Igor Larionov speaks after game two against CSKA

HC SKA head coach Igor Larionov:

"It's a difficult defeat for us to accept. The playoffs consist of good and bad moments, and right now we're 0-2 down. We have to be better. In order to win our first match of the series, every player on the ice has to give even more than 100%."

Losing despite scoring early...

"The goal which we conceded at the end of the first period was a bad sign. Yegor Savikov did everything right, but the puck took a wicked ricochet off the boards. CSKA's second goal was also a gift; we shouldn't have lost the puck at the blue line. We have to get rid of such mistakes from our game and play our own brand of ice hockey. When you trail against CSKA, they make it a scrappy game and it's so tough to move into their zone. You lose an awful lot of energy just trying to get near their net."

Markus Phillips starting in attack and moving back in defence...

"We made that decision as a consequence of losing Pavel Koledov to injury. Markus is a defenseman and feels most comfortable in defence, but we thought that his experience would help the younger guys in our fourth line."

Defensive problems...

"We're really missing Trevor Murphy. Moreover, we have also long been playing without Nikita Zaitsev. We want to play in a dynamic manner, dishing out intelligent passes and controlling the puck effectively. This is what we want to do when playing in Saint Petersburg on Friday.

"It's important to remember that we've only played two games. We want to ensure that the guys feel positive, avoid falling into an emotional hole and play as they can. The fact that we scored while competing 6-on-5 should give us a confidence boost."

Faceoff problem...

"Yes, it is an issue. We're constantly analysing CSKA. However, faceoffs depend on not just the centre forwards. Players around them should provide assistance by winning the puck, taking control of the deflections. We need to battle harder, show desire and determination to win the neutral pucks."

Losing out on both creases...

"We are speaking about this all of the time. We have to win the battles on our crease, give Artemiy Pleshkov the opportunity to see the puck and remove CSKA's players from the slot. At the other end, we also need to win the battles. Unfortunately, we're not doing that at the moment. We will work on this component before Friday."

Valentin Zykov's injury...

"Valentin had an operation today, so his season is sadly over. It's a real shame, especially given that he had just started scoring goals again."

How SKA can turn the series around...

"You always look for the positives to come out of any game. There's no point in looking too far ahead, we simply have to focus on winning the third match on Friday. We have to improve our faceoffs, be more physical on our crease, win the battles in front of CSKA's net and compete with pace, creativity. The details require improvement."

If Pleshkov needs a rest...

"He'll have a rest this evening! Artemiy is continuing to give us a chance. Regardless of all of the difficulties, you have to take to the ice and give your all. As coaches, we will ensure that our goalkeepers receive the required support, our defensemen improve and start winning the battles on the crease. We have to be more aggressive in attack."