Blowtorch Ovechkin, goals of Anisimov and Nichushkin and two points of Namestnikov: how the Russians spent the game day in the NHL

Washington Leadership

The Capitals, led by Alexander Ovechkin, paid a visit to Los Angeles and extended their winning streak to five matches. In the absence of Ilya Kovalchuk, local hockey players were able to score only one abandoned puck, and the Russian Nikolai Prokhorkin, although he set a personal record for the time spent on the ice, was unable to score effective actions.

The meeting ended with the score 3: 1 in favor of the guests, and the main character was John Carlson. This season, the defender of “Washington” demonstrates exorbitant performance and seriously claims not only the title of best defender, but also the most valuable player of the season. In the match with Los Angeles, he twice acted as a sniper, and for this he took less than nine minutes.

Already in the debut, Carlson received the puck in his own zone, dragged it to a stranger and with a spectacular wrist throw sent exactly into the nine goals of Jonathan Quick. And a little later, he put an end to a beautiful combination with the participation of TJ Josh Oshi and Lars Eller.

Thus, John scored the 101st goal for Washington, becoming only the fifth team defender in history to whom this bar has obeyed. In addition to him, Kalle Johansson, Mike Green (both 113 goals each), Sergey Gonchar (144 ) and Kevin Hatcher (149).

In the third period, the teams exchanged exact hits - Blake Lysott and Tom Wilson scored, and the Russian “capital” legionaries left the ice without points. The last time, none of the trios Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov could not distinguish themselves in the game with Vancouver. Then the main time ended with the score 1: 2, and the Canucks took the upper hand in the shootings.

Nevertheless, Ovechkin again managed to attract the attention of television cameras. So, he had problems with a helmet, but the Russian did not begin to seek help from servicemen. He himself picked up a blowtorch and “fixed” an element of equipment.

“Used a soldering iron to remove the sticker from the helmet. She drove me crazy, could not take her off. Carlson’s take? I don’t even know what to say, he is on fire now. You yourself saw what two great goals he scored. He is good, ”Ovechkin quotes The Athletic.

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But, if the Russian field players could not please the guests with performance, then Ilya Samsonov performed quite successfully - the goalkeeper repelled 22 shots.

The victory over Los Angeles helped Washington regain its leading position not only in the Eastern Conference, but also in the league as a whole. So, after 30 matches, the Capitals asset has 47 points, which is two more than their closest pursuer in the person of Boston. True, the wards of Bruce Cassidy have two meetings left.

Successes of Namestnikov and Anisimov

Unlike compatriots from Washington, the Ottawa forwards Vladislav Namestnikov and Artyom Anisimov amicably noted for their accurate shots and took part in the defeat of Edmonton. The sixth league team missed five times, managing to answer only twice. However, she did not help even the presence in the superduet in the person of Connor McDavid and Leon Dreisaitl. At the moment, both have 51 points each. But if the German was at least marked by an assist, the Canadian did not score a single point at all, completing the meeting with a utility indicator of “-2”.

After the first period, the guests conceded with a minimum score, but in just six minutes three times hit the gate of Mikko Koskinen, and the first two goals flew into the “house” of the ex-goalkeeper of SKA. First, the Viceroys assisted Anisimova in the majority draw, only 12 seconds later Connor Brown lit his name on the scoreboard, and in the middle of the segment Tyler Ennis consolidated his advantage.

“Edmonton” was not going to give up and in the end of the first period, Oscar Klefbom realized the majority and reduced the backlog, but “Ottawa” could not be stopped. Anthony Ducler again widened the gap, and Viceroy put an effective point. Thus, Vladislav chalked up a goal and an assist and scored 14 (7 + 7) points in a season.

The effectiveness of Nichushkin

At the end of November, the Colorado forward interrupted the 91-match “dry” series, but did not stop there. From that moment on, Valery Nichushkin regularly pleased the fans of the team with accurate shots, and the next of them came to a meeting with Toronto. In the middle of the third period, the Russian left Frederick Andersen out of work and helped the team win a fourth victory in a row.

It is noteworthy that Nichushkin distinguished himself in the minority, and Jason Specstsa became the main culprit of the episode. His club broke, but instead of getting a new one, he tried with all his might to continue the attack. However, the Canadian only prevented the partner and thereby allowed Nichushkin to break out one on one with Andersen. Russian effectively figured out the Dane and scored the third goal of the season.

As it turned out, Nichushkina’s puck was victorious. His accurate throw helped Colorado to move forward, and the final score in the very ending was set by Yunas Donskoy. Finn hit the empty net and strengthened the advantage of the guests - 1: 3.