Alexei Ponikarovsky: "If you don't get nervous, there's no point in playing"

- It turned out to be quite a tough game today.

- Firstly, it's not a secret that everyone is going to play tight against us and give their all. We simply need to morally prepare better as to not make mistakes which can lead to conceding cheap goals.

- When you scored, did you shoot or pass across and help for the best?

- I saw that Svyatoslav Grebenshchikov skated on to the crease waiting for a feed. I passed across the slot, and as the goaltender went to sweep it away with his stick the puck went right through him. Any goal is nice.

- How was it to play with such young line partners?

- I think that the guys played well in attack as well as tracking back in defence. It was their debut, and of course there were nerves. They did well though, and I think that they dealt with the task at hand. They have to keep going in the same vein.

- Did you have to calm them down at all?

- No. All they had to do was to work their first shift, make contact, touch the puck and I think that all of their nerves were lost. It's normal that it was a nervy moment for them. If you aren't nervous, then there's no point in going out at all.

- You begun your career together with Dinamo's Alexey Kalyuzhniy. Did you speak together at all?

- I don't know what plans they had after the game. Yes, it's true that we began playing together, and until 2000 when I left he was still playing in the first team. He's a good guy and player. Usually we talk a bit a wish each other luck, the main thing is to not pick up an injury.

- Did Ilya Kovalchuk's nose injury pump you up a bit more?

- The referees missed that episode. Maybe they will pay more attention next time. It was 2:1 with the final minutes running down, and we played hard during the final two minutes.