“And the goalkeeper dragged, and the majority abandoned”: what they said after the quarterfinal match of the MFM Russia - Switzerland

“I can say that Russia has a very good team”

The match with Switzerland was not easy for the Russian team. In the first period, the teams failed to upset each other, but at the start of the second wards Valery Bragin took the lead. However, the opponent quickly recouped. Fortunately, at the right moment, the domestic team showed the class and scored two more goals. However, according to the coach himself, his wards acted calmly in the “working mode”.

“The importance of the match was felt: either we are fighting for medals, or nothing. It a little fettered the guys. Today, a minority worked great. Most were abandoned, in equal compositions, too. Yes, we have a good majority! Sometimes you need to quit, sometimes give a pass. Alexander Khovanov today gave almost empty, Yegor Zamula threw at the right time. We said before the game that the Swiss are trying to act very actively, while free zones remain under the gates. The first puck came from there. In the episode with the third goal, Dmitry Voronkov also opened great at the far post, ”Bragin summed up the match.

At the same time, the coach traditionally found what to criticize hockey players for, and complained about a large number of deletions.

“The guys are constantly talking to each other on this topic. So somewhere, emotions overwhelm. I did not see the moment with the removal of Podkolzin, now we'll see. I say that all these are emotions and tension. Psychology, young people. But you need to control yourself. Yaroslav Askarov - now the first issue? I think he’ll go further, ”Bragin added.

In turn, the Swiss mentor Thierry Paterlini noted that the Russian team in the reporting match simply turned out to be stronger.

“They have a strong majority, a good goalkeeper, I can say that Russia has a very good team. We knew that we would spend some time in our zone, but the opponent controlled the puck so well that we had problems in order to intercept it and go on the attack ourselves. This happens in a duel with a good opponent. But we had our own moments, in the middle of the match the score was a draw. Alas, we did not have a successful rebound, ”said the specialist.

Paterlini also answered the question of whether Askarov’s incredible save was still a decisive episode in the first period, when the goalkeeper of the Russian national team showed miracles of reaction and dragged Tim Bernie's throw at point blank range.

“I don’t think that Askarov’s save can be called a key point, since everything happened at the beginning of the match, although, of course, it would be great if we scored then. The puck jumped, the player failed to throw. This is hockey. Switzerland did not have enough elite hockey players in the attack? Look at the players who are drafted in the NHL from the Russian national team and our national team. They have several hockey players were selected in the first round, and we have none. We relied more on team spirit, and there were really not enough elite masters, ”the coach concluded.

"Askarov dragged at the right time"

The main character of the match was Dmitry Voronkov. The tournament did not start very well for him. In the first three games of the MFM, he failed to hit the opponents' goal. And only in a previous meeting with Germany, the forward was finally able to excel. And in a duel with Switzerland, Voronkov did a double at all.

“We analyzed the opponent, we knew that the Swiss would play passively, in kickback. There were no special problems. As for the goals, the partners did everything for me. In the episode with the first goal, all that was left was to get into the empty net. The same goes for the second. In general, they thought only of victory. It was necessary to gain the upper hand. Now we will disassemble our game. Trainers will tell you how to proceed. Am I the best in terms of utility? Perhaps the rivals just don’t want to score when I’m on the ice, ”Voronkov shared his impressions of the match.

In turn, captain Grigory Denisenko also scored two points for performance, giving two assists. Now he with six points shares the first place in the list of the team’s top scorers with Voronkov, Nikita Alexandrov, Kirill Marchenko and Khovanov.

“I do not want to evaluate my game. All the guys are great. All with a victory. Askarov is a young man. Of course, it was a tough match, and again we often left. With this you need to finish. How was the assist on Khovanov? It just happened that way. Of course, it was unusual to go out on ice at such an early time. In the morning we got up, slept little. They didn’t prepare according to the usual schedule, but everything went fine. In the semifinals, too, must win. Just win and go to the finals. And there is no difference at all with whom to play. Ahead of the semifinals. All rivals are strong, ”said the captain.

Also, as already mentioned, in the match with Switzerland, Askarov clearly showed himself, who reflected 14 shots on his goal and was marked by the same super save. He himself praised him as calmly and modestly as possible.

“We need to see the replay. Perhaps I played the wrong part in that episode. After all, usually, if some kind of supersave is committed, then before that you did something wrong. It turns out that I played incorrectly, and then it was necessary in any way to prevent the puck from crossing the “ribbon”. Modestly evaluate my salvation? I repeat, I have not seen a repeat yet, ”said Askarov.

He also said that he had learned that he would take a place in the goal in the game with Switzerland the day before the meeting, in training.

“I better know this in advance - one day, two before the match. Then I can calmly prepare. When I study an opponent, I pay attention to the game in the majority, in positional attacks. I’m interested in everything that the opponent does in the attack. For example, the Swiss are constantly breaking into counterattacks - I also need to know all this, ”Askarov added.

But the striker Vasily Podkolzin was noted more likely with a minus sign. He did not score points for performance, but at the beginning of the final period he rudely dismissed the opponent. Fortunately, the striker received only two minutes for this. After the game, he examined in detail the controversial episode.

“I didn’t beat in the groin, there was nothing like that. Just wanted to hold a person. A mess started, he rode second to the gate, I held him. I didn’t beat him in the groin, and, thank God, they saw it. Yes, I grabbed it, this is a deletion, and this is understandable. But there was no dirt, ”said Podkolzin.

Summing up the match itself, Vasily admitted that it turned out to be very difficult, and also rejoiced at the two goals that the Russians scored in the majority.

“Last year we knew that the Swiss play very tenaciously. They act well in defense, regularly run away in counterattacks. Thank God, today the goalkeeper was dragging us, and most of the goals were abandoned, and therefore they won. Good majority? Yes, finally, everything turned out great in this regard. The first special team worked perfectly. They started throwing - hence the moments. Who would you like to meet in the semifinals? So far we haven’t even thought of it, ”Podkolzin admitted.

Finally, Yegor Zamula, one of the leading defenders of the Russian national team, spoke about the meeting.

“There are no easy matches in the playoffs. Askarov is a young man. Dragged at the right time. The team gained confidence. When the goalkeeper and the other five people play on the ice, then everything turns out. How did you come to realize the majority? The coaching staff told what exactly needs to be done. They changed their game a little, they just started throwing more. Most importantly, most began to work when the matches went on relegation. In the minority, the guys also managed, well done, ”the hockey player rejoiced.

Zamula also explained why the players of the Russian team during the entire tournament are so often removed.

“There really are a lot of deletions, but we are trying to improve. Again, all the young boys are hot. There are errors due to which there are deletions. But we made our way further. God grant that there will be fewer violations in the next game, ”the defender added.