CSKA forward Marat Khairullin summarized the game against Traktor.
- We lost the first period buy then we scored five more goals. – How did you pull it together for such a dominant win?
– Yeah, it was a rough start. We had a slow start in the first ten. But then they managed to stabilize the game. We had some locker room talk. We have a good team; we know what to do. We talked it over, played our game, and stepped up the pace. The second period was ours, and that allowed us to reap the rewards in the third.
You got back on the scoresheet today after a few quiet games. How good does it feel to get it back?"
– It’s nice to score, but the main thing is the team win. That’s why we’re here: to put the team ahead of personal stats. Scoring is a nice bonus, but it’s no big deal if the goals aren’t coming. The most important thing is to win.
– The next match is again against Traktor. How convenient is a back-to-back series against the same team?
– It's not about whether it's convenient or not. It's like a playoff rehearsal, so to speak, when you play against the same team. It’s a similar story here, a good building block for the spring. But overall, nothing special, so we’re just getting ready.
– Traktor is having a tough season. Did your opponent surprise you in any way today because of that?
– Honestly, I really liked the way they take care of the puck: short passes, lots of possession. That's why I'm surprised to see them so low in the standings. The guys played a great game, and that’s what makes this win so special.
