Alexei Ponikarovsky: "It seems as though I have spent all of my life in Saint Petersburg"

- SKA have changed a lot since Sergei Zubov became head coach. What is different inside the team?

- We simply understand where we are, and what we need to do in order to qualify for the playoffs. Everyone is 100% focused. We're trying not to be distracted from our goal.

- Everyone is saying that SKA are playing like last season's championship winning team again, in a more attacking style.

- We want to play more dangerously going forward, and score more goals. However, that doesn't mean that we have forgotten about the defence. If we play well at the back, we will have chances in the attack. This is our style.

- What has changed for you personally? You have scored two goals recently.

- Our team is changing for every game. While some guys were injured, I went up to Ilya Kovalchuk's and Alexander Kadeikin's line. The main thing for me is to do my job and help the team.

- When the Ice Palace shouts your name when you skate out, do you take emotions from that?

- You feel emotions when playing in any line. If you are playing, you should be in top physical and mental form. Nevertheless playing in the first line adds responsibility.

- Do you remember the first time that you played in one line with Ilya Kovalchuk?

- That was for New Jersey. Since then, Ilya hasn't changed at all - he still plays in the same way. It's always nice when you have a top level player with you. I try to make more space for him to play in.

- When you scored against HC Barys Astana with Ilya assisting, he congratulated you warmly. Did you worry about the fact that you hadn't scored for a long time?

- I was given other tasks. I always want to score goals and give out assists, but I should play in the position that I am given. When I scored, I and my friends were happy.

- What did Ilya say to you at that moment?

- Nothing special. We simply celebrated the goal together. Before that marker it was 2:1, and Barys were close. We managed to get set up in their zone and score a good goal.

- Knowing Sergei Zubov well, has he changed at all since becoming head coach?

- No, not really. He just has more responsibility now, and we have a lot of respect for him. We want to fight and win for him, and it's nice when it works out and we win. There is a great team spirit and mood at the moment!

- As he is a new head coach starting out, has Sergei reached out to veterans for advice?

- There is always a special relationship between veterans and the coaches, the captains and assistant captains. There should be communication.

- What impressions were you left with by Sergei Zubov when playing against him as a player?

- It was really difficult to play against him. He has a lot of experience, and skates brilliantly. He saw the ice really well, and gave out great passes. He was a dangerous defenceman. When playing against such a player, you have a lot of respect.

- Can Sergei display his skills at training?

- Yes, his capability has remained. After training we often play five on five in one zone, and it's clear that he has remained an unbelievable player. The years are going on, but his skating and style of playing remain forever. At training, you just have to look at how he holds the puck and looks for teammates.

- During the previous road trip to Kazan, Tolyatti, Yaroslavl and Sochi, was it hard to get used to the different time zones and climates?

- For me personally, long flights don't hold any problems. I'm used to it. We needed to take as many points as possible during that away series, and we fought in every match.

- Does the team pay attention to the situation in the table, or just try to take it one game at a time?

- We know where we are. Our task is to play every match like it's our last. Not many games are left, and soon a break is coming up. We need to do well before the Channel One Cup break.

- Having lived in Saint Petersburg for a long time now, have you got used to it yet?

- Yes, I didn't have any problems. Me and my family loved the city immediately. Here everything is very convenient and accessible. There were good schools for our children. We really like it here, and at times it seems as though we have spent all of our life in Saint Petersburg.

- Does the weather in November and December not annoy you?

- Well, we can't control it ourselves. When you're busy with work, you don't pay attention to the weather. On game days you go to the rink early in the morning, get ready, rest, and then go to the stadium for the match. Games are coming every two days. I'm constantly busy. Even when there are just usual training days, you spend a lot of time on the ice. Time flies quickly, there's no time to pay attention to the weather.

- In the autumn, you took part in a charity tennis match on Palace Square. Tell us about it...

- Alexander Medvedev asked all who love tennis to take part in this event dedicated to the start of the Saint Petersburg Open. This tournament was a very important event for the city and tennis fans. Ilya Kovalchuk was injured, so he couldn't play. I spoke with Joakim Lindstrom, and he wanted to play too. It was nice to play in a pair with professional tennis players.

- Who were you paired up with?

- My partner was Anastasia Myskina.

- Did you win your match?

- We played in games. I won three, as did Joakim Lindstrom. We played two or three sets.

- Did you take any tennis tips from Anastasia Myskina?

- She's a professional. Looking at how she moves, gets her racket around the ball, makes here shots, there is a big difference between her and us. We're not tennis professionals after all. It was interesting, but I didn't take any tips. To play tennis well, you need to train a lot.