CSKA head coach Igor Nikitin recaps the road win in Nizhny Novgorod.
– It’s great to play in a stadium like this, this is great for the league and great for the city. It feels twice as good to win a game like that. I'm happy for the boys, they earned this win. The atmosphere is great. We talked about it before the game – we just need to go out there and enjoy it. You need to know how to win on the road, playing under that kind of pressure.
– How much harder did you have to grind for this win?
– Moscow was a grind too. It was a very tight game, but we finally cashed in on a power play at the end. Tough opponent, feels twice as good to get a win today.
– Giving up two power-play goals is it a blemish on the win?
– It’s a process. We conceded some unusual goals. These were just situational plays. They weren't accidental, but the main thing was how the team responded. We didn't let those goals get to us, we just kept battling.
– It felt like we pushed hard in the first period, but then deliberately sat back. Is this true?
– No. Torpedo stepped it up, and the game leveled out. You have to be able to play both ends of the ice. That was the main focus.
– Egor Zamula scored the game-winner. What do you think about his game?
– It was a sustained zone time attack, and Sorkin’s line did a lot of the dirty work. Parked the opponent's five-man in the defensive zone, and defensemen handled it at the blue line. Egor needs to adjust to the pace of the league and buy into the system. Everyone knows what kind of player he is, but guys coming back from overseas always need some adjustment time.
– Why was Alexander Samonov chosen for the match?
– The last game was his season debut, and the team did a lot to get him into the flow. He faced few shots. That's why we decided to start him today against a tough opponent. We need a goalie tandem we can rely on.
