- Everyone is very worried about the loss of Alexei Morozov. How do you feel about this?
- The loss of any Russian national team fighter is difficult. Moreover, such a hockey player as Frost. Team leader, playing just fine. But what to do? He will continue to be next to us, in the locker room. He has vast experience, Alexey will support the guys with some advice.
- At the last moment, Evgeny Nabokov refused to participate in the World Cup. Don't you think that this is also a serious loss?
- Yes, it seems to me (pah, pah, pah) that we already have order with the composition. As for Eugene, this is his personal decision. I do not blame anyone. Nabokov had a conversation with the coach. I think they all discussed.
- Many believe that he showed delicacy without coming to the team. Delivered Vyacheslav Bykov from a difficult decision before the semi-finals.
- May be. But, you see, this is not even interesting to me. Let the trainers think who came and who did not. I need to focus on hockey. Three days left until the end of the tournament.
- But it would be a very difficult dilemma - who to set the semi-final for.
- A good goalkeeper will not hurt anyone. The coach just decides who goes to the match.
- Did it help you psychologically that you scored one point in the quarterfinals? Prior to this, in the playoffs you did not manage to excel.
- I somehow did not think about it. This is all you, journalists, remember such trifles. Most importantly, the Russian team won and took a step towards the goal that was set. And whoever scores points there is all the same.
- Can Sergey Brylin replace Alexei Morozov? What do you think of this player?
- Brylin did not come to replace Morozov. He came to help the Russian team. Sergey is a great player, he won three Stanley Cups. He knows what victory is. An additional trump card appeared in Bykov’s hands, and he knows how to use it.
- I was surprised that after a hard match with the Czechs you went on the roll the very next day.
- And I like to ride. Only three days left. And then I will throw the skates into the far corner. I won’t play until September.
- Do you feel that Alexander Ovechkin does not look too confident?
- What do you mean, not very confident? I personally told him that at such tournaments it does not matter if you score ten goals or one. The most important thing is how you will look after the tournament. Or you have to walk with your head bowed or with your head held high. I think that Alexander fulfills his role in the team. He is the national team leader. Does enough for the team. And though not everything works out, Sasha is doing great.
- The game with the Finns starts at 15.15. Not too early?
- I feel very good during the day, like the other guys.
- Have you watched the match between the teams of Finland and the USA?
- I saw only shootouts. By the way, when they told me that there would be shootouts, I immediately made a prediction that the Finns would win. Lehtonen feels very good in this component. We have never lost a series in the NHL when he was at the gate.
- Before the shootouts, in general, the matter cannot be brought.
- Why put off the victory in the long run? It is necessary to show sharp hockey from the first minutes. We still have to rehabilitate ourselves for Turin.
- After Morozov’s injury, are you ready to take on the execution of the shootout during the match?
- If the coach says.
- You should know better than anyone how to score Lehtonen?
- He is able to score every player in our team.
- But you probably can get you crazy?
“I doubt anyone can do this.” Lehtonen, like most goalkeepers, is very phlegmatic. I can’t imagine what can infuriate him.
Alexey Shevchenko