‘Valera is a real horse’: Nichushkin brings Colorado closer to Stanley Cup

Colorado Avalanche 7-0 Tampa Bay Lightning

A review of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals can easily be summed up in three short paragraphs – the score on the scoreboard accurately reflects what happened on the ice of the Ball Arena in Denver last night. On 16:30 shots, a complete mismatch and common mistakes in the defense – “Tampa” completely and completely failed.

Already at the 61st second of the game, the guests caught the completely optional removal of Ryan McDonagh, implemented by Valery Nichushkin.

In the first twenty minutes, Andre Burakowski and Josh Manson scored a puck, in the second period Darren Helm and Valery Nichushkin scored a double, and in the last game segment Cale Makar scored a double and the first puck was scored in the second half. minority.

A little over four minutes into the end of the third period, the hockey players began solving problems on the ice, resulting in eight players simultaneously receiving double minor fines. Posted by Artturi Lehkonen, Valery Nichushkin, Jack Johnson and Darren Helm Colorado. Submitted by Tampa Bay, Steven Stamkos, Anthony Cirelli, Eric Cernak and Alex Killorn.

The rest of the time, the teams failed to please the audience with abandoned goals, recording Avalanche’s final victory on the scoreboard – 7:0.

The first star of the match was recognized as the Russian striker “Colorado” Valery Nichushkin – he scored two goals. In the current playoff season of the Stanley Cup, the 27-year-old student of the Chelyabinsk hockey school has played 16 games, in which he recorded eight goals and five assists.

Avalanche goalkeeper Darcy Kemper was the second star, while defender Kyle Makar, who scored twice, was named the third star.

Nichushkin’s amazing performance in the playoffs pleasantly surprises not only Avalanche fans, but also his teammates. Here’s what striker Andrew Colliano had to say after the game:

“I think Val is our best player most of the time.

Honestly, he’s a real horse. I honestly can’t describe the actress Val played. He is extraordinary. He’s just a guy running the game the whole game. It is brutal in the foreground. He scores goals, but that’s only a small part of what he’s done on the field.

I think scoring points has become commonplace for him thanks to smart play, but since coming to the team, I haven’t seen anyone like Val who consistently plays at the same level – offensive and defensive all over the field,” he quotes. The words of Cogliano, the NHL’s press service.

Colorado head coach Jared Bednar described his team’s performance as outstanding.

“I think this is an exceptional event. Our guys played very well from the first goals. We played well on defense, we created a danger on offense. We were stubborn in finishing attacks, we were constantly pressing. Every player gave himself completely to the game.

This was by far the closest game to perfection one can expect from hockey players,” the Avalanche mentor reports on the league’s official website.

Naturally, the Russians from Tampa didn’t develop to their best last night – Andrey Vasilevsky, who missed seven goals during the game, set an anti-record for all 100 games played in the NHL playoffs – the current situation is that Conn Smythe Trophy owner “never misses”.

Yıldırım head coach John Cooper supported Vasilevsky at the press conference after the match and stated that he did not blame himself in the episodes that ended with a goal.

“I didn’t think about replacing him. He is the best goalkeeper in the world. We win together and we lose together. Even if I did, I don’t think he would leave the ice and that’s why he’s the best,” said Cooper.

In many ways, striker Nikita Kucherov also played his worst game in a long time – for the first time in the current play-off tie, 86. Lightning point 86 finished the game without a shot at the opponent’s goal. In total, in the second game of the final series, Kucherov played 18 minutes 38 seconds, during which time he earned a utility indicator “-2”.

However, nothing is lost for reigning champions. In the Eastern Conference Finals, too, Lightning fell 0-2 in the series to the New York Rangers after two games, and then scored four convincing victories in a row.

The next game will be played on the night of June 21 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa. Kick-off is scheduled for 03:00 Moscow time.