Metallurg Magnitogorsk - SKA. Press-conference

HC SKA head coach Valeri Bragin:

- It was like a playoff match. The opponents were better in the first period, but we improved in the second and scored a goal. It was an equal game in the third frame, but we conceded goals after our own mistakes. This is why the home team won.

- Why did Alexander Samonov play?

- I have said before that our goalkeeping coach makes those decisions. We made the decision that Alexander was going to play today.

- Wasn't it a risk to give Malte Stromwall time on the ice? He's only just joined SKA.

- He is in shape after playing a lot for Sochi. We saw that he competed well in training and has plenty of desire.

- Why didn't Evgeny Timkin and Vladislav Kamenev play?

- Evgeny has an injury, whereas Vladislav simply wasn't picked.

HC Metallurg Magnitogorsk head coach Ilya Vorobyov:

- This was our fourth match in seven days. I asked the guys to give everything they had, and they did just that. Their character allowed them to win.

- Magnitogorsk hadn't beaten SKA at home since 2017. Did you feel the pressure?

- I didn't even know about that fact.

- The previous game had more goals in it.

- The main question today was if we would have enough strength and energy. We had a good mindset, we knew that SKA are a strong team. Taylor Beck? He has a cold, so he didn't play.

- Your players dominated in the closing stages instead of sitting back and not taking any risks.

- This was part of our game plan, yes, but the guys gave everything.