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Kuznetsov still chirping after win

SCOTT FISHER, QMI Agency. Jan 4 2012

CALGARY – A lot of Canadian hockey fans wanted to see Evgeni Kuznetsov eat some crow.

But the brash Russian forward ended up feasting on the Canadians instead.

Kuznetsov has spent the past week poking Canada in the chest, insisting he wanted nothing more than to break the hearts of the host team and its fans.

Then he went out and did it.

The Washington Capitals prospect scored a hat-trick as part of a spectacular four-point performance to help the Russians earn a tense 6-5 win over Canada in Tuesday's semifinal.

He said the semifinal victory was just as satisfying as last year's gold-medal win over the Canucks.

"I can compare," Kuznetsov said, smiling like a butcher's dog.

"Same emotions. We're happy. I'm glad that Canada will not win gold this year."

Kuznetsov has refused to give the Canadian team even the slightest of compliments throughout the tournament.

And he wasn't shy about throwing a little salt on the wounds after Canada's emotional third-period rally fell short.

"I don't (think) Canada is good enough to score so many goals," Kuznetsov said. "I knew that the end of the game would be tough for us. I thought that the fourth and fifth goal would be enough."

When asked if the Russians, with back-to-back wins over Canada at the world juniors, have proven their superiority, he stuck the knife in one last time and gave it a twist.

"We just won and that question has become clear, so we're stronger than Canada."

Russian teammate Nail Yakupov, who is the consensus No.-1 pick for this summer's NHL Entry Draft, was elated with his team's win, which sets up a gold-medal showdown with the Swedes.

"We didn't finish strong," Yakupov said. "But we scored six goals and we beat Canada.

"We win. We're pretty excited. We beat Canada. Russia win. Russia better than Canada."

On this night, they were.

Just barely.

—–

Grow up, Kuznetsov: Russian junior star has lots of maturing to do

ERIC FRANCIS, QMI Agency, Jan 4 2012

CALGARY – Somewhere in D.C. Alex Ovechkin is smiling.

That gap in his grin is gaping like Team Canada's net seemed to be early Tuesday night in what will go down as one of the most shocking losses in Canadian junior lore.

After a perfect roundrobin, the Canadians were denied a trip to the world junior championship final for the first time since medal-round play was introduced 11 years ago, thanks to a spectacular 6-5 loss to Russia at the Dome.

The Washington Capitals forward, who is only starting to recover from the legendary 7-3 beatdown Canada laid on Russia in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Olympics, had to have been watching his Russian juniors semifinal win with glee.

Fitting then that the man who did most of the damage was 19-year-old Capitals prospect Evgeni Kuznetsov, who will no doubt join Ovechkin in Washington next year to follow in the Gr8 Eight's footsteps.

Not only did the kid drafted 26th overall in 2010 score three times and add an assist in a game that was 5-1 Russia by the end of the second (only to end as a one-goal game, thanks to Canada's heart), he also factored in on some of the shenanigans that made both teams look bad for a time.

As a frustrated Canadian squad began its meltdown late in the second period with a series of penalties and goals against, Russian Ildar Isangulov decided to lash back with a vicious elbow to the face of Boone Jenner.

As the groggy Canadian slowly got up Kuznetsov went over to say something to him.

The contents of the discussion will clearly never be relayed accurately but whether he was rubbing salt in the wound of an injured player or offering sincere condolences, he should have known better.

He had no business being around the fallen player.

Granted, although provoked, Jenner should have known better than to attempt to spear Kuznetsov (and receive a game misconduct for his effort).

As the only returning player from last year's gold medal-winning team, Kuznetsov wears the C on a team it appears at times he wants simply to carry on his back.

After scoring his second goal of the game, Kuznetsov refused to embrace any of his four teammates, instead soaking up the limelight himself while showboating and then making his way over to the Russian bench for high-fives.

After setting up the Russian's fifth goal with a brilliant pass of his own, Kuznetsov was again content to celebrate alone.

For those unfamiliar, Kuznetsov made a name for himself earlier in the tourney when he threatened a tourney record with nine points in a 14-0 win over the Latvians.

They were the only points he scored in the entire tourney until last night.

Yes, he picked a perfect time to show up again and participate.

He's a heck of a talent, but not much of a teammate.

He was the one who selfishly tried to score on the empty net in the final minute by icing the puck and giving Canada another shot at tying the game.

Smart, team players don't do that.

Players trying to pad stats do.

He was also the one who showed little humility while accepting his player-of-the-game award by putting his hands up to his ears to encourage the booing that rained down on him.

Some call it being a character.

Others call it being classless — the kind of thing a kid who scores nine points on midget players would do.

He's 19 and he has lots of growing up to do.

But that didn't make it any less painful to watch on the juniors' biggest stage last night.

In a Washington organization that also houses Ovechkin and Alex Semin, somehow we think Kuznetsov will fit right in.

—–

Russian hockey star plays the villain, whips up fans at Saddledome
Yevgeni Kuznetsov one of Russia's weapons, scores hat trick and game star

Chris O'Leary, edmontonjournal.com, January 4, 2012

CALGARY – Russian captain Yevgeni Kuznetsov sent his own little thank-you to Canada on Tuesday night, encouraging the jilted fans at Scotiabank Saddledome to boo him a little more.

His coach thanked the Canadians as well, but took a more polite route.

After the 19-year-old Washington Capitals prospect had sunk Canada’s gold-medal hopes, netting a hat trick as part of his four-point night, he was named Russia’s player of the game. As he skated over to collect his award, the jeers of the heartbroken Canadian faithful rained down on him. Kuznetsov put both hands up to his ears and encouraged the capacity crowd to give him its worst. It obliged him and he smiled, soaking up the villainous role.

Kuznetsov’s four-point night launched him into the tournament lead for scoring, with six goals and seven assists in his team’s six games played.

“I thought he played his best game of the tournament so far,” head coach Valeri Bragin said of Kuznetsov through the team’s translator. “He’s our captain and he should play in games like this. That’s the way he should have played. He’s a very experienced player; he plays for our senior national team.”

As for the thank-you, Bragin said his team’s semi-final win over the host nation was its toughest thus far.

“I think that Canada is the best team in the tournament so far,” the coach said. “I think they had a lack of practice (due to their quarter-final bye) because the rest of us were playing games. That did some damage for Team Canada.”

With his team leading 5-1 after the second period, Bragin said he had anticipated a Canadian comeback.

“I knew that in the third period, Canada would improve their game, so maybe I should have changed my goalie a bit sooner. But I’m happy with the way our guys played.”

Bragin gave the hook to Andrei Vasilevski when Canada scored its fifth goal of the night, making it a one-goal game. Saskatoon Blades netminder Andrei Makarov played the final 5:43 of the game and shut the door on a surging Canadian squad that could taste overtime in the late stages of the game.

“We should have changed the goalie earlier. He’s a young guy,” Bragin explained, pointing to when his team blew a three-goal lead and lost in overtime to the Swedes – who they’ll see in Thursday’s gold-medal game.

“The situation was like it was against Sweden. It was not his mistake. It was an easy goal and I liked the way Makarov played.”

The coach said he would have to begin immediately preparing for that re-match.

Russians get a little home cooking

The Saddledome was loaded up with vocal Canadian fans on Tuesday night, but the support for the home-team wasn’t fully unanimous. Nestled in behind the Russian bench were a handful of supporters who tried to make their team feel at home.

“It’s a wonderful rink with 80,000 guys yelling, ‘Canada! Canada, let’s go!’ said Russian forward Nail Yakupov, who enjoyed a four-assist night in his team’s win.

“I think we have 30, 40 guys, Russian guys from Siberia and they put on the Russian jersey and say, ‘Come on, Russia!’”

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
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