Alexei Ponikarovsky: "We will continue in the same vein"

- Share your emotions about the game.

- We began hard, played the full 60 minutes at a high pace and shot a lot - as a result, we won.

- For the first time this season, you and Alexander Kadeikin were put in the first line.

- It was the coaches' decision. As players we should be ready for anything. We needed to work at a high level to make chances to score.

- You played on the flank and got a lot of ice time. Did you have to get used to that?

- I wouldn't say that, I always play both sides. I don't mind which side I play. Our chemistry with Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander worked, we played the puck well and Ilya helped me score my goal. We are all happy and will now prepare for our away series.

- Ilya Kovalchuk stated that he enjoyed the fight more than anything else. What did you like most?

- Let's not forget that Evgeny Artyukhin made it clear from the start that he wanted this fight. Everyone expected fights and aggressive play from this match. The fight helped pump us up more, and everything went brilliantly afterwards. Psychologically it was very important for our team, and we will continue in the same vein.

- Was the fight predictable?

- We were ready for anything. Nothing would have been unexpected, everyone would have reacted in the same manner.

- When the score became large, did Barys not try and provoke you more?

- I wouldn't call it provocation. We simply continued to play our hockey, crashed the net, shot and kept going. It was very important not to let the opponents get goals back. Our powerplay and penalty kill also both worked well.