The team mentors summed up the results of today's match.
Sergey Fedorov, head coach of CSKA:
- Cheers to "Avangard". The third goal we conceded was unusual. From the outside it seemed that there was a "high puck", but a goal is a goal. After that, we created enough chances, but we didn't score. I told the players that they did well, a good game. The second period was ambiguous, of course. We seemed to have the advantage, 4 minutes of the majority, but at the end we scored. It's a good game, we don't play that often, so it's a great experience for us. We gave ourselves a chance, but the challanger in some moments, especially at the end, turned out to be better. We are preparing further.
— What is going on with your coaching staff? Not everyone could be here today?
— The guys are sick.
— How much was the "nerve" felt if we compare this match with the games of the final series against "Avangard"? There were finals, here you said it was a brilliant match. Is it possible to draw any parallels? Or is it a routine game of "regulars"?
— I think such games arouse great interest among the fans, but in terms of our team, we prepared normally. We analyzed the "Avangard" game, we understood how they would play. Our players showed good hockey, gave it their best, had a definite advantage in the second period, forced the challenger to send off in the third period. Still, with the score 2-2, from the outside, without looking at the game, it seemed that we played a lot in the challenger's zone. Therefore, we can say that the game brought some satisfaction, but we are dissatisfied with the result.
— 4 guys born in 2003 played at once, how satisfied are you with them? One of them was even in the first link, it is seen how your school works. It is clear that, probably, this is a forced measure.
— A measure is a measure, the players got a chance, they're using it. It's not the easiest entrance to adult hockey, but they do everything and help our team, we work with them further, help them get used to it, and then we'll see. Yes, we have a lot of sick people, but all teams go through this.
— CSKA has not been playing very consistently lately, but at the same time it shows the character. There is some kind of swing. What is the reason for this? With the soreness when people drop out, or some instability?
— We have always said — this is a long season, it will be a difficult season, everyone will play enough hockey, as they say "from young to old". Maybe it's the impact of 35 games played, last year it was more than half the season, now it's exactly half. We play more than we train, I think it's unusual for our guys to play 11-12 games a month, and that's with the movements. One can relate to this point. Plus, we are a good irritant, all the teams are against us, regardless of the position in the standings, they play very well, energetically, so I tip my hat to to our players. They play, they strive, they work. Some things work out, some things don't. This is a certain experience that we need before the end of the championship, before the start of the playoffs.
- In several previous games the first period wasn't the best, did you pay attention to that? What was the plan for the match in general?
— We always analyze mistakes, it's the component we need. The plan for today's match was to play energetically in attack, even without a puck, and to play very tightly in the middle zone, in the defense zone, to try not to give the challenger time for a positional attack, especially the first two or three links.
Mikhail Kravets, head coach of "Avangard":
— First of all, I want to congratulate the whole team on a good game, and of course, on the victory. Congratulations to the fans, too. We had a tough road trip series, we had some tough games against "Severstal" and "Lokomotiv", today is our final game, it is possible to say with the best team of the Western Conference. Therefore, it was very difficult, goals and everything else were difficult. Well done for standing in the minority for 4 minutes. There were a lot of positive moments, the most important thing is that the players gave their all to win, and we did it today, scored good goals. We are returning home, resting, preparing for the home series.
— First of all, I wonder why you put CSKA above SKA, what made them seem like the best team in the West? How do you distinguish CSKA in terms of the game and everything else? Of course, they know how to win back from 0:3, but why do you think they are the best?
— Well, you see, you answer your own question. They know how to win back from 0:3, they know how to win and score right away. Four links moving, at good speeds, no rolling. And yet it's CSKA, they were the leader of our hockey, and they remain at this stage.
— They had four players born in 2003 in their lineup today. How much did it surprise you and how did it change CSKA's game?
— I think it's more likely that someone got sick, so some of the main ones didn't come out. The two main links were very decent, and the youth did not spoil the game, I think. It was hard for us to play against them, too.
— Do you see that CSKA is like a red rag for a bull for Tolchinsky?
— I think it's fiction. Of course, when you played at a club and wanted to stay there, and they didn't keep you, there's always a letdown. And a person, of course, adds somewhere in such games in energy and in everything else. But Sergey is our team leader, he plays like that in all matches. Today, there were just moments where the players helped him and created well, and he solved these situations. We know he can score.
— Is the team with Boucher and without Boucher completely different?
— Of course, there is no leader who scores a lot. And the first link also scores due to this, and the team wins. Although with "Lokomotiv", I think Gritsyuk played very well in this link, and it looked very good.
— You said hello to Plyushchev, it's already splashed all over the Telegram channels. How much do experts like Plyushchev and Kozhevnikov stick under your skin, maybe motivate you?
— In this sense, I said hello and conveyed that this is also motivation for me. Purely humanly, it's just emotions, and you don't always read, it's not always pleasant. You know, for some reason in Russia, coaches are constantly being told that everything is bad. Guys, go to the wheel yourself, or remember how you played. We need to support our team and fight for them. To help, educate, teach, call, prompt. We are from the same country, we should not be against each other.
— If "Avangard" organizes a Plushchev seminar, will you allow it to be done? He will come here and share his experience.
— For God's sake. If he has something to share, then please. And, by the way, when I studied at the Nikolai Georgievich Puchkov Higher School of Coaches, he just came and passed on some experience anyway. That's why he taught me how to play properly.
— Do you have any fears that after today's reaction, you and your team will be criticized even more strenuously?
— Maybe you're right. When I played in America, I was taught that when you get annoyed, you need to smile and say that of course everything is like that. So I'm going to behave like this from now on. Once they managed to lead me to such actions, but everything is fine, we will survive.
— Only one person from "Avangard", which has been playing very well for the last month, especially with you, is going to the All-Star Game - Tolchinsky. Is it fair, what do you think?
— Firstly, there are people who decide this. On the other hand, but others will rest, we will train together, we will prepare.
— Very serious opponents are waiting at home, and lately "Avangard" often plays three forward groups and three pairs of defenders, and there are no reinforcements. Are any of the injured expected soon?
— Not yet, but we will now attract Ivan Miroshnichenko and other young guys, we will take someone from the VHL, perhaps Trikozov. There are also two defenders – Gulyaev and Davydov, we will attract them at the home series.
— Will we see Miroshnichenko's debut in the next match?
— I hope so. We are planning to work with "Tractor".
