Alexei Cherepanov, Jaromir Jagr, and Dmitri Pestunov each had a goal and two assists on Monday as Avangard topped HK MVD in new head coach Wayne Fleming’s KHL debut. With the 7-4 victory, the Hawks extended their winning streak to six games.
Avangard took the early lead thanks to a 5-on-3 power play goal from the left point by Dmitri Ryabikin (watch). Before the second penalty expired, Denis Ezhov made it 2-1 from the top of the left face off circle courtesy of a perfect cross-ice pass from Cherepanov in the right corner (watch). Cherepanov scored a power play goal of his own at 6:35 of the second with a slam-dunk from the slot off a seeing eye pass from behind the net by linemate Anton Kuryanov (watch) to give the Hawks what appeared to be a commanding lead.
But with the 3-0 lead the Hawks relaxed, apparently thinking they had the game wrapped up. MVD showed otherwise, scoring two even strength goals, the first at 8:05 of the second (watch) and the second at 13:49 (watch) to pull within one as the teams started the final period. Just short of the 6-minute mark they tied the score with a soft shot that found its way through a tangle of bodies to beat starting goalie John Grahame stick side (watch).
But the home team put themselves back in the lead only a minute later when Cherepanov and Igor Volkov broke into the offensive zone on a two-on-one. Cherepanov dished a backhand pass to Volkov, who slipped the puck past Canadian goaltender Michael Garnett before being taken down and sent crashing into the net (watch). But once again the Hawks couldn’t hold the lead, and MVD tied it 54 seconds later on the power play (watch).
That’s when Jagr took control of game, scoring with a wrist shot from his office in the right face off circle to give Omsk the 5-4 lead on the power play (watch). He followed it up with an assist on Pestunov’s even strength marker at 15:56 to made it 6-4 (watch). Volkov got his second of the game into the empty net to make it 7-4 as time wound down (watch). Grahame, who stopped 27 of 31 shots in the game, earned his first KHL point, an assist, on the goal.
Jagr’s 3-point performance gives him 13 points (8-5) in 12 games and earned him first star of the game. Cherepanov’s second star performance brought him to the point-per-game level with 10 points (5-5) in 10 games. Third star went to 23-year old Pestunov, who retained the fortunate position of playing Jagr’s opposite wing despite Pavel Rosa’s return to the line up.
Fleming, having only had a 40-minute practice with which to familiarize himself with his team, seemed to leave most of the coaching to his assistants, though after the game Cherepanov assured the press that the Canadian was in control behind the bench. “The hand of the head coach was felt. In spite of the fact that he spoke English on the bench, everyone understood him.” Asked about his team’s seemingly sudden offensive success, the 19-year old explained “We have a good team. We should have played this way on the attack since the start of the season. But the ability to consistently score has come only recently. The same will come on defense in time, I think. Everything will improve.”
The third-year pro enjoyed his first practice under his new North American coach. “Only 25 minutes, but so intense,” he marveled. “In a short time I was so tired, while in an hour and a half previously I didn’t get tired.” He liked the North American approach to practicing. “I consider this more practical,” he admitted.
His initial impression of his new coach was a good one. “Fleming, in principle, I like. Simple in communication, fair.” Fleming let his charges know early that he would break from the typical Russian coaching practice of rolling four lines in succession at all times. “Before the game he spoke with each player separately,” Cherepanov shared. “He immediately warned us to be ready, that he will put lines out on the ice not by turn, but as he sees necessary.” That warning proved true, as Fleming used his fourth line sparingly in today’s game.
Off the ice, Omsk GM Anatoli Bardin, never one to miss an opportunity to name-drop, confirmed speculation by Rangers beat writer Sam Weinman last week that Rangers head coach Tom Renney played a role in Fleming’s recruitment. “As for the appearance of Fleming, the recommendation of New York Rangers head coach Tom Renney played a decisive role in his invitation,” Bardin confirmed. Hopefully the new coach will return the favor by providing Cherepanov with a similarly positive recommendation of Renney and the Rangers organization once the KHL season ends.
The New York Islanders have claimed defenseman Tomas Pöck off waivers. The 26-year old Austrian’s AHL-proven offensive skills, which were often padded by playing long stretches of games at forward, were never quite enough to make up for his defensive shortcomings and win him a full-time job with the Rangers. Now he’ll get the chance to prove he’s worthy of the position with a depth-deprived Islanders team.
While most Rangers fans will remember Pöck for scoring in his first NHL game at the tail end of the dark years — the bright spots back then were so few and far between after all — my enduring memories of the Austrian Assassin will be seeing him get caught flat-footed as the opposing team scored (countless time) and this extremely rare fight, when he charged former-Islanders farmhand Drew Fata after Fata laid out Marcel Hossa during his brief conditioning stint with the Pack last season.
At least Pöck is already accustomed to the AHL-sized crowds he’ll encounter should he actually get the opportunity to ply his trade at the Nassau Coliseum.
Back in Hartford, his ex-teammates kicked off training camp on Saturday with a roster of 47 players, including 5 goalies, 15 defenseman, and 27 forwards. Among them are 21-year old Guillaume Parenteau, younger brother of Pierre-Alexandre (call me P.A.), who lead the Pack in scoring last season and looks destined to reprise that role after clearing waivers this afternoon. Lyon Messier, who was invited to the Rangers camp as a favor to his dad Mark (you may have heard of him), continues his bid to make it to the pro ranks with a try out in Hartford. Dad and grandad watched from the stands yesterday as coach Ken Gernander ran the team through its paces. For a full report from practice, see Howlings.
Prior to Thursday’s exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Lightning Sport Express correspondent Vasily Osipov caught up with a jovial Tom Renney to ask the Rangers bench boss about the three Russians still playing for jobs on his team, the Blueshirts’ upcoming trip to Europe, and his thoughts on his team’s participation in the inaugural Victoria Cup, set to take place in Bern, Switzerland this Wednesday. The coach, who’s entering his fourth full year behind the bench New York, made it clear that while he and his team take the Victoria Cup seriously, the coaching staff won’t alter the way the team plays or prepares for this one game.
“Naturally, everyone on the Rangers recognizes that special interest is being paid to this match in Russia,” Renney conceded. “We respect that. Rest assured, my guys will play to win.” But he added a caveat: “At the same time you have to understand that we don’t plan to change our style of play to try to adapt to the larger ice surface for the sake of winning one — although important — game.” Quite simply, Renney explained, “Because before us is the fight for the most prestigious trophy in club hockey — the Stanley Cup.”
The Cranbrook, British Columbia native is comfortable with the information he has collected about his team’s Victoria Cup opponent, last year’s European champions, Metallurg Magnitigorsk. “I have sufficient and diverse information available about Metallurg, a large part of which was given to me by my friend [Canadian Dave King] who trained this Russian team in the past.” Renney added, “So I know roughly what to expect from our opponent.” But it will be his own team’s play that is of greater importance to him. “The bigger concern to me will be how the Rangers play in light of our preparation for the NHL season.”
The team is approaching the trip with one goal only. “The purpose put before the Rangers is to come back home with four points in the NHL regular season standings,” the coach states bluntly. “It is important to us to achieve the best possible result, which is why we will try not to lose a lot of time to meetings with politicians, actors, players of youth teams and other local celebrities.”
Renney, who has plenty of experience in taking teams overseas from his days spent coaching Team Canada, was asked to share his secrets for helping his players combat the effects of jet lag. After jokingly recommending that one should “take a small bottle of whisky as soon as you step on the plane, and sleep the whole way” — assuring the reporter that “two days after arrival you’ll be in top form” — Renney became more serious. “First of all it is necessary to make sure that players do not get dehydrated. Since I prefer to hold an intensive practice the day of the flight, it is necessary that the body be fully stocked with fluids.” The pre-flight practice is meant to help the players sleep on a long flight. “After the hard practice the guys will involuntarily want to sleep on the plane because of the accumulated fatigue,” Renney explained. Upon landing, it’s right back to work. “Right after getting settled in the hotel I take the team to the rink, or if one is not available nearby, a soccer field, where we generally work for about an hour. After that, dinner and a short tour, or simply a walk.”
Still, the coach is less concerned about the teams physical condition in Europe, expecting that the excitement of playing in an unfamiliar country will give his charges an emotional boost. The coach is more focused on how the team will fare after their return flight to New York. “What worries me more is when we need to return to America after the Czech Republic to play in the first regular season NHL games,” the coach admitted.
Renney was asked to discuss the three Russian players expected to play a roll in this year’s team, and spoke about each one in turn. Regarding 20-year old prospect Artem Anisimov, the coach shared “Arts [Anisimov] is a good young player who’s growth we follow very closely. At present he has quite a good chance of earning a place on the team. And in general this hockey player has a long career in the NHL ahead of him, which will begin as soon as he is completely ready.” Anisimov was demoted to the Rangers farm team in Hartford the day after the interview, but could factor as a mid-season call up should injuries require.
On free-agent defenseman Dmitri Kalinin, Renney noted the former Buffalo Sabre’s vision and passing. “Kalinin, certainly, has added depth to our defense,” he explained. “We searched for a long time for such a strong defenseman who reads the game well and possesses an excellent pass.”
And finally, Renney suggested there could be big things ahead for 23-year old winger Nikolai Zherdev in his first season in New York. “He is a very talented, creative player, and recently he has improved his defensive play noticably,” Renney shared. “All I ask of him is that he utilize his speed and the quickness of his hands as much as possible.” Renney went on to suggest a 30-goal season is not out of reach for the presumed top-line winger. “Nik has the potential, as a first line player, to score 30 goals this season. The main thing for him is to not dwell on what he’s attained and to continue to make progress.”
