Mikhail Kravets: “Avangard” played well and showed character in the match with SKA.”

“Avangard” on Tuesday, February 6, played on home ice with SKA and brightly won 9:5. The meeting was assessed by the head coach of the Hawks, Mikhail Kravets.

According to the coach, an important factor in the victory was, among other things, a large number of shots.

– Of course, we are very pleased with the result. Because after the disappointing defeat to Metallurg, the guys played well and showed character. Before the match, I told them that character is the most important thing. Plus confidence, plus team spirit. And discipline. In principle, the guys took all these 4 points into account. We played aggressively in attack.

A good victory, I think, it was a good show for the fans, not only those from Omsk, even everyone in Russia… And, of course, we are happy. We thank our audience for their support.

– SKA coach Roman Rottenberg is sure that you specifically instructed Kholodilin to “break” Sergei Tolchinsky. And in general, allegedly as a coach and in other teams, this was practiced. How would you comment on this?

– Throughout my entire hockey and coaching career, “ordering a fight” and forcing some player to “fight this one, kill that one” – this never happened in my head. I have never tolerated meanness or done it. I don’t know where Roman Borisovich came from with these inventions. There are many people with whom I worked in SKA and St. Petersburg – they can tell the truth. You need to respect your opponent, despite the fact that you lost to him.

– Mark Verba – he was happy with his goal, but he did not expect that he would be allowed to play in the end. Did they let you out because they had a premonition that they might score?

– No, it was not. On the contrary, I even had concerns that if he was on the bench for a long time, he might get injured. Because he always plays at full strength, gives his all. I talked to him, he assured me that he was ready, everything was fine. Well, when he scored a goal, we were all very happy.

– When SKA played with an empty goal, did you give the hockey players special instructions to shoot at them at the first opportunity, or at such moments all the guys already understand this themselves?

– Certainly. This is not the first game when we play 4 on 6 or 5 on 6 and with an empty goal for the opponent. And in St. Petersburg we had such a moment. So we analyze these episodes, explain how to play, and at these moments those whom Sergei Zvyagin and I have already identified come out, those who play more in the minority. Who is better in defense? So everything was organized and prepared.

– Did you give special mention to Reid Boucher in the locker room after the game for his hat-trick?

– I gave him the puck with all my heart (smiles). Autographed. And, of course, he said “thank you” for the good game and goals.

Previously, we reported how the game was assessed by the author of the double as part of Avangard. Ivan Igumnov.