The CSKA forward Maxim Sorkin met with the media following the clash with the Spartak.
– The first game open to fans, a 4-0 shutout against our biggest rival. What are the emotions running through you right now?
– Yeah, good game, great turnout tonight. It’s been a while since we tasted this. It felt like playoff hockey atmosphere. And the bottom line, our job was to come out hard from the first shift and work.
- Speaking about the off-season, in your opinion, have Igor Nikitin's completely overhauled the system? It looks like the team tightened up defensively and got more aggressive on the forecheck.
– Not really. The expectations from last year were clear, it’s just that they keep tweaking things, so we’re just working on the areas we need to.
– Marat Khairullin clicked right away on your line with Prokhor Poltapov. How did you manage to get on the same so quickly?
– We’re still adjusting, but Marat and I go back to our national team days. We already have that chemistry, both on and off the ice.
What pointers did the head coach give you for the game and entire tournament?
– Pretty much the same as last season. We know our job, and we know why we’re out there.
– Did you have today new line combos and tweaks?
– Our pairing clicked from puck drop to the final horn today. Things changed, sure, but that's above my pay grade. That’s up to the coaching staff, our job is just to adapt.
– Nazar Privalov made a pretty confident debut as the 13th forward today. How is
he fitting into the room?
– I can't speak for him. I think every player goes through this period. I’ve been there too. I think he just needs some time to find get acclimated and adjusted.
– Thoughts on the new jerseys?
– I liked it. Finally, something fresh. We’ve been rocking the same exact jerseys for seasons. It's a breath of fresh air.
– Is there any difference in the level of rivalry between a Moscow derby in a standalone tournament and during the regular KHL season?
– Not at the moment, no. Like I said, that had a real playoff intensity to it. Great intensity, the fans were out in full force.
– At yesterday's KHL briefing, the league officially announced they are preparing the paperwork to scrap the closing-the-hand-on-the-puck rule. What do you think about this change?
– We played just one game against Dinamo, and we got called for a penalty like that. Speaking as a player, it’s hard to adjust in the heat of the moment. Whatever management decides, we’ll go with it. Our job is just to go out there and play.
– Maxim Mamin is back with CSKA. How did the room take it?
– Excellent. We go way back with Max, he’s one of the boys.
– Did his goal sparked the team?
– Yeah, basically, quick goals always fire the team up.
– Many experts view CSKA as a legit Cup contender this spring. How are we feeling about this?
– We don’t look at it; we don’t read it. We're still in August, we'll talk when spring comes.
