It's sad, how they go and then don't go. This is the only somewhat credible team in Latvia. I believe there is a team in VTB league as well, but they are not very good, no the VEF team from the Soviet days for sure.Riga with a big win over Loko tonight. Gotta say it's really nice seeing large, loud crowds at Riga games again.
Avto now 24-1... I love how they played "нас не догонят" ("Not Gonna Get Us" of T.A.T.U) in the arena in the final moments. I hope they won't pull an Avangard and get kicked out early come play-off time.
Personally, I think they are a paper tiger thriving on playing in the terrible division. They are a good, deep team but nowhere as good as their recent results show. I mean they are led in scoring by Roman Starchenko who has, at the age of 32, scored roughly as many points in 22 games as is his career average over the full season. Don't get me wrong, they won't gonna crash and burn like they did last year because they do have solid depth but they aren't an actual contender either.
AkBars vs. Barys seems to be a very one sided thing every time they meet in the playoffs. That Barys team is just smoke and mirrors unlike Avto.I disagree. I've seen this team play a a number of times now, and they believe they are going to win each game. Nothing seems to rattle them. They have a decent amount of talent, but they also have confidence, and that can take you a long way. Does that mean I think they are a cup contender, not necessarily. Just that I think this team, at this point in the season, is a more dangerous team than say Ak Bars or Magnitka. All that can change of course with an injury or two, or losing some winnable games.
AkBars vs. Barys seems to be a very one sided thing every time they meet in the playoffs. That Barys team is just smoke and mirrors unlike Avto.
Only there had to be some changes obvious or less obvious. So far Barys is just more of the same if not worse without Dawes and let's face it with Dallman who doesn't watch his weight really. Ditz replaced him well, but that's a replacement, not an improvement. I am not saying they will never win, but they have to do something in that direction. So far I don't see it. Just a hot streak.And the Red Sox were never going to win the World Series, until they did. No horse was ever going to win the Triple Crown again, until Secretariat did it in 1973, and then Affirmed a few years later and Seattle Slew the year after that. New team, new year. What happened in the past has absolutely no effect on this year's team.
It's sad, how they go and then don't go. This is the only somewhat credible team in Latvia. I believe there is a team in VTB league as well, but they are not very good, no the VEF team from the Soviet days for sure.
certainly the best league on post-soviet area, and offers the best possible competition, but that's off topic.Well VTB league itself is pretty shocking and has next to nothing to offer to the teams.
Looks like a done deal. SKA hosting CSKA on Dec 22 & the EHT game Russia vs Finland on Dec 16 I believe.Some time ago i heard SKA wants to play a game in Krestovsky Stadium (Zenit) this season. Anyone know if there is any plans for it?
Yes. They share the arena with Spartak. That is the same arena which was shared by Spartak & Dynamo last season. The arena is called CSKA Arena, formerly VTB Ledovy Dvorets or Arena Legend.I haven't watched CSKA home game this season until today. New arena?
Yes. They share the arena with Spartak. That is the same arena which was shared by Spartak & Dynamo last season. The arena is called CSKA Arena, formerly VTB Ledovy Dvorets or Arena Legend.
It is a bit complicated.Former VTB Ice Palace, got it. And Dynamo moved to Megasport Sport Palace.
Was that the plan all along?
It is a bit complicated.
It was a plan Dynamo will replace VTB Ice Palace by another arena. Megasport is only a temporary until January 2019 when Dynamo moving to VTB Arena at Petrovsky park (soccer stadium + hockey arena).
CSKA used an old arena as you know & there was a pressure from the KHL to move to modern arena. CSKA wanted to build their own... finally, they moved to VTB Ice Palace/CSKA Arena.
Spartak considering to move to another arena for next season. They do not like the arena, where they play now, is called CSKA.... especially fans do not like it.
CSKA has had a few 10000 to 11000 matches this season.Yeah, makes sense.
This must have been best crowd CSKA had in a long while if not ever?