Ilya Kovalchuk: "Our captain turned the series with one hit"

- How important was it to beat Dynamo?

- It was a good series. We're grateful to Dynamo, they have a lot of players who know what the playoffs are about. As Danis Zaripov says, it was anti-ice hockey, but we had to play that way. It's good that we finished the series in front of our favourite fans. I congratulate everyone with the victory.

- Was it tough in the third period?

- Maybe we played a bit calmer, although the coaches told us to continue playing the same way and attack them in their zone. We waited for counterattacks. Both teams had chances, Mikko Koskinen was excellent.

- Which match in the series was the most difficult?

- The third. Our captain turned the series with one hit. After that, the series became a different one.

- You have a magical stick. How did you score your goal?

- My stick hasn't been very magical during the past seven games. I have taken a lot of shots, but I couldn't score. I decided to skate on to the crease and luck went my way. It doesn't matter how you score as long as it's a goal.

- After the second match, you didn't play on the crease as much.

- We changed our powerplay tactics. To start with, I played on the slot, but then we made another change. Teams watch videos, they study how you play. You have to create open shooting lanes.

- What did you speak about as a team after game one?

- We have discussions every day. Our team is a friendly one, none of us are silent, believe me.

- How did you support Mikko Koskinen? He conceded goals from the red line against Andrei Kuteikin.

- We agreed that he would concede from the red line, because when Andrei Kuteikin scores from there, we win.

- Comment on Dynamo Moscow's fans.

- They supported their own team. However, throwing objects on to the ice doesn't improve their image. There was an excellent atmosphere both in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

- Did Dynamo coach Andrei Skopintsev act in such a way because of his emotions?

- Yes. I think that he will realise that you don't need to act like that in front of thousands of fans.