CSKA vs. SKA in the final series of the Western Conference to many got bored. Even the legend of the capital's army and the president of the FHR, Vladislav Tretiak, admitted that he was frankly tired of the same pair in decisive matches, and at the same time spoke in favor of changing the playoff format. This side can be accepted, since formally the finalists of the West are known even before the start of the season.
But today's battle between the two flagships of Russian hockey made us forget about the «bored» trend. CSKA and SKA fired heartily and kept the audience at the TV screens to the last. Vibrant action, top-notch, high-paced hockey, the unpredictability of the result, and the abandonment of cautious hockey are all reflections of why we love the best stick-and-puck sport.
It is unlikely that anyone will call the victory of CSKA unfair. The team of Sergei Fedorov showed a master class and destroyed the very famous system that the St. Petersburg club preaches. Sergei Fedorov talked about attentive play at his own goal, correct work on mistakes and realization of scoring chances throughout the season, and in the series against SKA Muscovites fulfilled all their plans. For this reason, the previously often criticized Adam Reideborn became one of the best goalkeepers of the Gagarin Cup, and Mikhail Grigorenko and Konstantin Okulov showed themselves at the highest level.
To some extent, SKA also contributed to this. “Hockey is a game of mistakes,” said Roman Rotenberg. In his words lies one of the reasons for the relegation of the Petersburgers a moment before entering the main round of the season. In the regular season SKA tore and metal. His rivals simply did not keep up with the lightning speeds of hockey players. Hyperactive and ruthless hockey continued to preach in the playoffs. But for some reason they took a step back from their ideas in the battle with CSKA.
From the point of view of the result and the course of the confrontation, today's final of the West reminded last year. CSKA took the lead, SKA bounced back and in the end almost turned the series around: even though it reached the decisive, seventh match, the Muscovites did not leave a chance in the main game. It seemed as if SKA had decided to fight CSKA with the opponent's methods. To some extent, it worked, and the Petersburgers gave the opponent inconvenience. But CSKA was ready for them. If only because, formally, SKA did not surprise Muscovites with something sharp and extraordinary. Even in the series with Severstal in the first round Fedorov's team was more nervous.
Did not add positive SKA and commotion in the midst of confrontation. By removing Nikita Gusev and Damir Zhafyarov from the staff, Rotenberg's headquarters deprived itself of variability. Yes, the conclusion of the star players was not unreasonable: Gusev and Zhafyarov made two assists in three matches for two, and it is precisely effective actions that are expected from them in the first place. But the rejection of the alternative of the desired benefit, as the result of the series showed, did not give.
The team of Sergei Fedorov, on the other hand, causes nothing but admiration. «Unwavering» is perhaps the main and all-encompassing epithet that suits CSKA. The behavior of the Moscow army, their game shows that the “red-blue” do not notice any obstacles in front of them. They are ready and have all the necessary resources to achieve their goal even at the most critical moments. Sergei Fedorov and his assistants use their strengths and key strengths for good without any special, as it seems, difficulties. CSKA today fully corresponds to the status of the champion and is ready to win the Cup for the second time in a row.
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.