Three points of Svechnikov

After the match with St. Louis, Carolina forward Andrey Svechnikov glowed with happiness.

Such emotions of the Russian striker are quite understandable: in this game, he finally broke a goalless streak that had lasted since the end of last year.

The last time Andrey hit the opponent's goal was on December 31st.

And it cannot be said that the hockey player’s game did not go well in the following weeks.

Rather, on the contrary: he regularly replenished his scorer's score thanks to assists and even scored an assistant hat-trick in a recent match with Montreal.

But the lack of goals has already led to all kinds of jokes on the Internet, as well as discussions in the press.

Among other things, the Russian was reminded that his eight-year contract was worth $7.75 million.

But in the game with St. Louis, Svechnikov gave a worthy answer to critics.

Less than a minute and a half after the kick-off whistle, the Hurricanes' No. 37 sent the puck into Jordan Binnington's net.

Andrei picked up the puck in his zone, dragged it along the starboard side and, moving closer to the center, threw it under the crossbar.

And after only six minutes, the striker was already celebrating a double.

The Blues keeper parried the first shot, but the Russian picked up the rebounded puck and carefully sent it into the net past the goalkeeper.

Thus, Svechnikov became the fourth player in the history of the club who managed to score 20 goals in four NHL seasons before reaching the age of 23.

Andrei could add one more goal to his piggy bank, but an attempt to perform a spectacular lacrosse throw in the third period was unsuccessful.

But in another episode, he scored a productive pass to Sebastian Aho, recording his 49th (21 + 28) point in 56 matches.

The efforts of the Russian did not go unnoticed, and he was recognized as the first star of the meeting.

“I haven’t had a head for some time.

You shoot, it gives confidence and you try to create even more chances.

That's exactly what I did.

I didn't worry.

I know what kind of player I am.

The puck just didn't fly.

I am very glad that everything worked out, ”the hockey player shared after the game.

Carolina head coach Rod Brindamore also emphasized that he was not worried about the long absence of goals from Svechnikov, since he remained at an extremely high level in other components of the game.

“He's really good this year.

Even if he didn't have goals in the last few matches, he played effectively every time, helping to make our team better.

In fact, this is the most important thing, ”the official website of the NHL quotes the specialist as saying.

Kuzmenko scoring streak

Andrey Kuzmenko continues to prove his worth to new Vancouver coach Rick Tocquet.

With the arrival of the Canadian specialist to the team, the Russian experienced a difficult period, began to receive less playing time, and also found himself in an unusual link for himself.

As a result, Andrei scored only one point in six matches.

But then the coach probably noticed his own oversight and returned him to the top three with Elias Petterson - and things went smoothly for Kuzmenko.

In a meeting with Nashville (4:5 B), the 27-year-old Russian saved the team from defeat in regular time by equalizing the score 14 seconds before the final.

It was a goal that he fully created himself.

First, he won the fight at the boards, then dragged the puck forward and, having wound up two opponents along the way, gave a pass to J.T. Miller.

Then, having opened on a penny, he received a reverse pass and left Juuse Saros out of work.

Even earlier, in the middle of the second period, it was Kuzmenko who shook the team and brought it back to life, soaking the score after 0:2.

At that moment, the Russian received a pass from the depths from Ethan Beer, ran to a one-on-one meeting with the goalkeeper and dealt with him in cold blood.

Unfortunately, Andrey failed to repeat this trick in a series of post-match shootouts.

He did not convert his attempt, as did Petterson and Miler, and Matt Duchain became the author of Nashville's winning goal.

Nevertheless, the Russian has not left the ice without points for the fourth game in a row: he has four goals and two assists.

Many experts after this match noted the incredible psychological stamina of the Russian striker, who did not fall apart under the pressure of an unsuccessful segment.

“What we learned about Kuzmenko is that he reacts to criticism correctly.

Tocquet is trying to figure out who to win against and will be demanding.

And about Kuzmenko, he found out that he is aimed at working, and not pouting and crying, ”wrote Brandon Kabluk, author of the sports podcast.

In addition, Kuzmenko, having scored 25 goals in 56 NHL games, took fourth place in the history of Vancouver in terms of the speed at which this mark was reached.

Brock Bözer and Petterson coped with this task faster than him, who needed only 44 games, as well as Pavel Bure (55).

"Washington" can not cope without Ovechkin

“Washington” suffered the fifth defeat in a row, this time having failed to cope with “Detroit” on its site (1:3).

In this game, the capitals were absolutely helpless: they made ridiculous mistakes in defense, they could not convert the majority, moreover, they conceded with a numerical advantage.

It's no exaggeration to say that the Capitals can't do anything without their captain, Alexander Ovechkin.

Without him, the team spent four of the five lost meetings.

The Russian left the team on February 14 due to his father's illness.

Mikhail Ovechkin died the next day.

The funeral took place on Saturday, February 18.

Naturally, all this time the forward was with his family in Moscow.

During this time, the team, confused without its leader, flew out of the playoff zone and now occupies only 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

According to media reports, the Great Eight are already in Washington and will be able to take to the ice either in the next game with Anaheim or in the next game with the Rangers.

But, probably, after returning, Alexander will need support, because he is going through a very difficult period.

It's time for the Capitals to pull themselves together and show that he can really play for Ovechkin, as head coach Peter Laviolette previously said.