will play with the Americans.

- Did you follow the score in the match between the national teams of the USA and Canada?

- Yes, but did not speak to the wards about the layouts.

- How can you evaluate the US team?

- A talented attacking team with a good selection of performers. We will watch the opponent's matches and study the reports of our scouts.

- In style of play, North American teams are significantly different from European ones. Suffice it to recall last year ...

- Should not be doing that. Then the situation was completely different.

- The US team has one of the youngest teams in the world championship. How to counter their speed?

- It is necessary to play fast pass, to move at an accelerated pace.

- How do you rate the performance of Andrei Vasilevsky?

- At the beginning of the match, he played great. The team didn’t get very good at the game, but Andrey rescued us.

- The Swedes said that they would like to meet with the Russian team again ...

- We do not guess. If we get on them - we will fight.

“ At one point literally stopped ”

It is not surprising that after the match Rickard Gruenborg, the mentor of the “three corners”, was not in the best of spirits. So, the coach did not communicate with Russian media representatives and answered exclusively questions from journalists from Swedish publications. At the same time, one of the correspondents obviously brought the specialist out of himself.

“The first period was for Sweden the best in the world championship. We had to realize the majority again, then everything would be much better. We started the second part of the meeting quite well, but at one point literally stopped, ”Grenborg stated.

At the same time, he noted that the Russians very often caught the Swedes on counterattacks, in some episodes outnumbering the defenders of the enemy.

“Our hockey players cannot be left alone against two hockey players of the Russian national team. When an opponent is so good, you should act more cautiously in your zone, ”concluded Grenborg.

"As if born again"

Russian hockey players, on the contrary, were easily contacted by the press. Even Ovechkin, who scored his second puck at the tournament, agreed to answer several questions.

“We won. Speaking of my gol from the transfer of Malkin - in this episode, everything successfully came together. We acted correctly, did not allow the opponent to catch his breath. Showed a good rhythm and pressure. You saw everything yourself, ”said the vice-captain of the Russian national team.

At the same time, he also noted that it does not matter to him which of the teams to play in the quarterfinal.

“Perhaps it matters to you. It doesn’t matter to us, ”concluded Ovechkin.

Malkin himself, who in this meeting not only scored a successful transfer, but also scored his first goal in the tournament, made a return compliment to the forward of “Washington”.

“Ovechkin is a beast,” the Pittsburgh forward said shortly.

Evgeny Kuznetsov turned out to be much more talkative. Partner Ovechkin on the link explained the reason for the three missed goals in the final period and appreciated the performance of Vasilevsky.

“Score 6: 1 played a cruel joke, it was hard to go on the ice. It seems to want to play in the attack, but in the defense it is necessary to work out. Missed under not the most pleasant circumstances. I think Vasilevsky is worried about this. He drags, but we had to be more careful, ”admitted Kuznetsov.

He also added that he was not upset due to the fact that in the episode with the goal of Ovechkin, Malkin spoke as an assistant.

“On the contrary, glad. So many people are discussing. The guys go out and do the result, ”added the central striker.

For Kirill Kaprizov, this match was special. In the most important game with Sweden, young striker CSKA scored his first goal in the tournament and managed to live up to Vorobyov’s hopes. So, in the course of the championship, he was in the reserve, but before the final meetings of the group stage, the coach returned him to the team.

“Now I can’t say why they played poorly in the first period. We will understand, they will tell us everything. Is it a joy because almost everyone who could have distinguished themselves? Yes, everyone is relieved. It was as if I was born again. Thank God it happened, ”said Whims.

He admitted that he had not yet thought about meeting the Americans in the quarter finals, and also explained the reasons for the failures in the final period of the match with the Swedes.

“Unsuccessfully played the ending. Of course, I would like better. But that's okay, ”concluded Whims.

According to Colorado defender Nikita Zadorov, if the Russian national team continues to perform at this level, it will continue to achieve success.

“We left, immediately ran to their defenders, did not give them time to rest. They began to lose the puck, there were moments, and we have enough masters in the lineup. They just realized the chances they had, ”Zadorov said.

He also said that he was not surprised by the attempts of the Swedes to get involved in a fight during the match, and also spoke about the future opponent of the Russian national team in the first round of the playoffs.

“This is hockey, nobody likes to concede. We have known each other’s weaknesses for a long time. Americans in the quarterfinals? Who cares? We are set to gold, you need to beat everyone. No matter with whom to play, ”added Zadorov.

"I hope we still fight them"

After the match, the Swedes had difficulty finding explanations for the failure that occurred in their game in the second period. So, defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson said that the “three corners” had missed the initiative.

“Before the match, they said that it was necessary to push the opponent back to the perimeter, to force them to throw out. In the first period, we did it well, and in the second, we started to roll back, make many mistakes, and Russia began to realize its chances. The starting 20-minute was the best for us at this World Cup, the next - the worst, ”said the defender of“ Arizona ”.

He also highly appreciated the class of Russian athletes and expressed the hope that at this tournament the paths of the Russian and Swedish teams will cross.

“Russia has many good players, today you saw it. They showed themselves well in the second period, that's all that was required of them. Today it was enough to win. I hope we will fight them again, ”concluded Ekman-Larsson.

Perhaps the main loser of the day in the Scandinavian team was Yak Markstrom. The goalkeeper only the second time during the tournament appeared in the starting lineup, but immediately missed seven goals.

“After the first period, we were leading with a minimal difference, and in the second Russia throws six times in a row. It seems that every moment turned into a goal. Ultimately, reflecting washers is my job. I should have played better, ”lamented Markstrom.

At the same time, the goalkeeper of Vancouver did not select anyone in the Russian team.

“Look at their composition, there are many great athletes, real masters. They are not afraid to give up, to create moments for partners. In their game there is no egoism, sometimes it is strange that they show a throw, and then make a transfer. They have great hockey players. I'm sure the Russian team will be very dangerous in the rest of the tournament, ”concluded Markström.

In this case, the main goalkeeper of the national team of Sweden Henrik Lundqvist shared expectations from the quarterfinal meeting with the Finns.

“We need to improve our game if we want to win. There are a lot of things that we do well, but we need to add. Today, the Russian team took advantage of our mistakes. We have two days to practice, ”said Lundquist.

Guardian of the gate "New York Rangers" expressed the opinion that his teammates will need to pay special attention to striker Suomi Kaapo Kakko, and also told whether he is following the performance of his club partner Alexander Georgiev.

"Little. A lot of hockey, a large number of matches could not be seen. Georgiev speaks well, I am happy for him, ”concluded Lundqvist.