- Is it difficult to be a captain when such hockey players as Ilya Kovalchuk, Sergey Gonchar play in the team?
“You know, stop asking such questions.” You all think that we have weak hockey players in Russia. It’s as if there cannot be high-level players here. But this is not so. And the Kazan five, the best in the tournament, vivid evidence of this.
- Good. Then explain what happened to the team at the beginning of the third period, when the Finns almost saved the game.
- We just started to move away, and the opponent managed to realize a numerical advantage. You just need to play more disciplined.
- And yet, the team managed not to lose concentration and did not "swim".
- We just set up a team game and discipline. And there was enough patience. And patience in such matches means a lot.
“Didn't you have to reassure your partners?”
“I always try to do it.” And when I'm sitting on the bench I will definitely tell the guys what they need. On the bench, you know better what is happening.
- Do you agree that the real championship began with this match?
- Of course. After all, we played with the Finns for first place in the group. And there will be no further passing games. The fate of seeding in the playoffs is being decided.
- You had a wonderful two periods against the Finnish team. When did you feel that the opponent is broken?
- When Jarkko Ruuto received a five-minute fine. It was the most stupid mistake on the part of the Finnish team. During this time, we managed to score one goal, and then we owned the initiative. Finns are great tired for this stretch.
- How would you describe the game of the Russian team in one word?
- Perseverance.
- Now you will have a two-day pause. She will not do harm? Do not lose the game tone?
- We will not lose. On the contrary, we will only recover and will keep our level. We will do everything that depends on us. The head coach, and the whole staff knows what needs to be done.
“Do you think Ruutu wanted to hurt you?”
- I do not know. I still thought that he played very dirty. But we punished him for this.
“If you still have to meet the Finns, take revenge on Ruut?”
- I will not take revenge. We will try to just punish the opponent for every mistake.
- But the winning goal against the Finnish national team is revenge on your part?
- No, not revenge. This is just a goal. Revenge was the realization of the majority by one of our links.
Alexey Shevchenko