- Waited for something, probably, not such an outcome from the first match?
- By itself. But in the playoffs nothing can be predicted in advance. Yes, today we lost, a little bit out of luck. But the series continues to three victories. We lose only 0-1, besides visiting. We will continue to prepare.
- So, do you think that Lada was unlucky today?
- In the third period, the game went on goal. Whoever scores first will win. And it so happened that we were not the first to score.
“But at first everything turned out well.” You opened an account, held the game in your hands. Therefore, they themselves are to blame?
- Yes, having taken the lead, we “rolled back” a bit, gave the initiative to the opponent ...
- Just three days ago you played with CSKA. We can say that they could not surprise each other.
- It's right. We knew that the army team played active hockey. Therefore, they tried to quickly remove the puck from their area, move the game away from it, to run back less and, accordingly, get tired.
- And when they got their second goal into their own net, did the coaches urgently rebuild the game?
- Yes, I had to act more actively. I think that precisely because of this we missed the third goal.
- Your partners argued with the referee regarding the goal of Dmitry Upper. What motivated?
- Well, I myself did not see this episode, therefore I did not argue. If the judge scored a goal, then there was a goal.
- They say that Upper scored him with a skate.
- They don’t wave their fists after the fight. Now what? You need to understand after the game. Counted - it means a goal. So they lost ...
- This missed puck psychologically influenced the team?
- Of course. And so, after all, they lost, tried to equalize, and then they missed another puck. The rival has already built a dense defense. And it became really hard. I had to play very active hockey ...
- Is it possible to say that you simply rushed forward headlong, because you missed Mikhailov’s attack, for the demolition of which the judge ordered a bullet?
- I’m talking about this. They played more actively, opened up, missed a counterattack, and now ...
- What did Anatoly Emelin say to the team after the game?
“What could he say?” Getting ready further. Just this. Indeed, one defeat does not end life. I have already said that the playoffs are a very unpredictable thing.
- If we are talking about unpredictability, are you sure that the eleventh team can beat the sixth? Indeed, in Russia such results practically do not happen.
- I won’t make a guess. But we will try very hard to win.
- Moreover, three days ago, however, in Togliatti, you managed to beat the army. Why then did it happen, but not today?
- There were too many deletions. Opponent often had a numerical advantage. And when you play four, you get tired much more.
“So tomorrow is a new fight?”
- Of course ( smiles ). Today's game has already been forgotten.
- Really? For your teammates this can not be said. Everyone comes out frowning, they refuse to interview.
“Well, why smile?” Still, they lost. Now we analyze the errors and we will prepare further. Tomorrow is a new game. So let's see who is whom ( smiles ).
- Will this match be decisive?
- Time will tell. The series is still up to three victories. We won two “zero” against Kazan three years ago.
Nikolay FEDORENKO