Andrey SenchenkoSport correspondentAll materialsEmail to the authorMatches between the Edmonton Oilers and the Carolina Hurricanes are always high-scoring, so today's scoring shootout at the famous Rogers Place arena would hardly surprise anyone. But there is one nuance … «It's hard to lose in such a match. My teammates played well, they did a great job for me. My task is to be a sniper. That's what I was doing today,» said Russian Hurricanes forward Andrey Svechnikov after the match .His club had just lost to Edmonton (4:6), but Svechnikov himself, in the post-match flash interview, spoke very modestly towards himself, too respectfully towards his comrades. In fact, «Caroline» was not like herself. It's a common thing for Rod Brindamore when his team goes to the starting throw-in sleepy, perhaps even misses the first one, but then gathers his thoughts and strength and gets the necessary result. So it was in the course of this season, when the “hurricanes” were without loss. But in Edmonton, instead of a hurricane, there was a calm: the players of the “Carolina” both started the match dimly and faded, and so they spent all three periods. The only exception from the whole team was Andrey Svechnikov — the Russian scored a hat-trick.
- «I felt like I was watching the Oilers-Hurricanes game. It looked more like the Oilers vs. Svechnikov,» fan @SouthernHkyChik eloquently tweeted.
- —»Carolina Hurricanes»? More like Karolina Svechnikov, @Mooseamillion echoes her.
- —»I just realized that today I put on for the first time a jersey bought last year with the name Svechnikova. I will probably wear it more often now,» shared @AceCaniac.
- — «If this is the version of Svechnikov that we'll see this season, it's hard to put into words how important this is for the Hurricanes. He's very talented and dynamic, he can take over the game,» said @aschnitt53.
- —»Can someone please politely ask the Carolinas not to let him on the ice again? Thank you,» pleaded Edmonton fan @aimeok.
- — «I don't want to hear the word «Svechnikov» again!» — another Oilers fan @TanjaBaker1 was indignant.
All three goals of the Russian star turned out great. At the beginning of the second period, Andrei famously dispersed the attack with a shift from the right flank to the center and, not finding support in a foreign zone, threw irresistibly for Jack Campbell. Ten minutes later, Svechnikov left Oilers defenseman Tyson Barry on the sidelines and landed another powerful shot that Campbell had no chance of reacting. In the third period, the Russian opened up great at the penny and converted the majority. For Svechnikov, this hat-trick was the first in his career in the NHL. To be more precise — in the regular championships. Previously, Andrey scored three goals in one match, but this happened as part of the play-in of the covid season — a round that was not a full part of the playoffs.However, it doesn't matter. The most important thing is progress, which is obvious in Svechnikov's game. Even last season, all doubts about the fairness of the terms of his new contract were canceled. Today, everyone was once again convinced that Svechnikov eats his bread for a reason. Andrew is a true leader. In the first four matches, he has already scored 8 points, of which 6 are taken from the “goals” column. “Svechnikov is quickly becoming a star. It is his calling to be a star. «Svech played a key role in the recent victory over Seattle, scoring two goals. Today he surpassed his own result. The Barnaul stallion from Russia again demonstrated an elite-level throw. Right now he is one of the best snipers in the league, ”said Walt Ruff, a journalist close to the Hurricanes. After the first four matches, Svechnikov really enters the top NHL snipers. He shares first place with Lightning captain Steven Stamkos. In two weeks they will meet face to face. But for now, «Caroline» will have a further tour of Canada.