Press conference after SKA hosted Neftekhimik

HC SKA head coach Igor Larionov:

"It was an interesting game which contained plenty of goals, mistakes and bad decisions. Despite these calls from some room, I praised our guys for finding the strength within themselves to equalise and earn one point. However, we should have registered two points. I didn't see any problems after the first period. It's disappointing that we're continuing to gift opponents chances and goals, but I'm pleased that we managed to eventually score our second after the two disallowed markers."

Why SKA are continuing to struggle in front of goal...

"This is worrying me. We're creating the chances, but we simply cannot capitalise on them. We are missing the empty net, failing to score when 1-on-1 and not turning the rebounds home. Our guys are lacking confidence. All of us are working hard to ensure that the situation changes, and it needs to happen sooner rather than later."

Decision to allow Brennan Menell to take a penalty shot...

"Right-handed players are always awkward for goalkeepers. During the summer, Brennan scored six penalty shots, an impressive statistic for a defenseman. I thought about letting Andrei Loktionov take a penalty shot, as he is capable of scoring goals. Marat Khairullin is normally a good scorer, but he couldn't score. Matvei Korotky did everything right expect for his final movement with the puck. The situation has gone on for too long now, we need our guys to feel confident."

Rocco Grimaldi's performance level...

"We're giving him matches, time on the powerplay and different teammates in his line. But we're already in the middle of October, and the situation has been like this for a month and a half. To be honest, the period of Rocco getting used to the KHL has taken its time. We can take the blame ourselves, because this means that the coaches aren't doing enough. Nevertheless, the coaches can't take to the ice with an experienced player. The issue is whether the player wants to do what he should. At this moment in time, we don't see this."

HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk head coach Igor Grishin:

"SKA play attacking ice hockey and allow their opponents to do the same. When two attack-minded teams meet, entertainment is a given. This match had everything from quality, luck, poor finishing and superb goalkeeping. It was an emotional third period when SKA equalised, but we had had enough of losing. We believed that we would win today. Even when SKA equalised, our guys continued believing and held on when shorthanded in overtime. We had lost all of our shootouts this season before today, so it's a nice bonus that we edged it."