Kovalchuk Holds Atlanta
Russia is traditionally interested in performance of the NHL clubs, where our fellow-countrymen play. This year, Atlanta Thrashers with brilliant Ilya Kovalchuk is in the limelight.
It looks like the Atlanta Thrashers is on the rise, at least the team has neared the play-off area, having broken the trend of six losses in a row at the opener. Its star is Ilya Kovalchuk of Russia, who leads with 17 scores amid the snipers and whose position in the Top 10 Bombers is solid.
The tricky point is that the breakthrough has been widely expected not from Kovalchuk but from Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. But those hopes failed to materialize with the Capitals following last year’s pattern that won’t drive them closer to the play-off.
The standing of Pittsburg Penguins is equally shaking. But unlike Ovechkin, no claims could be raised against two young leaders, Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin, who have gathered more than fifty scores at halves. Attacking defender Sergei Gonchar couldn’t be blamed either. But goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury doesn’t appear secure and vets Garry Roberts and Mark Recchi don’t inspire optimism.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 22, 2007
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