The head coaches of the CSKA and the Severstal summed up the game.
– Despite the fact that we were leading 2-0, we didn’t start off well. And then we reached the speed of Severstal and were competitive. The guys scored good goals, we're going to get to work.
– The second line has only played faceoffs in its own zone six times in the last five games, about 13 percent of its total faceoff shifts. Is this a coincidence or a deliberate decision?
– We have no prejudices regarding the play on face-offs towards Zernov. It's just that today a young player, Maistrenko, was playing in this trio; we were taking care of him so that there wouldn't be any unnecessary stress. We don't change the central players in our zone during the game, but we look at who is fresher and who is going against whom.
– How would you rate the performance of Ivan Drozdov, who scored three points today?
– The guys appreciated his performance and praised him in the locker room. I think it's well-deserved – and a minority, and good energy, a lot of rough work. God grant that it will be stable.
– After the second period, you argued about something with the referee. Is this because of the moment with Guryanov’s penalty?
– I didn’t argue with him, we talked. I was simply commenting on the rule that currently exists in the league. There are some who exploit it. Hockey is a man's game. I saw such moments four times this season, both in our games and in others. For example, I forbid my team from doing these things. We've all played hockey and we know that if there's no hit, there's no pain. When there is a hit, I agree, but now the guys are taking advantage of it. You can't turn hockey into any other scenarios. I talked to Vladimir about this, he says that they have this attitude: if such a situation happens, it’s five minutes. In our time they wouldn't even give two minutes for that.
– Nick Ebert was contracted. Is this a replacement for Vladislav Provolnev? Is it true that he is out for the rest of the season?
– Unfortunately, yes, that's true, we had a moment. That's why they signed Ebert's in the very last minutes. We are waiting for him to receive a visa. And tomorrow we're expecting Klim Kostin.
– You've wanted to see Kostin for a long time. What are his strengths? And was it difficult to part with Kirill Dolzhenkov?
— We spoke with Kirill yesterday, today he said goodbye to the team. This is part of our job. There are not only hockey matters, but also contractual ones. Moreover, Avangard couldn’t just give up Kostin; they asked for a combat unit. We expect a level of skill from Klim, he is a power forward, plus he has character and winning experience. This is what our team needs. My most heartfelt thanks to Kirill. This is a cool guy, an ultimate man. Only the best words about him.
– It's said that Dolzhenkov wants to go to the NHL. How ready do you think he is for this?
– The fact that he is progressing now is clear, compared to last year. I see him developing. A smart guy in life. He has qualities that cannot be taught: he has gaming intelligence, skill, character, and human qualities. The only thing I think needs to be improved to play in the best league in the world is the amount of skating.
– You played six games against Severstal this season and won four. Would it be comfortable to play against this team in the playoffs?
– The teams I coached never chose a playoff opponent. If you want to be a winner, you have to beat any team. I think that the place the Severstal is slotting is well-deserved. But we don’t look that far ahead; we focus on our own game.
– When you play a team like CSKA, an organized team that plays well defensively, we initially gave them too big a handicap and an edge, and it was very difficult to come back. The key moment was probably the game with unequal numbers. I mean the five minutes that our opponents gave us. But we didn't use it.
– Kirill Pilipenko has left the team. Is it fair to say that he simply didn't fit into the game you're currently putting on?
– Kirill Pilipenko is currently a hockey player for the Avangard hockey club. We thank Kirill Pilipenko for his work and play.
– Could we say that Shostak is getting through some kind of crisis, since you replaced him today, just like in the last game. Skotnikov, a CSKA graduate, would certainly like to play from the starting minutes. Was this option on the table?
– I do not evaluate the individual actions of our players. We lost today. So I was wrong.
— It seems that Skotnikov is lacking playing practice more games in the KHL. The same thing came out in games before with CSKA, Admiral, and now Severstal. Although he plays well when he goes on the ice.
– He played great today and gave us a chance to stay in the game. Thanks to him.
– In the last games, Severstal, of course, gives it its all, until the end, as always. But there is a feeling that the team is already gradually preparing for the playoffs. Let's say he plays with this idea a little. Or is it not so?
– No, that's most likely not the case. We always play until the end. You said it right. Today is no exception. Of course, we are working on preparing for the playoffs: we are practicing various elements and already keeping it in mind. But we are not focused on this. We still try to win every game and play to win.
– С ЦСКА в этом регулярном чемпионате больше матчей не будет. All six games were played: 4-2 in favor of CSKA. It turned out to be a kind of playoff series. And there is a chance that the teams will meet in the playoffs. How is CSKA tough for Severstal?
– We don't look that far ahead. The tournament standings are so tight that it's unclear who will play whom. And you can never guess who you’ll play with. All teams are tough opponents, and there are no easy games.
– There is a season streak in favor of CSKA, which has ended. There is an unsuccessful game, a series against Dynamo. Can we say that this style is still inconvenient for Severstal? When the opponents are physically dominant, let's say.
– Well, you see: when we play our game, we can beat these teams.
