Ilya Kovalchuk: "The first game in the series was key"

- SKA managed to win a tough series 4:0.

- It was a good series. We created intrigue ourselves in game four by conceding that goal on the powerplay. Nevertheless, it's good that we won and Igor Shestyorkin was excellent. We will have more time to rest.

- The team has a lot of injured players, including Mikko Koskinen.

- It's the playoffs, we have games every two days. The goalkeeper especially have a lot of work to do. Hopefully, Mikko will return soon.

- Are you watching the Eastern Conference final? Sergei Mozyakin and Danis Zaripov are playing brilliantly.

- They are playing really well, especially Danis Zaripov. Hopefully they will win tomorrow.

- Is it good to have eight days rest?

- If someone asked me, I would start the final earlier. I think that the fans also want to enjoy the final without such a long break. However, both teams are in the same boat and we will prepare.

- Which moment in the series was the toughest?

- It was the first game, probably. We managed to equalise and it affected the entire series.

- At the end of the match, you failed to score into the empty net.

- Never mind, these things happen. The puck took a bobble. It's not important who scores, the main thing is that we won.

- Do you remember the KHL regular season matches against Metallurg Magnitogorsk?

- They were good games. We won at home. We also earned a victory in Magnitogorsk, but the referee disallowed our winning goal.

- Your powerplay tactics have been found out.

- Who did that?

- Dynamo Moscow and Lokomotiv.

- We won those series 4:1 and 4:0.