Lokomotiv - SKA. Press-conference of game five

HC SKA head coach Sergei Zubov:

- I wouldn't single anyone out, but our goalkeeper's surname does come to mind. He displayed his level, how he can play in the playoffs. He gave the entire team confidence. The guys took this in, and fought hard. It was a tough series, especially psychologically. We didn't finish the regular season well, and I would like to thank the team for believing and fighting as a united group.

- How did you win the series?

- By being disciplined, and showing our desire and passion.

- Is the team at its peak, or is there more to come?

- We hope that we still have some more reserves. Against Lokomotiv we stuck to the plan, kept hold of the puck.

- Which match became the deciding one?

- Probably it was the second game. In that match we felt our strength, and our young line played well. Also, Mikko Koskinen played better than in the first.

- In that match, Ilya Kovalchuk didn't play. How did the team change?

- We won 3:2.

- Is there a chance that Ilya Kovalchuk will play in the next series?

- There is always a chance.

- What feelings do you have from your first playoff as a head coach?

- Nice feelings.

HC Lokomotiv Yaroslavl head coach Alexei Kudashov:

- I want to congratulate SKA with their victory, and wish them luck for the rest of the playoffs. I will answer your questions.

- Your players' eyes weren't burning with desire?

- No, we had a good mindset for this game. The team wanted to win, but we have to give the opponents credit. SKA had a perfect series. Their defence and attack were ready, and we couldn't find the key to breaking down their back line. I saw our guys' eyes, they wanted to win, but the first conceded goal knocked us.

- What moment of the series became key?

- Game two. After the first, we thought that everyone would continue in the same vein, but we weren't mobile enough and conceded three even strength goals - that isn't acceptable. We tried to turn the series around, but we had lost our advantage.

- You failed to score in the past three matches. What has happened to Lokomotiv?

- We have to give SKA their due, they were great in defence. The goaltender, defence and the whole line didn't give us anything, and they had plenty of counterattacks. However, I can't say that our forwards controlled the puck well. We will look into this.

- Did you not want to take a risk, and move your younger players up to a higher line?

- If you were watching hockey, then these players constantly played against Vadim Shipachyov's line. We tried a lot of new combinations, but the opponents didn't give us a chance.

- What was lacking in your first playoffs?

- Compared to the regular season, I saw a different team.