Bogatyrev Upbeat as Postseason Draws Near

[Bojovnik 487]

Whisper it quietly, but the VHLE may just be a three-horse race.

 

Several weeks back, it looked like the only two contenders for the VHLE crown this season would be the Oslo Storm. The early-season leaders have topped the table all year, although their gap at the peak has shortened over the past 10 games due to inconsistent form.

 

In second place, as they have been for pretty much all season, are the Bratislava Watchmen. Blessed with the post defence and goaltending tandem in the league, the Watchmen have been able to stymie most of the VHLE.

 

And then we had the also-rans, or so we thought. The Cologne Express started the season off in a bad way, going 2-8-1 before turning their campaign around.

 

Now the German side sit in third place with an impressive record of 37-21-8, boasting both the second best defensive and offensive records. They are now four points ahead of fourth-placed Stockholm Vikings, and a further three ahead of Vasteras.

 

The Express look to be the form team going into the postseason, having recently taken three out of a possible four points during a double-header against the Storm, and forward Yaroslav Bogatyrev told journalists after the German side’s 4-1 victory over Stockholm that the Express were feel confident.

 

“We know that there are only six games left in the regular season. It’s unlikely that we will move up in the standings, but it’s also crucial for us that we go into the playoffs on a good run of form. Confidence is high in the group, and I think both our offensive and defensive units are clicking at just the right time,” Bogatyrev said on Sunday.

 

The Russian-born forward has grown into his role throughout the season, moving up from the team’s second unit to now holding a spot on the first line. After a slow start, Bogatyrev now sits with a respectable 54 points in 66 games.

 

Scouts have been most impressed with Bogatyrev’s contribution without the puck. Many expected that the Nizhnii Tagil native would shirk from his defensive responsibilities, and as a result, they have been surprised to see Bogatyrev emerge as a solid two-way option. His +29 rating is the best on the Express, and his penalty kill minutes have increased as the season has gone on.

 

“I knew that it would be difficult moving up into the VHLE after playing only half a season in the VHLM. I had an honest conversation with the Express management and my own representatives, who said that if I wanted to be successful, I would need to work on my defensive game. I’ve done that, I’ve seen the results, and I think that it has also given me more time on the puck than I would have got otherwise,” he commented.

 

Bogatyrev’s fine offensive form has seen the Russian-forward outpace other top S86 VHL Entry Draft prospect The Frenchman, leading the former to question his own status as the #1 ranked player heading into the draft.

 

When asked by journalists for his comment on this, Bogatyrev provided a rather vague summation.

 

“I don’t think it is important who goes first. I know that I’ve had some luck with the numbers this season, but I know that The Frenchman is a centre, and he will be super valuable to any team that he is selected to. I don’t consider myself to be competing with him. Is it a sort of motivation? Perhaps, but I think we’re both focused on our own games,” Bogatyrev remarked.