Media briefing before the first round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs

HC SKA head coach Roman Rotenberg:

"First of all, I would like to send my condolences to the loved ones of Andrei Martemyanov. We were often in contact, and we spoke a lot in person in Novogorsk during the summer training camps. He was a fantastic person and a great coach. May he rest in peace.

"In terms of the playoffs, we've prepared well. We are 100% ready for the competition to begin. A lot of players have recovered in time for the playoffs, something which we're really happy about. We understand who we're facing. The series starts at 0-0, and each game starts with the score of 0:0. Step by step, we're gearing up for the first match. We've been preparing for the playoffs since the start of our summer camps."

Injury situation concerning Sergei Plotnikov and Alexander Nikishin...

"Alongside Andrei Pedan and Evgeny Kuznetsov, we also saw Arseniy Gritsyuk on the ice. The optimal line-up is always the one which is available to the coach. We believe in our team. Of course, we're waiting for our injured players to become available again. We will fly to Moscow for game one with the team which you saw at the SKA Arena today."

Ilya Karpukhin being used on the first PP unit and Sergei Sapego on the second...

"Ilya scored a great goal while playing 6-on-4 in Nizhny Novgorod using a move which we had worked on in training. We have various options when it comes to our powerplay. Ilya can compete on the PP, as can Nikita Zaitsev and Sapego. We spent a lot of time working on our special teams today."

Factor of Dynamo Moscow having a lot of former SKA representatives...

"We have a lot of respect for everyone who previously worked for SKA. We're tracking the progress of players in the NHL who used to play for us. However, our focus is on our own game. We're developing and coaching our players. And, just like all other teams, we analyse our opponents and their leading players. 

"Dynamo are a really strong team with lots of high-level foreigners. I remember that we played against Cedric Paquette when he was a Dinamo Minsk player. We know that Dynamo will try and get under our skins with trash talk and the like, but we'll be fully focused on our game. We won't think about anything else."

Possible provocations from Maxime Comtois...

"We're focusing on the fact that we have four strong lines which can compete against any opponent. There's no need to pay attention to individual Dynamo players and what they're saying. Instead, we need to focus on our game, respond to their provocations with goals and play with cool heads."

Issue of Ivan Demidov being missing from the main group...

"Gritsyuk has taken Demidov's place. Nevertheless, Ivan will be in the line-up as our 13th forward on Thursday. Ivan is ready to play, and he will play. We have to remember that we have serious competition within our group. Plenty of our players are winners of the Gagarin Cup, World Championship and Olympic Games. Competition allows you to progress.

"I would also like to add that it's a dream to play in the playoffs! I think that all players and coaches will agree with this. We're hugely grateful to our fans and Gazprom for their important support. The playoffs are a celebration, and this is the mindset which we have going into the tournament."

Nikishin's injury problem...

"It's a lower-body issue. We're taking it day by day."

HC SKA forward Mikhail Grigorenko:

"What's the key to winning the Gagarin Cup? Discipline. You have to come together as a group, with every player displaying incredible commitment. It's a big positive for us that this is a completely new tournament. Everyone is in same boat at the beginning of the playoffs, it's a clean slate and a new start. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to show what we're made of and emerge victorious."

Disappointment of not facing former team CSKA Moscow in round one...

"CSKA is my past. We have a great group here, and you never choose your opponents in the playoffs. We're preparing to take Dynamo on."

HC SKA forward Evgeny Kuznetsov:

"Personally, I think Grigorenko that would have liked to have faced CSKA! You always have extra motivation when competing against your former team. If I'm not mistaken, Mikhail won several championships and matches with CSKA. Those moments will forever live in his memory. There's a lot of prestige involved when playing against your old club."

On how SKA can win the league...

"By the way, I would like to point out that over in the NHL, it's not the done thing to reveal so much information before a playoff series begins. I like the fact that SKA are always open for the media. In my opinion, the most important thing in the playoffs is that we will fight for each other in when the going gets tough instead of focusing on mistakes. 

"When I played for Chelyabinsk, Valeri Belousov always reminded us of the importance of being a united group in the playoffs. It doesn't matter who scores or makes the assist. The emotions last for 10 seconds when you lift the cup, but it feels even better when you remember what a gruelling journey it was. You play ice hockey in order to feel those emotions.

"The playoffs are a different world, it's a huge joy to play against any opponent. Finally the knockout games are upon us!"

Expectations for his first KHL playoff series in many years...

"I want to feel real emotions! May the strongest team win. Tense, hard-fought games are always the best to play in. It's always easy when everything's going your way, but you see who you can rely on and what your teammates are made of in challenging situations. Not every player is capable of changing their mindset for the playoffs."

Possibility of being captain in Nikishin's absence...

"The best player isn't always the best captain. It works the other way too; maybe a player doesn't score a lot of goals or make many assists, but he can be blessed with strong leadership qualities. Then we have players like Alexander Ovechkin, who are both brilliant players and captains.

"We all treat ourselves as equals in the dressing room. If I'm captain, I won't feel any additional pressure. The only difference is that I will have to speak to the officials more often. The series will be tough and tense, and don't forget referees make mistakes too. I want to make sure that they know that we respect them."

The gesture made by Torpedo goalkeeper Ivan Kulbakov after stopping his penalty shot...

"I won't repeat what I said to him afterwards! To be honest, I liked his bird celebration. He was having fun and showed his emotions this way. From his part, he was just doing what he could to help his team win. If his team thinks that it's ok to behave like that, then let them get on with it. We won't use that approach at SKA, we respect both ourselves and our opponents. As you saw for yourselves, we eventually won that particular match in the shootout."

HC SKA defenseman Ilya Karpukhin:

"I haven't played against Dynamo that often this season? No, that isn't true, I actually participated in five out of our six games against them. I faced Dynamo last season in the playoffs with Chelyabinsk too, so I consequently have a good understanding of their team. They have a coach who likes to use a strict system. We aren't expecting any surprises, the team which does the simple things the best will win."