Photo: Official site of HC CSKA
- Today CSKA was unrecognizable. Why didn’t you close such a game in Kazan?
- We simply did not have enough emotions. They all went to the quarter finals with Ufa. And yesterday we had a day of rest, we managed to regain our strength, comprehend what happened in Kazan and prepare for this game. And yet, of course, the filled stands played a huge role. I would like to see such a full house all the time. But it mainly depends on our game. If the team shows good hockey, no doubt, even in Moscow, fans will fill the stands.
- You noted a lack of emotions. But in the first two matches it seemed that, rather, there was a lack of “physics”.
“I would not say that.” We were simply unsettled by the quick goals of Ak Bars. If there were no forces, we would not be able to recover in one day and win the third match. Because our team is young, it is quickly recovering. So, there are forces, do not hesitate.
- And why, say, in the second meeting for the time being you played in an organized manner, and in the last five minutes of the first and second periods slowed down and your opponent scored goals?
- I repeat, we have a young team. Some guys first went so far into the playoffs. They need to gain experience in order to play their strength. And I don’t think that we were slowing down somewhere.
- Back to the third game. Your mood, it seemed, was simply transcendental.
- Everything seems to be as usual. You don’t have to set anyone up for Ak Bars. This is the champion of the country, the best team of the regular season.
- But the fact that your opponent is so strong did not help you more accurately play in defense. Many mistakes were made again.
- No one is safe from mistakes. And our victory suggests that we completed the installation of the coach.
- When in the end “Ak Bars” took off the goalkeeper, did your knees not shake? True, the “leopards" really did not succeed in the final assault. But the moment is still not easy.
- No, nothing was shaking. I think that it was much harder for us in the quarterfinal series. And now we are just playing fun. Because we feel completely relaxed.
- Due to what did you manage to turn the tide of the meeting, having missed the first again?
- I will say this: at first they beat us, we did not score. Then we were not scored, but we scored. And so it was broken.
- Do you agree that Ak Bars was not like itself today? There was no feeling that Kazan was already mentally in the finals?
- I do not know. This should be asked from them. I admit that such a thought crept into my head. And they thought they would beat us as easily as they did in Kazan. On the other hand, they should still have imagined that in Moscow our full stands and a completely different game are waiting for them.
- Perhaps you especially succeeded in the second period. Is there an explanation?
- Of course. We lost after the first. Of course, I wanted to level the game and translate it into its mainstream. Plus, some words of Vyacheslav Arkadevich (Bykov), said during the break, had an impact.
- In the playoffs, a lot depends on the goalkeeper's game - this is a very popular opinion. Not playing in the second match, and therefore a little rested Simchuk helped a lot?
- I think Kostya played just great. If you return to the first match, then his actions probably affected fatigue after the games with Salavat Yulaev. I repeat, but then it was really very difficult for everyone.
- Yuri, answer honestly. CSKA completed and even exceeded all the tasks assigned to it for the season. Are you rushing to the finals now?
- As they say, the soldier who does not dream of becoming a general is bad. And in our situation, this saying is quite applicable. We simply must strive for more. Yes, Ak Bars. Yes champion. Yes, he has the first link. But there are guys like us playing there.
Nikolay FEDORENKO