Alexei Ponikarovsky: "We showed character"

- Matches between Ak Bars are always very tense, just like during the playoffs.

- Both teams want to win. The game went without any compromises, there were a lot of hits, plenty of powerplays, and both teams created chances. We couldn't pressure them enough in the end, but we did hit the post. Ak Bars won, but our guys showed character.

- Did you really want to beat Ak Bars in Kazan?

- We want to win every game. It's a different matter altogether about who we were playing against. You always need to get pumped up to face any opponent.

- How comfortable are you playing with Alexander Kadeikin and Ilya Kovalchuk?

- I enjoy playing with them. We need to show what we am capable of, fight for the puck, make chances and win. At the moment, the coaches feel that we are best suited with this line combination. Nevertheless we need to be ready for anything, as guys will come back from injury and the system will be changed.

- Talk us through your goal.

- Alexander Kadeikin set up the puck inside the zone, Ilya set up Andrei Zubarev for a shot, I tried to block the goaltender's view, and I managed to tip the puck in. Their was a slight bounce and the goalkeeper didn't see the puck. Any goal is important, it doesn't matter how you score it. I was in the right place at the right time.