Mikhail Kravets: “Avangard” did not allow “Amur” to create essentially anything in attack in two periods.”

On December 4, Avangard hockey players achieved strong-willed victory 2:1 in the match with Amur on home ice. The meeting was appreciated by the head coach of our team, Mikhail Kravets.

As the coach noted, the “hawks” attacked best in the third period – as they would have liked throughout the game.

– The game was essentially equal throughout all three periods. I would like to play in attack the entire match the way we started in the third period. And in defense – the same way we played in the first and second. In essence, they did not allow the opponent to create anything other than what was in the period of deletions.

And in the third period, despite the fact that we scored two goals, we missed three dangerous counterattacks. Very spicy. Here Ilya Proskuryakov saved and clearly kept the team in the game. He provided 80% success today.

But the most important thing is that we won, such matches happen. Now we are getting closer to the break, we need to gather our strength, use it in the match and then prepare further. So that at the same time there is a reserve of points and a good mood.

– Is the fact that Avangard, for the second match in a row, is running more forward in attack after the middle of the game, is more likely a consequence of fatigue or…?

– Fatigue – unlikely. We had a day off, then training. Still recovered. All teams are in the same conditions. It’s more about the mood for the game – sometimes it seems to us that we can beat someone based on sheer skill. But yes, we have masters who play very hard, and yet without movement, without speed, without good work, results cannot be achieved.

– Today Igor Geraskin played together with Telegin and Nikolishin in the same line from the start. Yes, the guys didn’t score, but how well did they do?

– Like the whole team – mostly good. It was in attack that they were better in the third period. In general, Vanya Nikolishin also played in the minority, and Telegin also worked well in the minority.

– Vladimir Tkachev now has such an interesting race with Nikolai Goldobin in the ranking of the best scorers in the KHL. And at the end of this match, our player was ahead of him. Do you think this kind of intrigue – who will ultimately become the best – only helps him? Or, on the contrary, distracts and irritates?

– It all usually depends on the player himself. I think this, in principle, should not interfere or distract. Because every player wants to achieve something more, to be the best in the KHL in some way. This is honorable and respected. So to succeed in this category of the best scorer, player, is important for a striker. That’s basically why we play.

– Do you follow this yourself?

– Very closely – no, we have people at headquarters who carefully notice this. But, of course, they tell me this, and I’m pleased too.

We previously wrote about how the forward assessed the game against Neftekhimik Ryan Spooner.