Press conference after the first Army Rivalry of the campaign

HC SKA head coach Igor Larionov:

"It's hard to find words after losing such a close game which could have gone either way. This isn't the first time when we've lost a hard-fought match. As a group, we have to find a way to get out of this situation together and become stronger. This includes both the players and the coaches. We need positive emotions. At this moment in time, our players are talking amongst themselves in the dressing room. You'll find out what they had to say soon."

On what is being said in the dressing room...

"I gave my speech immediately after the match had ended. Ice hockey is a team sport, so you can't curl up within yourself. We have to emerge from this situation together, and we need to find the reason behind our defeats. We win and lose together. After I had said my part, I left the guys to talk together as a group."

Why Nikolai Goldobin disappeared towards the end of the game...

"Body language is key. We want players with fire in their bellies, players who compete with enthusiasm. Just look at young forward Nikita Nedopyokin, who only played four minutes but was full of energy."

What's going wrong with Goldobin...

"We're trying to keep his line with Joseph Blandisi and Rocco Grimaldi intact. We want to give them the opportunity to get used to playing with each other. However, when you step out onto the ice, you have to be prepared to do the dirty work too; it's not all about points. Having a good work ethic is vital. You have to fight for the puck, win your duels, track back in defence and block shots. Every single player should have these values and principles. We believe in Nikolai and are giving him chances, but eventually you have to make adjustments. Our young players are displaying plenty of enthusiasm and desire."

Psychological effect of Marat Khairullin's goal being disallowed...

"It was an important moment in the game, and it was a nice goal too. The weight would have been taken off of Khairullin's shoulders, because he hasn't scored for a long time. It's natural that we were disappointed by the fact that the goal was disallowed."

Chance to earn four points from the upcoming games against Sochi and Novosibirsk...

"We treat all of our opponents the same way. After all, every game in this league is tough. SKA aren't such a difficult opponent as many think, we aren't winning games confidently and other teams know that they can play against us. Every match is crucial for us. Victories give you confidence, and your injuries heal quicker after winning. Our psychological situation is challenging, but we have to overcome our difficulties and become stronger."

Possible thoughts about resigning after eight defeats in nine...

"The easier thing to do is pack up your things and leave. However, a captain doesn't abandon his ship. This is not my mentality. Instead of throwing the towel in, we have to find the solutions which will consequently allow us to overcome our challenges. I believe in our team and that we will fix the situation. Furthermore, we're backed by fantastic support from our fans! Unfortunately, we aren't able to give them the emotions which they come to the arena to receive. But, I believe that soon, this will change."

HC CSKA Moscow head coach Igor Nikitin:

"It was a difficult game in terms of emotions. Nonetheless, I liked how we created the conceded and scored goals. This gave us a chance to stay in the match."

Matter of SKA and CSKA involved in the playoff qualification battle...

"I never spend time studying the standings. If you manage to improve your performance quality, it doesn't matter which qualification seed you have for the playoffs. Of course, I'm not saying that eighth place is acceptable for CSKA, because it's not, but we have to focus on the quality of the ice hockey which we're displaying."

Strong second-period showing...

"The goal which Nikolai Goldobin scored knocked us. Nikolai has plenty of quality and possesses the ability to score unexpected goals like that. However, we responded well in the second stanza and played well for the rest of the match after we had equalised."