Faces and figures

In the NHL, the struggle for places in the playoffs and points is continuing the main character in the latest matches of the regular championship of the National Hockey League, the Detroit Red Wings club became. More precisely, a couple of his leaders - Russian Pavel Datsyuk and Swede Henrik Zetterberg. Both in the new year gained magnificent shape and do not get tired of stably ensure their club positive results, and emotions are not tired of the fans. This is especially true for Zetterberg. But Datsyuk is not too far from him.

So, in the last guest meeting against Phoenix, he made four assists (the match ended with a score of 4: 1). And three times these programs ended with well -aimed shots of Henrik Zetterberg. By the way, the Swedish forward thus designed just the first hat-trick in his overseas career.

According to his everlasting tradition, Datsyuk himself, at the end of the meeting in communicating with journalists, was very modest and attributed the main merit in the goal of the Swedish partner. But Henrik was also modesty: “I don’t think I had an outstanding match. Partners created me excellent points for taking the gate. By the way, when he threw a second puck, he did not notice at all that she crossed the gate line. But the arbiter recorded the gate. ” It is natural that both were recognized as the main stars of the match. Zetterberg is the first, and Datsyuk is the second.

But the main figure of the last days is another Swede - Star Peter Forsberg. Yesterday, he made his debut as part of his new club - Nashville Pre -Eators. The debut turned out, to put it mildly, unsuccessful. In the match against Minnesota, the hosts lost 1: 4, but Forsberg himself, do not hope - did not participate in the only effective attack of the club. This is no wonder, because Peter arrived in Nashville only on Saturday.

However, the news of the transition has already given its result: all tickets for the match with Minnesota were sold in two days. The excitement was great. By the way, Forsberg as part of the "predators" was reunited in the same three with his former teammates along the Colorado by Paul Caria and Martin Erat. But this fact for the acclimatization process was unimportant. He played in any way. The fact that the stands that filled up long before the match were not helped, they met Forsberg with a roar and for several minutes after the starting throwing chanted the words of greeting addressed to him.

After the game, Forsberg radiated albeit restrained, but optimism. “What did you want from me today,” he explained. “I almost came to the game with my suitcases. And in general, in the last couple of days I had to rather not be not easy. The whole situation pressed on me, I was a little nervous. But in Nashville a good team - I know many by the speeches for Kolorado. So I’m sure that we will all look much better and fresh in the next meeting.”

Forsberg spent 19 and a half minutes on the site in this game. I put one throw on the goal of the opponent and even had a good moment to take the gate. As for the only throw made by Forsberg, everyone understands perfectly well that this is not the most important indicator for him. Peter is a player, primarily aimed at creating a moment for a partner, making a good program. And then thinking about his own goals. Be that as it may, it has not happened yet.

Meanwhile, until the end of the NHL regular championship, less than two months remain, and the circle of applicants for participation in the playoffs does not become at the same time. The struggle for the desired vouchers continues with the previous perseverance - no one wants to go on vacation ahead of time. In the West, Edmonton and Colorado, no matter how they beat, but they still can’t reduce their lag behind the “Dallas” with “Minnesota”. Moreover, it even increases slightly. Now from the Minnesota Oilmen (the finalists of the last Stanley Cup can, thus, do not even get into the first round of the current one!) Lacking eight points, and the "avalanche" is already nine. That is, this is already a regression, and given that time is already almost running out, it cannot but lead to additional psychological stress.

As for the leaders of the division, they were the same and were already mentioned above. This is Detroit and Nashville, which intensified with the aim on the playoffs for the Forsberg. As well as "ANAHAM". All the rest go in a dense group.

In the east, the struggle for places in the cup eight is completely desperate. More recently, the Tampa and Toronto, not only pulled up in the competitors, but also squeezed them out of it. As for the "lightning", they are generally at the moment in the sixth place in the conference. But, as you know, the gaps between the clubs are so small that this place is also easy to lose (subject to proper zeal from the opponents). But this zeal can be guaranteed what is called, "without looking."

The Montreal is very bad. His losing series at this point has already six matches! The last two were given to New Jersey and Carolina (2: 5 and 3: 5, respectively). But such a fall also cannot last forever? Or, nevertheless, the recently seemed guaranteed place in the playoffs can sail away to someone else?

Those who want to compete in the east for places in the sun, as already mentioned, is enough. They, perhaps, will also remain to the West. Two New York teams are located very close to the cherished line - Ilanders and Rengers. “Montreal” can still go around. And even “Boston”, “Florida” and “Washington” did not lose the chances of getting into the playoffs. Although the positions of the last Trinity mentioned look, of course, doubtful.

NHL. Regular championship

Eastern Conference

Atlantic division
(And in Po ph o)

New Jersey 59 36 6 17 160-140 78

Pittsburgh 57 31 9 17 200-179 71

Alenders 59 28 8 23 171-165 64

Rangers 58 28 5 25 173-169 61

Philadelphia 58 16 8 34 151-215 40

North-East division
(And in Po ph o)

Buffalo 59 39 5 15 217-168 83

Ottawa 59 34 3 22 200-157 71

Toronto 59 29 8 22 191-192 66

Montreal 60 29 6 25 170-179 64

Boston 57 27 4 26 161-209 58

Southeast division
(And in Po ph o)

Atlanta 61 30 9 22 185-194 69

Tampa Bay 60 33 3 24 191-183 69

Carolina 61 30 7 24 185-192 67

Florida 60 23 11 26 170-195 57

Washington 58 23 9 26 175-203 55

Western conference

Central division
(And in Po ph o)

Detroit 60 38 6 16 185-145 82

Nashville 60 39 3 18 202-151 81

Saint-Luis 59 24 9 26 150-178 57

Chicago 58 22 9 27 146-177 53

Columbus 58 23 5 30 144-179 51

Northwest division
(And in Po ph o)

Vancouver 58 33 4 21 152-146 70

Kalgary 59 31 8 20 188-158 70

Minnesota 59 32 5 22 168-151 69

Edmonton 59 28 5 26 160-171 61

Colorado 58 28 4 26 186-182 60

Pacific division

(And in Po ph o)

ANAHAM 59 35 8 16 190-151 78

San Jose 58 36 1 21 176-145 73

Dallas 57 34 2 21 153-140 70

Phoenix 59 25 3 31 159-203 53

Los Angeles 60 19 10 31 166-208 48

02/18/2007 / Mikhail Melnikov, the material was published in the "newspaper" No. 30 dated 02.19.2007.