Roman Rotenberg speaks after beating Lokomotiv in Yaroslavl

HC SKA head coach Roman Rotenberg:

- This was a difficult game for us. We had prepared seriously, we knew that it was going to be very tough for us. There's always a good atmosphere in Yaroslavl, the fans support their team well and this is what we need to develop ice hockey. Lokomotiv are a strong side with excellent coaches and a powerful team, their players are very experienced. We didn't play our brand of ice hockey during the first two periods. However, the guys followed our game plan in the third following our conversation in the break. We will now prepare for Friday, when we have a very important game. The most important match for us is always the next one. I would like to thank our supporters inside the arena today, and it's always really enjoyable to play in Yaroslavl. It's a true hockey town.

- Was this SKA's toughest game of the season so far?

- Yes, it was the toughest test yet. We knew what to expect, though, I know Igor Nikitin well and I understand his level. We understood the system which Lokomotiv use, we had to break down their defence. Nevertheless, we will analyse what happened in the first two periods, we didn't play our game. We lost all of the faceoffs and the physical duels. The next match will be even tougher, we can't relax.

- You made a number of line changes for the third period. How satisfied are you with the results?

- You can see the score for yourselves, this means that our changes worked. The guys did a great job, they responded to the situation and we caught the opponents out with our line changes. They didn't expect us to make those particular decisions. However, we took too long to get going, we can't afford to repeat this on Friday.

- Speak about Yegor Korshkov's 5+20 penalty in the third period for Lokomotiv. Did this turn out to be the key moment?

- I don't comment on the refereeing. To be honest, I didn't see what happened there.

- You currently have quite a few players on the injured list. How are you managing to get the best out of your young players?

- We won't reveal all of our secrets, as we have a long season ahead of us. We had trained using eight lines during the summer. The training camps were tough, we spent a month without our wives and families. We had six circuit trainings, a club record. As a consequence of our hard work, our players are ready for the challenge physically. In order for the machine to work, you have to possess enough fuel! We are winning due to our good preparation, both physically and psychologically. There's a great atmosphere within our group. We treat every game like an exam, the main thing is that the guys are responding. It means a lot to win such tough games in which we had to make comebacks. Ice hockey is a physical sport, therefore you always have to be in possession of Plan B. Today's game was full of physical duels, no one wanted to lose. Maxim Groshev is lucky that he didn't receive a serious injury, in those moments you need to keep your head up and land a hit instead. We have a lot of details which require improvement.

- What conversation did you have with your players in the second break?

- A serious one! The main thing is the result. Ice hockey is full of emotions, you have to be emotionally intelligent. Instead of just shouting, you have to get the guys fired up so that they respond on the ice. We have enough strength in this group. Our players held on and struck the decisive blow in the third period, this is down to our psychology. We will continue working hard physically and psychologically.

- Damir Zhafyarov is playing brilliantly both with and without the puck.

- This is down to our training process. I don't want to point out individuals, everything depends on teamwork. But, at the same time, you need your leading players. Damir is showing his leadership qualities. Excellent play without the puck consists of 99% of your success in ice hockey, he is doing really well! Damir is winning his duels and has improved.