Monday evening at Bright Hockey Center found Torpedo Yaroslavl outplaying
the Crimson of Harvard 3-6. Yaroslavl used their superior team movement
and quick intelligence passing to get around Harvard. The Crimson seemed
to be using this match as a tune-up for their return to ECAC action this
coming weekend in the "North Country".
The first period was relatively lifeless, but did feature some nice
passing by Torpedo as they tried to execute their long ball game. The
Russians opened the scoring with a power play goal when Alexander Zibin
(Andrei Tarasenko, Alexei Traseuch) finished off a quick break in play.
The chance occurred because Yaroslavl was smart enough to pull the
Crimson almost into their own zone, while waiting for the opening on the
power play. When that moment came, their quick long ball passes had them
in on goal before Harvard knew they were attacking. Lovely goal!
Torpedo made it 0-2 in the second period when Tarasenko (Zibin, Dmitri
Krasotkin) let rip a shot from close range. Harvard got back in the game
when they scored a power play goal which Kirk Nielsen (Steve Martins,
Jeremiah McCarthy) snapped in off the crossbar. Nielsen (Martins, Cory
Gustafson) tied the match on another power play goal when he was given a
free slap shot after a wonderful cross-ice setup from Martins. Gustafson
(Brian Famigletti, Joe Craigen) scored one of the nicest goals of the
night when he took in a long break out pass all alone, deked the goalie
and then roofed the puck. That made it Harvard 3-2, so Steve Hermsdorf
who played the first half of the game won his match. Yaroslavl tied the
game at three when Alexei Gorshkov (Alexander Skoptsov) was dished a nice
feed off a 2 on 1, deked Tracy down, and in the process slipped the puck
between his legs. Tarasenko (Zibin) fired under the goalies pads a few
minutes later to regain the lead for Torpedo.
In the final period, Dmitri Zinin (Ildar Yurbin, Gorshkov) made it 3-5
Yaroslavl when he was left alone in front and rifled the puck high into
the goal. Krasotkin (Traseuch, Oleg Komissarov) finished the scoring on
a 5 on 3 power play when his right point shot went under the tender's pads.
Torpedo Yaroslavl looks like a team who could play much better than they
played Monday night. As a team, they skate excellently. The movement
skills they have is the key to their play. They also can pass great, and
make the smart play look simple. Torpedo played four 5 player units,
which I loved, as they interacted so well together. On the night I
thought their top player was Tarasenko. A speedy forward that has
wonderful kill-instinct, he was often buzzing around the net. He did
appear to be somewhat stuck on himself, which at times let him make the
lazy play that did not help his team. On defense Alexei Amelin was so
smooth and skillful. Amelin was a joy to watch. I have a feeling the
"star" defender for Yaroslavl is Krasotkin. He was a tough, intense blue
liner who I would count on when the going got rough. The other player
that caught my eye was Zinin. He could really motor when he wanted to.
Overall it was a good team for Harvard to play as the Russians showed
what great skating and passing can get you.
Harvard did not play with much intensity, except for the start of the
second period. I thought watching the Crimson play tonight underscored
their lack of team play and skating. There is too much effort put on up
and down speed, and not enough fluid skating all over the ice. To me
what made Harvard extremely interesting a few years ago, was their
multi-dimensional skating: the ability to shift and change and flow as a
team over the entire ice surface. Hermsdorf played very well in goal
tonight. He deserves more starts. Famigletti returned tonight from
injury and made some good plays on defense as well as making some deadly
break out passes. Peter McLaughlin also played a strong game in his own
zone. On the attack Gustafson came alive with some exciting speed.
Overall, a good warm-up for this coming weekend.
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good shooting
rhun
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