Igor Larionov speaks after beating Amur away

HC SKA head coach Igor Larionov:

“I would like to congratulate our guys with the victory! It was a really tough game against a strong side. We have to admit that Khabarovsk had the game under control for practically the entire 60 minutes. Both goalkeepers were excellent, they made the big saves when required. Despite the challenges, I’m happy that our players displayed their qualities such as character, determination and the will to win.”

SKA’s difficulties…

“Any trip to the Far East is always challenging for one reason or another. Even though we’ve been in good form recently, we had to treat the opponents with respect and try our best. No game is guaranteed to be easy. Of course, fatigue is always a factor considering our schedule, but different players are stepping up to the plate and taking leading roles when required. We found a way to win today.”

Why SKA didn’t signal for a time-out before pulling the goalkeeper…

“You normally use your time-out when the faceoff draw is going to take place inside the attacking zone. When we pulled Sergei Ivanov, we were controlling the puck in their zone and wearing them out. The opponents were tired, and we managed to take advantage of the situation and pull Ivanov at the right moment.”