Lack of discipline and illogicality in the attack: Michkov's double did not save Russia in the match with Sweden at the MFM hockey

In 2021, the Russian national team at the World Youth Championship was waiting for an extremely difficult start - a match with its principal rival Sweden.

Although the Scandinavians have not won the tournament since 2012, and last year they took only fifth place, they have always remained contenders for gold.

And the meetings of the national team with them, as a rule, turned out to be especially bright.

For example, the last two confrontations ended with the victory of the "Red Machine" in overtime.

Especially memorable was the MFM semi-final in the Czech Republic, when Valery Bragin's wards were inferior during the third period, but managed to make a comeback - 5: 4.

And in 2012, Tre Krunur defeated the Russians with a minimum score in the decisive game.

True, the team of Sergei Zubov approached the reporting meeting not in the best mood, since a couple of days before the start of the planetary championship it was defeated in a friendly match from Canada - 4: 6. Moreover, in the first twenty minutes, the national team missed four unanswered goals. However, Matvey Michkov's double and goals from Nikita Chibrikov and Alexander Pashin helped to avoid defeat.

The coaching staff made certain conclusions from the failure.

The first link on Sunday included Shakir Mukhamadullin, Nikita Smirnov, Semyon Demidov, Marat Khusnutdinov and Michkov, the second - Kirill Kirsanov, Nikita Novikov, Fyodor Svechkov, Kirill Tankov and Chibrikov, the third - Vladimir Grudinin, Kirill, Niklov, Pavel Tyutnev Guslistov and Pashin, and fourthly - Ivan Zinchenko, Yegor Savikov, Dmitry Zlodeev, Danila Yurov and Vasily Ponomarev.

And the place at the last frontier, despite the failure with the Maple Leaves, was taken by the experienced Yaroslav Askarov.

The beginning of the meeting was entirely up to the Russians.

The first shifts, the domestic team literally did not release the opponent from his half, suppressing with powerful pressure and crazy energy.

This segment was remembered for Tankov's dangerous throw just above the crossbar.

However, the Swedes gradually calmed the course of the match.

They tried to throw the puck into someone else's zone and imposed a fight there.

One of these attempts ended in violation of the rules by Novikov.

Trying to get ahead of his opponent, he hooked him with his club by the legs and dropped him on the ice.

The judge, without hesitation, issued a two-minute fine.

Unfortunately, it took the Scandinavians only ten seconds to realize the majority.

They won the throw-in and delivered the round to Oscar Olausson in the right circle.

The forward struck a magnificent shot in the near nine, and Askarov was prevented from reacting by another rival who “created traffic” on a nickle.

Having missed, the Russians were confused and could not come to their senses for a long time.

They tried to go forward along the sides, but in these zones they encountered active resistance.

All hopes were pinned on the leading attacking link Demidov - Khusnutdinov - Michkov, but Matvey was closely watched by the defenders, who did not hesitate to play tough with him on occasion.

But the Swedes very easily created chances and passed the defense of the domestic team.

She regularly made mistakes under pressure and presented washers to Tre Krunur.

If not for Askarov, the outcome of the confrontation could have been decided even before the break.

At first, he did not allow William Eklund to realize a one-on-one exit, and then parried Helge Grans' shot with his shoulder.

Only at the end of the period did the Russians seize the initiative and forced the Swedes to act as number two.

For example, I remember the team's quick three-move, which ended with Pashin's most dangerous throw and Jesper Wallstedt's save.

The pause was good for Zubov's charges, and at the start of the second twenty minutes they again suppressed the Swedes with their activity.

Regularly managed to penetrate into someone else's zone, and most importantly - to bring attacks to throws.

Wallstedt had to play much more often than before the break.

At the same time, the Russian attackers did not allow him to calmly fix the puck and constantly created a fuss on a nickle.

However, the projectile stubbornly did not go into the net.

It seemed that this should happen after the long-awaited removal of Yoel Nyström.

For the first time in the match, having remained in the majority, the domestic team was preparing to level the score.

Instead, the Swedes solidified their own advantage.

Simon Edvinsson fled to a rendezvous with Askarov, taking advantage of the opponents' mistakes in the interception.

The defender tried to send the puck under the shields to Yaroslav, but he managed to bring them together and, in addition, closed the space with a stick.

However, the shell still leaked into the net, recalling the old problem of the goalkeeper.

Having conceded, the Russians continued to attack, but they were not lucky.

Michkov looked great.

Finally, other links began to benefit.

The number of shots on goal by Walstedt was growing literally before our eyes, but it was impossible to score.

But the Scandinavians once again realized their moment.

However, domestic hockey players themselves helped them to excel.

First, Tyutnev committed a violation of the rules on someone else's face, and then Khusnutdinov, having played inaccurately in the selection, made a bandwagon.

For 43 seconds, the Russians were three.

Tre Krunur simply had no right to miss such a chance.

Emil André was noted for a throw from the hands, and Askarov, who did not see the moment himself, missed the puck under his armpit.

The position of the "Red Machine" has become very difficult.

Fortunately, we managed to quickly close the gap.

Chibrikov fought for a rebound from the side on someone else's penny at the cost of a frightening blow to the face, and Svechkov, with a ricochet from the defender's skate, sent a shell into the net.

So, the team had hope of salvation.

Before the final period, Zubov, as in the match with Canada, decided to replace the goalkeeper. The place of Askarov, who missed three goals, was taken by Yegor Guskov at the last stage. Unfortunately, he did not keep his possessions intact for long. And again, the Russians were let down by their lack of restraint. Leo Löf sent Grudinin aboard with a tough forceful technique with the risk of injury to his opponent. Yurov stood up for his partner, almost throwing the Swede off the site. As a result, the defender who provoked the brawl received two minutes, and his counterpart - 2 + 2.

At this moment, the Russians had to act extremely carefully so as not to be left three of them, but not even 20 seconds had passed before the Villains made the trip.

And Thomas Monten's wards got a double majority for almost two minutes.

Domestic hockey players were close to fighting back, but still allowed.

Guskov could not do anything about the throw of Alexander Holz.

It seemed that this meeting could end.

The Swedes had an advantage of three goals, and no one doubted their victory.

But luck turned out to be on the side of Zubov's team.

In less than a minute Michkov scored two curious goals that did not follow from the logic of the confrontation.

First, the 17-year-old striker, having beautifully beaten the defender, tried to send a shell into the net.

Vallstedt parried the shot, and only then the puck with a rebound from Matvey crossed the line.

True, the Russian himself managed to knock down the gate.

No one doubted that the Swede would receive two minutes for breaking the rules, and the meeting would continue.

But the panel of judges went to watch the replay and pointed to the center.

It is unlikely that one of the most talented young hockey players in the country expected that his debut goal at the MFM would turn out like this.

The second turned out to be even funnier.

The attacker made a cross from a negative angle, and the projectile from the goalkeeper's helmet flew into the net.

So, Michkov became the author of the double, and the domestic team revived the intrigue.

The national team had almost 15 minutes to level the score, and there were enough chances.

An indicative moment, Zubov's charges threw the opponent - 30:24.

But they failed to force Wallstedt to capitulate at least once.

Finally, everything became clear after Theodor Niederbach, with an uncomplicated click in the near corner, set an unsolvable task for Guskov.

The Russians, of course, fought to the end, and two minutes before the final siren the goalkeeper was removed.

It did not help.

The point in the confrontation was set by Daniel Jungman, who struck an empty target - 3: 6.

The Red Machine started the MFM with a defeat.

The game performed by Zubov's charges left serious questions.