Press conference after SKA defeated Shanghai in dramatic fashion

HC SKA head coach Igor Larionov:

"I would like to congratulate everyone with our victory! It was tough, but we deserved the win. Thank you to the supporters for their patience. We're striving to achieve positive results more regularly, but we can already see our character and togetherness. We played really well today."

Beating Shanghai at the second attempt...

"Our defeat against these opponents in early September was actually one of our best performances of the maiden part of the campaign. Unfortunately, we gave Shanghai too many gifts in that particular match, but our movement and overall team display was excellent. Can we call this the Saint Petersburg Derby? No. Derbies are normally matches between teams which have been based in the same city for around 80 years."

Sergei Plotnikov's injury...

"Yes, we are continuing to lose players. He received a lower-body injury today. We consequently had to make changes to our line formations, and I thought that our young players performed well. We will move forward with the guys who are available for selection."

On SKA's motivation being clear for all to see...

"Regardless of all other factors, you must always compete with emotion and spark when taking to the ice. We should always work and play with honesty, and we saw that today."

Transfer plans...

"We would like to sign some players, but we have to remember that the guys currently on the sidelines with injuries will return to action. We don't want to have 10 players sitting in the stands waiting for their chance! That would ruin the atmosphere within the group. It's easier to buy players rather than develop the ones you already have. We want to give players from the VHL opportunities at this level."

Shanghai's North American style...

"Not long ago, Joseph Blandisi and Rocco Grimaldi asked me how they should play. I told them to continue playing just as they did at home! It's really difficult to teach them to play our brand of ice hockey. If we look at North American ice hockey, then their players always have great work ethic, top commitment, a never-say-die attitude and battle until the end. These principles were drilled into them when they were children."

Going 0:2 down in the first period despite having the initiative...

"Patience was key. When you're in this kind of situation, you either sink or swim. While we were trailing 0:2, I told the players to continue playing our style of ice hockey and remain positive."

HC Shanghai Dragons head coach Gerard Gallant:

"It was a good game. Losing in overtime was tough. Overall we had a great first period, but the second and third weren't so good. I don't know why we didn't keep our pace up. It's another tough defeat for us, but a good hockey game overall."

Why Patrik Rybar was pulled after the second stanza...

"He got hurt. It's a minor injury."

Only achieving one win in the last eight matches...

"Our mood isn't low. We played a good game tonight, we had enough chances to win. We have to give SKA credit too, they battled back hard. We'll win a lot of matches if we continue to play like we did today. No one is panicking, we feel good and we will now move on."

Extra motivation facing SKA...

"No, not for me. I don't know about the players, but I didn't feel anything different. SKA have been in the KHL for a long time, and they're a good team. It's fun to play against a team from the same city, but you have to be ready and compete hard in every match. The main thing is to earn the two points."

Impressions of the Ice Palace...

"I loved the look of the building! This was my first time here. There was a big crowd tonight, and the arena is beautiful. It was an entertaining game, even if the two coaches were disappointed with some of it. Both teams took too many penalties."