Colorado’s Valeri Nitshushkin has grown into a solution player whose offensive line Colorado Avalanche needs to win the Stanley Cup. ‘s expert Ismo Lehkonen opens Nitshushkin’s strengths with video examples.
The NHL finals will continue on Saturday morning Finnish time. will show all the finals live. The broadcast from the 5th final of the Colorado-Tampa Bay Series will begin at 3 p.m.
Active followers of hockey and the NHL are well acquainted with the star players of the Colorado Avalanche. For example Nathan MacKinnonin, Gabriel Landeskogin and Mikko Rantanen formed by the trio of stars has been the league’s top caste for years. A 23-year-old defender Cale Makar is one of the best offensive defenders in the series in three seasons.
Rantanen and Makar are very heavily involved in the battle for the NHL playoffs’ most valuable player prize, the Conn Smythe Trophy.
A surprising name has risen from the title of the most valuable player to fight. Almost out of nowhere, the 27-year-old has become a hero of Avalanche fans Valeri Nitshushkin.
The Russian striker has been in the tough games in the trough at its best. Nitshushkin has also brought resilience and individual skill to the Colorado offensive game, but also a hunger for puck exploits and a willingness to play an active bitter game. The latter two aspects are vital to Avalanche’s game of constant pressure.
Colorado’s No. 13 ability to take the puck and then promote offensive play has been highlighted in the Stanley Cup finals against Tampa Bay Lightning. He has been one of the most dangerous players on the pitch and with his own contribution has allowed Colorado to attack effectively while on the ice.
For example, in the sequel to the fourth final, Nitshushkin played 4.41 minutes. He created six statistic scores for himself and his teammates in that time.
We visited an expert in Sports Ismo Lehkonen with video examples through what qualities Nitshushkin’s goodness consists of.
World class hairdresser
The danger is also reflected in the score column. He has scored 13 power points (8 + 5) in 18 games in the playoffs. Three of the goals have emerged in the finals, with which he shares the top of the finals stock market with Landeskog.
The skills of the Russian attacking head have been emphasized in the goals. The video below shows how Nitshushkin finishes his goals straight from the pass. The last of the goals seen in the video, however, was found in the 3rd final as a nip button for Colorado after the Tampa Bay challenge.
Expert Lehkonen appreciates the ability of the skating and oversized Nitshushkin to cause almost escape terror in the opponent’s defenders.
– When he goes first to bitter, he always forces his opponent’s defender to put the puck in the wrong place. If the kit is delayed and he gets to the side, he is so strong and reaching that he will definitely take the exploits, Lehkonen says.
Already in the opening final, the Russian showed his ability to strip the puck unexpectedly as his opponent tried to open the game. Nitshushkin also caused several difficult spots for Tampa’s defense at the end of his own puck. You can see examples of this in the video below.
Nitshushkin’s physical qualities are like those created for a world-class bitter game player. A big, fast, reaching and strong hockey player who knows how to use his racket properly for game play.
– I myself am the coaching soul of the old league and a hockey romantic. That’s why I especially like players who have skating and fighting power and who defend their lives by trade. In addition, they have the qualities to get the defenders to power even out of terror, Lehkonen says.
– Nitshushkin has been such a player especially in these finals. Even in the third final, when Colorado’s bitter and offensive game coughed, he played well.
Mobility and racket play lead to exploitation
Mikko Rantanen, a statistically superior disc jockey from Nitshushkin, is NHL statistics site (go to another service) MoneyPuck has recorded 18 puck reels during the playoffs. The Russian has 12 exploits, the same number of MacKinnon and JT Compherilla.
However, the number of exploits does not tell the whole thing about bitter play, as the common bitter game of the players in the chain leads to exploitation. What, then, is exceptional about Nitshushkin compared to other Colorado “workhorses”?
– He doesn’t slide, Lehkonen says sharply.
According to the expert, for example, in the Finnish Championship League and other leagues, a lot of players are seen who, when hairy, pull the skates wide and even their rackets up when they press the defender. Then it is easy for a puck defender to play against such a player.
– Nitshushkin’s feet are constantly running. In addition to being able to deprive him with his long bat, he is able to harass the pack from afar. When he gets caught on the side, he’s infinitely strong to twist the defender off balance. That’s how he gets these good exploits, Lehkonen sums up.
A good example of this was the exchange that led to Colorado’s second goal in the first final. The video below shows how Nitshushkin, with his constant movement and other strengths of the bitter game, is forcing three different Tampa Bay players into bad solutions.
This allows other players on the home team to get help. Avalanche deprives the puck, MacKinnon delivers the puck to Nitshushkin in the middle of the puck and he shoots a little black on his wrist Andrei Vasilevskin behind.
“He’s clearly our best player most nights.”
Nitshushkin was in a bad gap before playing in Dallas. Development had stalled, with game performance varying from poor to frustrated. In his last Star season, he didn’t score a goal. The balance of power points was 0 + 10 in 57 regular season matches and one playoff game.
Avalanchen GM Joe Sakic got a puck player for the Rocky Mountains and things turned around.
– Sometimes I remember where I was three years ago and wonder where I am now. It feels pretty good, Nitshushkin said, according to the Denver Post.
In Colorado, things have changed. Teammates like star defender Makar and experienced Andrew Cogliano call the Russian “train-like” and “perfect workhorse.” Various terms used to describe Nitshushkin’s dynamic gameplay.
– “Val” is clearly our best player some evenings, actually most, Cogliano told the press at the press conference before the finals began.
Expert Lehkonen emphasizes that Avalanche’s speed disc serves Nitshushkin and his team’s playing style in every way.
– Colorado’s style of play is like a cherry cake on top of him. It’s like being created for players like him. All the chains in the team know how to put pressure on the attacking head in the same way he does. Still, the team has more individuals like him, such as Captain Landeskog, who play in a similar way, Lehkonen lists.
According to Lehkonen, as Nitshushkin’s self-confidence has regained in Colorado, his game has taken on more important dimensions. These appear as falling power points on the scoreboard.
– Now that his self-confidence has accumulated, a new feature has given him the ability to protect the disc. Alongside that, he has refined the ability to change his skating rhythm quickly while protecting. Through this, he is even able to break into the goal from corner games.
Watch the video below as Nitshushkin’s soft hands kicked off the winning goal in the first final.
The Stanley Cup is not leaving for Chelyabinsk
If Colorado wins the coveted Lord Stanley trophy this spring, Nitshushkin’s role is guaranteed to be praised. For the Rocky Mountain Club, the championship would be the first in 21 years. Normally, Traktor Chelyabinsk’s breeder should take his Stanley Cup to his hometown of the Eastern Urals on his own trophy day. However, the situation is not normal now.
The war of aggression launched by Russia in Ukraine has affected the world in a hurry in many ways. Most recently, the NHL decided not to allow potential Russian winners to take the Stanley Cup to Russia. The reason is Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine.
Nitshushkin has not publicly taken a bigger stance on the atrocities committed by his country’s soldiers in Ukraine. He, like many Russian athletes, has retreated, either from the club’s decision or his own, to the background of interviews so he wouldn’t have to comment on the war.
– If you can’t do anything, then you shouldn’t worry about it, Nitshushkin told the press for the first time, according to Denver Post earlier last week.
The playoffs for one thing, as well as a possible championship, have already secured Nitshushkin. The striker will have a big payday a moment after the Stanley Cup finals.
He will become a free agent in the summer. Nitshushkin’s expiring contract has been a two-year, $ 2.5 million per season.
The Athletic did (go to another service) a question to five background people who have a good understanding of NHL rewards as to what a Russian striker deserves. The five estimated Nitshushkin to double his salary with his performances. The average estimate was $ 5.1 million per season.
That’s probably the right amount for Colorado to pay for Nitshushkin’s skills.
The NHL finals will continue on Saturday morning Finnish time. will show all the finals live. The broadcast from the 5th final of the Colorado-Tampa Bay Series will begin at 3 p.m.