|
The Real Kovalev; A look back at one of the Best Nights in Hockey History |
|
|
|
|
|
After a long day at work it was bliss for me to come home, turn on the tube, only to find one of the greatest classics playing on Espn Classic Canada. Game 6, 1994, Conference Finals, Rangers vs. Devils. As you all know, the Rangers needed to win game six to push the Devils to a seventh.
What they needed was more pressure (ha) so Captain Mark Messier guaranteed victory, and sure enough it ran in the New York Post the day of the game. You all know what happened next... the Rangers took the game 4-2, and Messier recorded a hatrick, and an assist in the process. This was obviously one of, if not the greatest moment in Rangers history. It's actually one of the greatest things I've ever seen in sports. Sure enough the Rangers took game 7 as well, and then beat Vancouver in 7 games, in one of the best series' we've ever had the pleasure of viewing.
You would naturally remark that Messier achieved G-d like status through that cup run with the Rangers, but he couldn't have done it without the help of a certain enigmatic Russian superstar.
In that game the Rangers were trailing, and playing rather poorly in the first half. Then Mike Keenan officially lost his cool, and put Mark Messier with Alex Kovalev and Adam Graves. And wouldn't you know it...in came the goals. Kovalev finished that night with a goal, an assist on the tying goal, and an assist on the winning goal (both scored by Messier). These weren't just assists either, these were plays that were fully made by Kovalev, sending Messier in alone for a half-breakaway on the tying goal, and giving Messier a tap in for the winner after taking the most blistering slapshot with one of the quickest releases you have ever seen. After he scored that goal, Messier was arm and arm with Leetch, both of whom were looking over at Alex Kovalev bewildered and amazed.
The Rangers spent the remaining minutes of the game shutting the Devils down with a hard trap, and killing a Glenn Anderson slashing penalty with just over two minutes to go. In the middle of that kill, Messier won his 22nd out of 31 draws, and the puck ended up back on his stick after shifting between the D, at which point the Moose shot it down the ice to complete the trick with an empty netter. And if you watch the game over again (like I did last night) Messier goes to a rabid Rangers bench, and the first person he goes to find is Alex Kovalev (as if to say, we did it buddy). After their moment, you can see Messier address his bench, and though I couldn't make out the words, you could assume he was telling them that they would not be stopped by anyone that year.
If you asked Alex Kovalev what the best game he ever played was, I'm close to certain he'd say it was that one. A game in which he was under the greatest pressure to perform, for a coach (Keenan) who knows how to really apply the pressure. A game that would ultimately give the Rangers the confidence to win the Stanley Cup. A game that completed a legend.
**********
When Kovalev was traded to Montreal, this city couldn't have been more excited, because the Kovalev they knew of was the one who was among leading scorers in 2000-2001. He was the Kovalev who lit the fire under Messier which pushed him over the edge of greatness. Since he's been in Montreal we've seen flashes of him...scoring beauties against Ottawa, or just flat out taking over games. When will we get to see the real Alexei Kovalev again?
I wouldn't use the preseason as a predicate to judgment in Kovalev's case, but if he does play with the type of zest he has exhibited in the last few games, we may finally see what we expect to see out of him.
He has the opportunity to play with two guys who speak his language, who are both offensively gifted. An opportunity to teach them how to be great as he once was, and still could be. He should be very excited about being given a second chance with the Canadiens. Knowing his personality, and how much he yearns to be adored, I expect Alexei Kovalev to be mad enough to prove to everyone that Game 6, 1994, wasn't one outstanding night in an ordinary career, but a reflection of the type of player Kovalev could be on any given night.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»