Igor Larionov speaks after beating Dinamo in Minsk

HC SKA head coach Igor Larionov:

“It’s always nice to win in Minsk! Whenever I visit this city, I’m always impressed with just how clean it is. In terms of the game itself, I think that everyone enjoyed it. I would like to congratulate my players with our victory. Games against Dinamo are really challenging, so I’m proud of how our guys competed out there. We displayed unity, character and discipline to withstand the pressure.”

Three wins from three Minsk visits…

“We have a professional approach for every match. As I have already said, I enjoy playing here in Minsk. The fans here create a fantastic atmosphere. All of our games here were tough. Would we consequently like to face Dinamo in the playoffs? We aren’t thinking about the playoffs yet. Instead, we’re just taking it game by game. Dinamo are a strong, balanced side with plenty of talented foreigners. Every player understands his respective role.”

Not taking any penalties…

“We understand just how strong Minsk are on the powerplay. Of course, we’re happy that our players listened to us and played well with discipline and honesty.”

Satisfaction with the team’s physical shape…

“You can never be fully satisfied. Overall, it was a tense game in which both teams had enough chances to score. We have to be honest, of course, and we got a bit lucky. Nevertheless, we have a lot of things which require improvement. I have no doubt that we will improve further.”