The 20-year-old CSKA team forward shared his emotions after his debut goal in the KHL game against Dynamo Riga.
- Two weeks ago, you asked me when I would interview you. We agreed that it would be right after your debut point. Admit it, did you want to comment that bad?
- I've been meaning to score for a long time. Not that I was worried but I knew I had to do it already. It happened that I was lucky to stand on the goal crease and the puck flew to me.
- At first, the goal was credited to Artem Blazhievsky. Did you get upset?
- I cannot say so. I would have had the first point anyway. But then it was re-recorded.
- What emotions did you feel right after such a long-awaited goal?
- When I couldn't score, I didn't feel very comfortable. I realized that I was training, working with everyone but not scoring. My subconscious was like, "Well, when is it coming?" I`m very glad, I`ll continue to work and, hopefully, I`ll continue to score.
- You made two debuts today - you were named MVP in the game against Yokerit by Anton Slepyshev. How important is that to you?
- It's always nice when they call you the MVP of the game. I am grateful to Anton that he picked me. I hope it was the right choice (smiling).
- Do you think the goal will spur your further results?
- It felt like a weight off my mind. Hopefully, after that puck, I'll be able to play more calmly. To be honest, before that I had a lot of opportunities to score but something always went wrong - I shot higher, then lower, somewhere past me, or vice versa - I didn't shoot but passed. And now you understand that you can bring an episode to a conclusion by yourself. I’ve proved it to myself.
- Who, besides your teammates, were the first to congratulate you?
- When I opened my phone, the first messages I saw were from my mother and my girlfriend. I received a lot of congratulations on Instagram and WhatsApp.
- How can you evaluate the game against Dynamo Riga?
- We played more in the offence than in the defense. At the beginning of the second period we didn't rebuild well enough after the conceded goal. Riga became more active. But thank God at the end of the second frame we started to play our hockey and score the goals.
- There is no time to relax - in one day we have the game with the championship leader, Metallurg. What's your mindset?
- Everyone knows what team we have to play with. And everyone remembers what was the result in Magnitogorsk. The guys will get all motivated, everyone wants to win and to take first place in the table. I think we're ready for that.
