Michkov's debut, seven deletions and lack of experience: how the Russian national hockey team lost to Finland in the Karjala Cup

The first match of the Russian national hockey team in the Karjala Cup, of course, attracted the attention of the fans, although the team went to the tournament as a youth squad.

In the game with Finland, the debut of 16-year-old Matvey Michkov was expected.

The SKA forward was supposed to become the youngest player in the history of the national team and beat the achievement of Alexander Ovechkin.

The captain of "Washington" on the eve congratulated the young man and wished him luck in the tournament.

“Hello, Matvey!

Ovi's in touch.

I want to congratulate you on your call to the national team.

Well done, broke my record.

I want to wish you success, all the best.

Work, you will succeed, ”the striker said in a video message.

As Oleg Bratash noted, Michkov is not inferior to other young hockey players in terms of play, and in terms of physical development he reminds him of the same young Ovechkin.

“The SKA forward has very good motor skills, he looks like Ovechkin at this age.

Matvey is physically strong beyond his years, which gives him power and speed on the ice, ”said the acting head coach of the Russian national team.

On Thursday, Matvey appeared in the fourth link - the record was held, but the striker failed to prove himself.

Still, Finland turned out to be the rivals, which approached the home stage of the Eurotour with the most serious squad compared to its rivals: nine hockey players took part in the victorious 2019 World Championship, while five are now playing in Jokerit, the leader in the Western Conference standings. KHL.

The wards of Jukka Yalonen, as expected, seized the initiative from the very beginning of the meeting, so the talents of the goalkeeper of the Russian national team, not the attackers, came to the fore. In this match the coaching staff decided to test the potential of Severstal Cherepovets goalkeeper Dmitry Shugaev. In the current KHL season, the 23-year-old athlete played 16 matches, showing a fairly good percentage of reflected shots - 92.7%. The Russian started well and the meeting with the Finns, who could have distinguished themselves already in the second minute after the removal of Artyom Galimov. Three shots were made by Niko Oyamyaki at once, but Shugaev survived.

In equal compositions, Bratash's team coped with the onslaught of Miro Aaltonen and company and even tried to snap back, taking advantage of the active actions of Dmitry Rashevsky and Nikita Tertyshny, although the attacks looked very timid.

However, the key actions were taken by Russians in the minority.

The youth, in fact, could not oppose anything to an experienced opponent.

First, in the 28th minute after Alexander Nikishin was sent off, Harry Pesonen, who was familiar to domestic fans from his performances for Ak Bars and Metallurg, scored.

He put an end to a beautiful combination: Sami Vatanen made a transfer to the right edge, Aaltonen delivered the puck to the “patch”, and Pesonen threw it into the net.

Less than three minutes later, the Russian national team again missed the number of hockey players on the ice. Bratash's wards earned two penalties at once in one attack: Daniil Vovchenko detained the opponent with a stick, and Ivan Telegin had a dangerous game. Suomi immediately took advantage of the gift: this time Aaltonen scored.

After two goals conceded, the Russians' game came to an end. The hockey players were able to organize only a few counterattacks, in one of which the moment arose at Tertyshny, but the leader of "Traktor" did not hit the far corner of the goal. And in the 45th minute, Ivan Zinchenko earned a removal before the end of the match. The striker hit Vatanen in the head, leaving the partners in the minority for five minutes at once. The hosts played the puck for a long time and eventually brought the matter to an effective shot. The goal turned out to be very similar to the first one: again there was a cross to the right edge, a dime was thrown, and this time Valtteri Filppula neatly put his club in, passing the projectile into the net.

In the remaining time, Finland completely controlled the course of the match and brought the matter to a confident victory.

Final 0: 3 and depressing statistics for the Russian national team.

Bratash's wards were able to make only 13 shots against 33 of the opponent and earned seven deletions that determined the outcome of the confrontation.

Despite the defeat of the acting.

the head coach positively assessed the performance of the charges.

“Of course, there are complaints about actions on the ice, and about removals, we will investigate.

Taking into account the level of the opponent, I positively assess the quality of the Russian national team's play, especially in equal compositions.

Did you think Yaroslav Askarov would appear at the goal?

We decided that at the moment Shugaev is in the best shape ", - quotes the words of the expert" Championship ". 

Also, Bratash was pleased with the actions of the youngest hockey player of the team - Michkov. 

“I hope we didn't break the guy.

Matvey showed his skills, even threw on goal.

It remains to correct not quite mature actions without a puck.

Played a little?

It is normal for the fourth line, we give them less time, because the youngest, inexperienced go out on the ice, ”the coach added.

On Saturday, the Russian national team will meet with the Swedish team, which on Thursday confidently defeated the Czechs with a score of 4: 1.