Mikhail Kravets: “Avangard didn’t convert very good chances in the third period”

Friday, February 24, in Omsk “Avangard” beat Torpedo 4:3 in overtime. The head coach of the “hawks” Mikhail Kravets assessed the meeting and noted that the game was good, but the Omsk players still made some shortcomings.

As the mentor added, what in the end in the regular season the team will take place – second or third – is no longer so important. Therefore, in the game with Ak Bars on February 26, one of the leaders will rest.

– It turned out to be a good, aggressive fast game. We knew that Torpedo plays fast hockey, everything about the game is unpredictable. So they instructed their players accordingly – not to keep the puck for a long time, but to quickly start the attack. Because no kickbacks were expected, but on the contrary, there was pressure all the time. Decisions need to be made quickly. And in principle, we did it well in the first and second periods. Alas, we didn’t convert good chances in the third, although in the first there were such chances that it was possible to lead and not 1:0.

I think that in the third period, we basically didn’t want to close, we wanted to play in our zone, and somewhere the opponent added, and we couldn’t figure out the face-off, taking the puck out of the zone, although the face-offs were won. In fact, because of this, we got two goals. Although at this point very persistently paid attention before the game. But again, this needs work.

But the most important thing was what was on the bench after 3:3. When the guys all stood up together and said, “It’s okay, we’ll win anyway.”

We are glad that we will definitely start the playoff series at home, this is very good. We are preparing for the next game, we will think about what to do there for the benefit of the playoffs.

– Do you have any preferences whether to take second / third place in the East, given that the opponent of the second-placed team is known for sure? And how do you use the match against Ak Bars? Maybe give someone a break?

– It’s a double-edged sword. Second or third place is not so important, it is more important that we were able to climb up from a difficult situation, it is important to play in the playoffs in principle.

Therefore, we need to take care of the players, both strength and health will be needed in the Cup, and many of those we want to save have bruises and minor injuries, so a short break will help them.

– The game today, when we were leading and it became 3:3, and besides, the game with Barys, when we didn’t go into overtime, but in the end it was 4:3 and we defended the advantage not without difficulty – can we consider them a wake-up call before the play? -off? That there are problems to keep the winning score.

– No, there is no anxiety, because with Lokomotiv, for example, we lost 1:3 and had a great third period. And here they were leading 3:1 and decided to finish the game faster, to hold the opponent, they began to lean back, there was no need to do this.

– When Mishurov at the gate in the third period was replaced by Melnichuk and then returned, was it because of some small problems with ammunition?

– Yes, just because of this.

– Mishurov and today somewhere out of the gate, risked. Is it possible that you will not restrict the actions of goalkeepers, allowing them to play somewhere as third defenders?

– I don’t limit anything to goalkeepers at all, Sergei Evgenievich Zvyagin gives them instructions, and everything is strict with him. I think he will have a conversation with him, show important points. And Andrei knows how to listen – so everything will be fine.

Previously, we also provided opinion about the game of the team captain Damir Sharipzyanov on our Zen channel.