Press conference after SKA defeated Lada in dramatic fashion

HC SKA head coach Igor Larionov:

"I think that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the match while feeling nervous at the same time! After all, this is why we play ice hockey: so that people receive unforgettable emotions and talk about what they saw. We won the game and earned two points, so we're happy that the outcome is in our favour. Nevertheless, we now have to move on and prepare for Magnitogorsk. The guys gave us a lot of food for thought today."

What happened after going 4:2 up...

"Such games are really emotional. To be honest, it's difficult to explain what happened. It appeared that we had put the game to bed, the situation was under control. We needed to play with better focus and concentration in order to see it out. Of course, we can't forget that we had rested for eight days and consequently require time to get used to playing in matches again. For us, the most important thing is that we ended the game with two points."

Why SKA moved down to three lines late in regulation time...

"We had put too much pressure on Mikhail Vorobyov. He played a great game, worked hard in defence, but the fatigue which he had built up over the match showed itself in the concluding minutes. I don't think that we were worse physically than Lada, but I always prefer playing every two days rather than resting for a week. I wanted to play a training game against our VHL team, but the schedule didn't allow for this to happen. Nonetheless, despite what happened when we were leading 4:2, I want to thank our guys for their efforts. I don't want to blame certain players for the incidents which resulted in Lada equalising."

Future of Pierrick Dubé...

"I don't want to talk about this issue now. If you would like, we can speak about this tomorrow."

Issue of long breaks between games...

"Let's now focus on recovering tomorrow and analysing what happened in this match. We will show the guys how we ended up presenting Tolyatti a way back into the game. Good teams defend well, protect winning scorelines and manage the match without making it boring. Naturally, we would like to always win by large scores such as 5:1, but today's game will live long in the memory of those who watched it."

The performance of the line which includes Rocco Grimaldi, Joe Blandisi and Brendan Leipsic...

"We don't want to be a one-line team. As the playoffs approach, it's vital to have four lines which can all contribute. It's pleasing that our foreign players are scoring goals, but they can play even better. Nikolai Goldobin? He produced a fantastic display today with his four points! We can see just how hard he's working, however he has to keep this up. Your results only last one day."

When the injured players will return...

"Andrei Pedan has only just returned to training after sitting on the sidelines with concussion. The situation concerning Igor Larionov Junior will only become clear in a few days' time. Matvei Korotky will begin training again on 20 January, and he will then require a further 10 or 12 days to get back into shape. Andrei Loktionov should return soon this month."

HC Lada Tolyatti head coach Pavel Desyatkov:

"Both teams played well and made it interesting for the supporters. After initially taking the lead, we had to work really hard to get back on level terms. The only thing which disappoints me is that we lost in overtime. Even though we couldn't achieve a positive result, I'm proud of our players' efforts. We can see how hard they're trying."

Three assists tallied by defenseman Nikolai Makarov...

"Nikolai is playing well. As a defenseman, first and foremost we want him to be solid in his own zone. Having not played a lot for CSKA Moscow, Nikolai was initially making a lot of mistakes after joining us, but he's improving rapidly. The same can be said for Colby Williams."

Thoughts on earning a point...

"I was disappointed with how we played in the second frame. Unfortunately, we took penalties which resulted in us conceding three goals shorthanded. At the same time, we failed to use our 5-on-3 opportunity. Had we converted that chance, the outcome could have been different."

Lada's productive first line with Andrei Altybarmakyan, Riley Sawchuk and Tomas Jurco...

"Yes, they earned some points today, but we have to analyse their overall performance. Those three were on the ice when Saint Petersburg scored their fourth goal. And, sadly, Jurco committed the foul in overtime which resulted in SKA scoring their winner. We want more from them, but we're seeing in training that they're trying hard."