Igor Larionov speaks after defeating Neftekhimik on the road

HC SKA head coach Igor Larionov:

“First of all, I want to congratulate our guys with their victory and good performance. Yes, the scoreline is emphatic, but we had to be patient while our goalkeeper was kept busy. He kept us in the game and prevented Nizhnekamsk from getting close. Nizhnekamsk is a small city, but it’s always great to play here and the locals love their ice hockey. Taking into account that it’s always challenging to play at this arena, we’re delighted with the result. Thank you to our travelling fans for their support.”

Artemiy Pleshkov’s performance…

“Everyone on the ice has to play well in order to achieve positive results. When the goalkeeper is solid, the skaters consequently gain confidence. We have young goalkeepers in our team, but they’re constantly improving while gaining vital experience. Artemiy really was excellent in our net today. However, on the other hand, we can’t allow our opponents to register 42 shots on target. This statistic means that we have certain aspects of our game which require improvement.”

Marat Khairullin’s 2+2 display…

“He used to play for Neftekhimik? I didn’t even know that! When a player returns to a city where he once played, he always competes with extra motivation. Both Marat and Matvei Korotky were superb today. He asked to play more in the closing minutes, but I told him that I wanted the younger guys to receive ice time. Overall, Marat was fantastic in this match.”