Mikhail Kravets: “Avangard” fought and fought for 90 minutes”

On Saturday, March 16, at Avangard on home ice lost first match of the 1/4 finals of the Gagarin Cup against Lokomotiv 1:2 in the second overtime. The head coach of the Hawks, Mikhail Kravets, assessed the meeting.

The mentor also complained about the removal of his players.

– A very disappointing and unpleasant defeat, because the team fought for 90 minutes, fought well, resisted. Moreover, out of the blue we missed such an annoying goal in overtime… This is doubly offensive.

The first period was ours, in the second period unjustified removals slowed down our pace, and those who usually play in our minority got tired.

Plus, one of our players, who should play in the minority, was already sitting on the penalty bench. Telegin was injured. So there are different nuances.

But in the third period and overtime there were chances to score, there were power plays where it was necessary to score. Alas, this is how it all turned out. Don’t give up – this is only the first match.

– How did the fact that Prokhorkin, rather than Spooner, was in the center of the first line today affect the team’s play as a whole?

– Well, he played, and not bad, and the guys had chances with him, and they worked quite well defensively. Of course, when the main center forward of this line is not there, it is difficult to play from the sheet. But this is how hockey is, our specific situation.

We don’t know yet what will happen in the next match, we’ll see how Spooner feels.

– Will you file a protest against the referee’s decision when Boucher was thrown onto the ice near the boards, but he himself was sent off?

– I don’t know how to comment. But in general, for me it’s surprising, after the whistle… I don’t understand this removal.

Previously, we gave an assessment of the game given by the Hawks forward Ivan Nikolishin.