Russian forward in the NHL Svechnikov hit the goal for the first time after a serious injury

Andrei Svechnikov, one of the most exciting Russian forwards in the NHL, who recently returned to the ice after a serious injury, finally opened the scoring for the season. Thanks to Svechnikov, his Carolina Hurricanes club was able to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets at home – 3:2.

The traditional choice of the main star of the match between Carolina and Columbus was extremely easy for the experts who worked on it. Well, of course, Andrei Svechnikov. All the interesting events in this meeting unfolded in the final period. At first, Columbus led – 2:0. But in the second half of the twenty minutes, Carolina made a breakthrough, scoring three times in a row, and Svechnikov made the greatest contribution to it. He took part in the combination, after which Brady Shea recovered the balance, and then added a goal to the assist with a cool shot after a pass from Sebastian Aho. And it was impossible not to pay attention to Svechnikov’s general activity. In this sense, he surpassed all partners.

In fact, this goal by Andrei Svechnikov and his entire magnificent performance in general had a special value. The Russian forward impressed with his determination, arrogance, good skating and sniper abilities even when he made his debut in the league in 2018, as an 18-year-old youth. He immediately became one of Carolina’s leading players. And in his second season, he no longer amazed, but literally shook the NHL, scoring against the Calgary Flames using a “lacrosse” trick, when the puck is lifted onto the hook of a stick and literally carried into the goal, which no one in the league has yet performed.

At the same time, Andrei Svechnikov did not turn into a trickster whose effectiveness depends on his mood. And he turned into an elite power forward with excellent statistics.

Last year, analysts also saw him as a reason to put the tight, disciplined Carolina on the short list of Stanley Cup hunters. It didn’t work out with the hunt – in the semifinals of the play-offs, Carolina unexpectedly lost to the Florida Panthers in four matches.

But in cup matches, Carolina was already forced to do without Svechnikov. The March news that the forward’s knee injury was a cruciate ligament injury was a terrible blow for her. These guys sometimes ruin the careers of hockey players.

Andrei Svechnikov was out of action for six months, missing eight more matches during the current regular season due to the need to undergo rehabilitation. And he returned to the ice not the same Svechnikov. In 11 consecutive meetings, the always sharp, always chance-seeking striker had previously failed to hit the goal. And Carolina coach Rod Brindamour didn’t seem to know how to perceive his status now, sometimes sending the Russian to the lower echelons.

But in a critical situation in the game against Columbus, he transferred Svechnikov to the strike line – to the team’s best center, Sebastian Aho. And ESPN noted that this decision was key, because Svechnikov immediately blossomed and already looked exactly like the Svechnikov whose participation in the NHL All-Star Game last year looked like a given.

And Andrei Svechnikov himself admitted that, having scored, and even at such a crucial moment, he experienced great relief. It’s clear what he meant. Such unpleasant series as he had enslaved the players. And their collapse is sometimes like the collapse of a dam after a small crack – a series of matches without goals is followed by an explosion of goals.

Alexey Dospehov