Kirill Marchenko: "We have to start matches a lot better"

HC SKA forward Kirill Marchenko:

- Two ricochets allowed Traktor to score twice in the first period. We paid the price for not scoring on the powerplay during the opening moments of the match, and the goals which we conceded were poor. Thank God that we saved the game and managed to win.

- The matches against Vityaz Podolsk and Traktor Chelyabinsk were very similar.

- It's a problem for us, we need to think why we are only beginning to play when 1:4 or 0:3 down. This cannot happen again. When you make such a comeback, you lose a lot of energy.

- SKA only scored one official powerplay goal despite Traktor taking 18 penalty minutes.

- Well, Andrei Kuzmenko's goal was practically on the powerplay too, the puck went in just two seconds after the Traktor penalty ended. We should have scored during our early powerplays in the first period, but we didn't play at our level. We improved in the second stanza, with the goals consequently arriving.

- Only you scored for SKA in the penalty shootout.

- Our analytical team shows us how the opposing goaltenders play, I knew that I could try to beat the Chelyabinsk goalkeeper with my move. My second penalty shot was a spontaneous decision.

- How difficult is it to take two penalty shots in one shootout?

- This was the first time when it happened to me as a senior player! To be honest, there's more psychological pressure with your second attempt, but I managed to score with my shot.

- What did you say to Yaroslav Askarov during the shootout?

- I said to him that he's the best. Of course, he is already confident in himself, but I wanted to make sure that he has even more confidence.

- Overall, what did you make of Askarov's performance today?

- Our goalkeeping coach would be the right man to answer that question. From our point of view, he played well today, just like he did against Vityaz in Podolsk on Monday. He made big saves for us during the match and the shootout.

- How is the mood within the group?

- I simply want to rest now. We've had five matches in a row now with only a day's rest in between each of them, now I want to relax and spend time with my family. We will be ready for when the matches resume!