The CSKA forward talked to reporters at an open training session about fans, personal statistics and playoff expectations.
- This is the fourth time in your career that you've been recognized as the best hockey player of the week. How can you evaluate your performance in the current season as a whole?
— Good enough (laughs). In all seriousness, it's hard to evaluate - this season is longer, so everyone's stats may be better. I guess the game can only be analyzed after the playoffs are over.
— What do you think about Severstal as a rival in the playoffs?
— This is a good and disciplined team that plays exclusively for the overall result. We need to prepare well, not to show weakness - to play at full strength, so that there were no surprises for us.
— Is the team in a working mood, is the CSKA team ready for the playoffs?
— Yes, of course. We've been in a working mood all season, and before the playoffs, everyone will be even more prepared.
— Do you have a few words for the fans before the start of the playoffs?
— I think I said after the match with Dynamo that when the stadium is full, it's a great atmosphere, it gives us a lot of energy. Those fans who are with us on the trips - huge respect to them. When you can hear the fans in the stands in a foreign arena - it's amazing, because we immediately turn on and give a result. We need an impulse from the fans, and they give it.
— This regular season was the longest in history. What can you say about this?
— I liked everything! If there are even more matches, I am ready to play even more. I think in this case it will be even more interesting for everyone to watch hockey. There will be more opportunities for viewers to watch on TV, in the stands - everyone is in the black here.
— According to the regular season, the victory score is 3:1 in favor of Severstal. Is it a coincidence or have they found some key to the CSKA?
- I repeat that Severstal is a good, disciplined team. Probably, somewhere we underestimated the opponent a little. I think we won't have that in the playoffs.
- There aren't so many CSKA players in the league's top sharpshooters. Why is this happening?
- In a nutshell, many teams have one forward group that spends a lot of time on the ice. We don't have that — everyone plays almost the same playing time. In general, we have a lot of players who scored a lot of points.
- Last season CSKA won the Gagarin Cup. Does this year feel the same, that the team is ready for the playoffs?
- What shape we're in is a question for our coaches. It's hard to say, last year is behind. We have already forgotten it. Yes, we're going into the playoffs as champions, but nobody thinks about that. Everything starts anew.
