The fifth match of the first round of the NHL playoffs between Minnesota and St. Louis began with a fiery period performed by Kirill Kaprizov. But by the end of the meeting, the “bluesmen” “turned off” the Russian from the game, and our other compatriot Vladimir Tarasenko shone on the ice. So who is the main star from Russia in this pair?

Kaprizov continues to shine

Minnesota, again ill with hockey with the arrival of Kaprizov from Russia, was ready for the third time in the series to host St. Louis. Before the match, the arena was lined with the inscription “Oops!” – a word that Kaprizov often says, and which the local fans really liked. Together with almost twenty thousand fans who charged the Wild from the first minutes, the team seemed to have completely forgotten about the loss in the previous meeting and immediately flew to score. But instead she missed, being in the minority in the fifth minute.

The retribution for the missed goal turned out to be cruel: Minnesota, at first, with the first numerical advantage, bounced back, and then took the lead. In both goals, the soloist was none other than Kaprizov, who earned one of the removals. In the first episode, the Wild played a pass that ended with a powerful and accurate wrist shot from the Russian leader from the left faceoff circle. The second episode Kaprizov built alone: ​​at first he wound one of the rivals and, literally putting him on the ice, rushed to the gate, but did not realize the throw. But a few seconds later he completed what he started, having received a puck picked up by a partner near the patch.

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The double of the Russian “savage” marked another fallen Minnesota record – this time for the number of goals in one playoff series. There are already seven of them on Kaprizov’s account. And at the same time – and leadership in goals in the current Stanley Cup.

“St. Louis” hits and replies

Obviously, the “bluesmen” could not cope with the speed and skill of Kaprizov, over and over again giving the striker freedom of movement. Therefore, “St. Louis” began to play more power hockey, now and then catching the Russian: in the first period, David Perron hit him with a stick, but the referee ignored the episode. And in the third, Kaprizov began to get concretely: first, forward Brandon Shann pushed him aboard, having tried on the attack in advance and pushing off the ice before the attack. It is not surprising that Kaprizov could not stay on his feet, flying on the ice upside down. At the same time, he no longer owned the puck at that time. Then the Russian was pressed against the board again, but this time with a club, leaving a small scratch on his nose.

Even the official St. Louis account shared Shann’s hit on his Twitter page, veiledly praising his hockey player. For which he received a lot of angry comments from fans who were indignant at the fact that such tricks pass by the judges. “The NHL needs to protect its stars,” wrote one user.

Kaprizov’s attacks are not all that the Blues remember in the third period. After all, hits alone won’t win a series. For the first time in a match, taking over the initiative on throws, St. Louis used his secret weapon called Vladimir Tarasenko. He spent an exemplary period, scoring three goals against the saddened Minnesota. The last, fifth, flew into an empty net, but the first two, which were separated by only one minute, turned out to be a feast for the eyes: in the second minute of the period, he shot the goalkeeper of the “savages” point-blank, and in the third – he put the puck into the net with a killer wrist shot. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury had no chance!

Photo: © REUTERS / Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Arriving to visit Kaprizov, Tarasenko reminded with three throws that he remains the main Russian NHL star in this series. But his counterpart from Minnesota was clearly not in the mood to measure stardom. The defeat of Kaprizov was incredibly upsetting, in the last seconds of the meeting there was no face on him.

The sixth match of the first round, which will be held two days later in St. Louis, could be the last if the hosts win.