Askarov's bright debut
One of the main events of the game day in the NHL was the debut of Russian goalkeeper Yaroslav Askarov for Nashville.
A native of Omsk was drafted back in 2020, and then he left the talent fair at number 11, setting a new achievement for domestic goalkeepers.
However, such high advances were not realized.
This season, Askarov played for Milwaukee in the AHL and ranked fourth in the league in terms of the number of wins (13), in addition, he chalked up two shutouts - the most among newcomers.
Thanks to this, the Russian was called up to the AHL All-Star Game - 2023. The chance to prove himself in the main team of the club presented itself to Yaroslav due to the illness of the main keeper of the Predators, Kevin Lankinen.
The 20-year-old hockey player took to the ice from the first minutes of the match with Montreal and immediately rewrote the club record as the youngest goalkeeper.
During the first period, Askarov made 14 saves, some of which turned out to be quite spectacular, and only by the end of the segment a red lantern was lit behind his gates.
But soon the debutant made a serious mistake, which led to a goal.
He went out of the gate to the side and made an extremely unsuccessful pass, which was easily intercepted by the opponent, who organized a productive attack.
But despite this oversight, Askarov's game as a whole left a very pleasant impression.
He chalked up a total of 31 parried shots and showed confidence and dedication.
“He was given a test – and I thought we needed to help him more – but it was a good start for him.
Yaroslav made several important saves, he was tested many times for strength, so I highly appreciate his contribution, ”Nashville coach John Hines said after the meeting.
Also, one of the leaders of the team, Nino Niederreiter, was also impressed by the game of the Russian.
“I think he was great, felt very comfortable in the net and played a lot with the puck.
He will definitely become an elite goalkeeper, this is understandable, ”the official website of the team quotes the Swiss hockey player.
Askarov called his own emotions after the debut game in the NHL unrealistic.
"It's amazing!
Yes, we lost, but I think I will remember this game forever, ”the Russian emphasized.
New achievements of Kucherov and Sergachev's reaction
The confrontation between Tampa and Vancouver turned out to be rich in events, in which nine goals were scored at once.
And the Russian Lightning players Nikita Kucherov and Andrey Vasilevsky came to the fore.
On account of the 29-year-old striker a goal and an assist.
He is already scoring points for the fourth meeting in a row, and he already has 61 of them this season. Only two players in the league have been able to score more - Edmonton forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have 79 and 63 points, respectively.
The goalkeeper saved 36 out of 40 shots on his own goal, but was remembered primarily for his fateful save a second before the siren.
"Tampa", which controlled the course of the meeting, managed to miss two goals in the end, and could play out to overtime, if not for Vasilevsky.
The Russian pulled a throw at close range from Curtis Lazar.
“Damn important save, it was definitely a game saver in every sense of the word.
We didn't play well, conceding those two goals.
These things need to be corrected.
We did a good job building a three-goal lead, but then we sat back too much on the defensive side,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said after the game.
Mikhail Sergachev also scored an assist.
The match with Vancouver was his jubilee, 400th in the NHL, and the point scored was the 30th of the season.
The Russian distinguished himself in one more episode: he could not restrain his emotions when, in the last minute of the meeting, Canadian striker Conor Garland hit Vasilevsky's trap with a stick, who had already fixed the puck.
Sergachev, without thinking twice, pushed the offender, he fell, after which a skirmish occurred between the players, during which the Russian knocked the American down again with a blow to the face.
It is noteworthy that the referee, who perfectly saw what happened, did not even begin to punish Mikhail with a two-minute fine for being rude.
The new star of Kaprizov and Panarin's chic pass
Kirill Kaprizov was recognized as the first star of the match "Islanders" - "Minnesota".
On account of the Russian striker a goal and a pass.
The second star was Wild forward Frederic Gaudreau, and the third was another Russian, the Islanders goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin, who repelled 33 shots on his own goal.
For Minnesota, this meeting was not easy at all: the team was losing 0:1 until the middle of the third period, but then used all the chances and sent three goals into the opponent's goal.
And Kaprizov played a major role in the productive ending.
First, Kirill made an interception in a foreign zone and organized a spectacular three-move, thanks to which he scored the 50th point of the season, and then he distinguished himself by throwing into an empty net.
For the Russian, this is already the fifth goal in the last five matches, and he has only one accurate throw to the symbolic mark of 100 goals for his career in the NHL.
In another match of the day, also held in New York, Artemy Panarin and Igor Shesterkin clearly showed themselves.
The Rangers took Dallas on their ice and were incredibly close to failure - until the last second of the regular time of the match, Gerard Gallan's team was inferior 0: 1, but literally with a siren managed to transfer the meeting into overtime.
And that's where the Russian striker revealed in all its glory.
First, after the transfer of Mika Zibanejad, he ran one on one with the goalkeeper of the Stars, and although he could not outplay him, he did not turn off the game.
Artemy picked up the puck in the crowd, managed to keep it, despite the pressure of the defender, and perfectly passed to Adam Fox who came to the rescue.
He did not miss and brought victory to the New Yorkers.
Shesterkin also repelled 24 shots on goal and was recognized as the second star of the meeting.