Kuzmenko returned strongly from the reserve! But even after the double, Tokket continued to educate him.

Kuzmenko returned strongly from the reserve! But even after the double, Tokket continued to educate him.

Elena Kuznetsova December 24, 2023, 10:15 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.

Andrei did not take the ice for the final two and a half minutes, when San Jose played without a goaltender, and did not have a chance to score a hat trick.

Andrey Kuzmenko has drawn particular attention this season. But not because of his goals, which he accustomed to the NHL in his debut season, but because of the constant withdrawals from the lineup and the difficult relationship with coach Rick Tocquette. Kuzmenko watched Vancouver’s last two games from the sidelines and found himself out of the lineup for the game for the third and fourth time this season.

Insiders are already actively discussing the possibility of exchanging Russian. “Vancouver” leads the NHL standings, the team is doing perfectly, only the situation with Kuzmenko stands out from the general optimistic picture. The other day, Killer Whale general manager Jim Rutherford added fuel to the fire with controversial statements:

“We are a little disappointed. She worked in the summer and, in terms of physical condition, she is in excellent shape compared to other people her age. He prepared, he worked hard. But maybe he didn’t work to get in “hockey shape” and it affected him.

He’s getting more attention this year after scoring 39 goals last year. But he is a good, skilled player who has not yet managed to get into the squad. However, he can return to the lineup at any time and improve his game. I definitely don’t see him as a person who suddenly forgot how to play. Of course he can play. Today he is part of Vancouver,” Rutherford said.

Tocquette returned Kuzmenko to the lineup in the game against San José, dedicating some parting words to him: “I think he’s excited. He needs to get to the goal, shoot, and if he does, the goals will come. I want you to shoot with roundhouse. I love it! I told him in Dallas. I think he really wants to learn, he said, “Coach, when can I do my job?” Well, you can do your thing, you just have to figure it out. You shouldn’t spin when you don’t have speed on the blue line. But when you are in front of the goal one on one with an opponent, then yeah, have fun.”

Kuzmenko returned to the lineup after Vancouver’s loss to Dallas and immediately joined the strike team with Elias Pettersson. Last season, this pairing was spectacular in attack, and Kuzmenko scored 39 goals. In the last 19 games, Kuzmenko scored only three goals, but today he came out on the ice to break and shoot and scored a double in seven minutes! Andrey opened the scoring already in the second minute of play, hitting Mackenzie Blackwood with an accurate shot from the slot, and a wide smile lit up the Russian’s face.

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Besides. Kuzmenko came out in the first team of the majority and, hiding behind his opponents, put his stick under JT Miller’s shot, making the score 2:0. This is no spinorama, but Tocquet could certainly be satisfied.

Video rights belong to NHL Enterprises, LP. You can see it on the NHL website.

The match quickly turned into a fierce penalty shootout: San José managed to equalize before the first break, then in two and a half minutes they lost two goals, tried to catch up again, but keeping up with the highest scoring team in the league is not possible . An easy task, especially for someone at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Seven minutes before the final siren, the “sharks” managed to score 5:4, but they did not get any closer to “Vancouver”. Pius Suter scored the sixth goal for the home team and Quinn Hughes made the final score 7:4.

Video rights belong to NHL Enterprises, LP. You can see it on the NHL website.

Notably, Kuzmenko did not appear on the ice in the final two and a half minutes, when San Jose played with an empty net. It would seem like a completely natural decision to give a player with two goals the opportunity to score a hat-trick, but Tocquette decided otherwise and continued to coach the Russian.

Well, Kuzmenko still played a great game, and we can only hope that if Andrei continues in the same spirit, the coach will eventually soften towards him. The fans already love Kuzmenko and after the game they gave him a deafening ovation.

“We have a very good team this year. I love it, I’m happy to play for Vancouver. My goals? The main thing is not the goals, but the victories. It is very important to me. Thanks to the fans for their support, it is very important for me and the team,” said Kuzmenko, who was recognized as the first star of the match.