How It's Used

“Last season, the Detroit Red Wings' most familiar unit was their five Russians - Igor Larionov, Sergei Fedorov, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Viacheslav Fetisov and Vladimir Konstantinov. This year, though, Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman broke the fivesome up, only using them as a unit in a couple games all season. He reunited them near the end of Detroit's 4-0 loss in Game Four, and then used them together for all of Game Five. The results were just what Bowman was looking for, as Kozlov got the game-winner in Detroit's 5-2 win off assists from Larionov and Fedorov."

—no author, “Return of the Russian Five,” Associated Press, April 25, 1997.

“With the Ducks sporting such speedsters as Kariya and Teemu Selanne, and the Wings countering with equal speed in the likes of Steve Yzerman and the Russian Five, reunited for the playoffs, some of the best hockey of the spring was expected. Instead, both teams played cautiously for the most part, neither caring to start any sequences of trading rushes. The only group playing what could pass for wide-open hockey was the Russian group of Sergei Fedorov, Igor Larionov and Slava Kozlov up front with defencemen Viacheslav Fetisov and Vladimir Konstantinov."

—David Shoalts, “Red Wings overcome Ducks in overtime,” The Globe and Mail, May 3, 1997, p. A22.

“What the Red Wings want to do: 1. More of the same, particularly its plan to take the attack to Colorado. 2. Use their last line change to have a favorable matchup for the Russian Five. 3. Pressure Patrick Roy when he comes out of his net to play the puck."

—Kevin Allen, “Western Conference Final,” USAToday, May 19, 1997.

“Slava Kozlov is the most unheralded member of the Detroit Red Wings' Russian Five. He lacks the glamour of poster boy Sergei Fedorov, who dazzles in multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns designed to get you to buy overpriced sporting goods. He lacks the experience and venerability of Russian icons Igor Larionov and Viacheslav Fetisov, the old-timers who led the Russian Revolution in the NHL. He lacks the irascibility and reputation of defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov, the Russian Chris Chelios. He lacks, quite simply, pizazz."

—Dave Luecking, “Speak Softly…Kozlov Lets His Stick Do the Talking,” The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 21, 1997, p. D08.

“It won't be too much of a stretch for some Canadians to cast Lindros as a single combat warrior against the Red Wings, who used to be Canada's most bitter hockey rival. Detroit features a group called the Russian Five, which includes a rugged defenseman named Vladimir Konstantinov. The Lindros-Konstantinov matchup is the sort of thing that sharp television directors will isolate with their cameras.”

—Joe Lapointe, “Flyers' Standout Is Barreling His Way to Historic Showcase in Finals,” The New York Times, May 30, 1997, p. B7.

Links

Related on eAlmanac
The Five

Beyond eAlmanac
Wikipedia article on the Russian Five