Vyacheslav Bykov's briefing before the Gagarin Cup final

- The guys had a day off yesterday to get their emotions back, and now they are back preparing for the final. I congratulate all of you and our fans with qualifying for the final.

- Are you looking through your list of players?

- There will be changes, and you will see them during the next match. I will say again that all of our guys are healthy, and are ready to fight for the Gagarin Cup.

- What are Ak Bars' true strengths?

- Ak Bars are a stable, experienced team, who can play very patiently before going in for the kill.

- While Patrick Thoresen is the only SKA player to have competed in the Gagarin Cup, you and your coaching staff have as well. What is more important now - the players' or coaches' experience?

- Andrey Kuteikin has also played in a KHL Gagarin Cup final. It's important that every play feels that they are creating an hockey showcase themselves, and not just watching one. The players who have experience of a final should help the others who haven't, and they should listen and grasp the moment. It may only come around once in a lifetime.

- Commentators have stated that Ak Bars are a working team, while SKA actually play hockey. What would you say?

- You can't play well if you don't work. Whatever people like to say, it's impossible to achieve great results if you don't put the work in. They work hand in hand.

- You like to play attacking hockey, while Zinetula Bilyaletdinov focuses more on the defence. Are you ready to play your own style of hockey in this series?

- It's your opinion of in which style we play. I think that Ak Bars also have their fair share of attacking qualities, just like they do defensive. There should be a balance in everything.

- After the seventh game against CSKA, Ilya Kovalchuk said that the team was going to go to special baths.

- Let's not talk about that.

- Is there enough time before the series starts to have enough emotions again?

- There were a lot of positive emotions after defeating CSKA, and yesterday the guys had a day off. The emotions come from playing in the final and working hard.