SKA - Ak Bars. Press-conference

HC SKA head coach Roman Rotenberg:

- We knew that the opponents would try to catch us on the counter-attack. Ak Bars are a strong, organised team which competes with structure. It felt like a playoff match. We started well today, immediately setting a fast tempo and hitting the crossbar. There were enough chances to score more than two goals in the opening stanza. Unfortunately, we committed mistakes and conceded poor goals. We created 20 opportunities to score, but our profligacy in front of goal is costing us. On a more positive note, we're happy that Marat Khairullin is back. We will work hard in order to start converting our chances and winning games.

- SKA dominated during the first period, competing at a really quick tempo. How can you make your team play like this for the entire 60 minutes?

- We played this way for the full game today! We registered 45 shots on target and created 20 clear opportunities. Kazan punished us for the mistakes which we committed, and we were lacking level headedness in front of goal. Of course, we also have to give credit to Ak Bars goalkeeper Timur Bilyalov, he's an excellent goaltender. We now have to prepare for Thursday, all of us understand the importance of the match against Avangard Omsk here.

- Not all of SKA's 20 chances seemed to be clear.

- They were. In such a situation, you need heroes and leaders. We found them when playing CSKA in Moscow and Lokomotiv in Yaroslavl, but we couldn't do the same today. The guys need to take responsibility, keep a cool head and convert their scoring opportunities. We certainly boast enough quality within our squad, the players haven't forgotten how to play ice hockey! We have to recover effectively and prepare for Wednesday.

- Kazan took full advantage of their sole powerplay.

- The three goals which we conceded were scored as a consequence of our individual mistakes. Nonetheless, we're not going to point the finger at anyone, we win and lose as a team. Nearly all of our defeats this season have been by a difference of one goal, so this means that we have to get rid of our mistakes. They're preventing us from achieving clear victories.

- What are SKA lacking when presented with scoring chances?

- We have to treat our opportunities with more care. In ice hockey, just like in life overall, you have to capitalise on your chance if you receive one. When we start using our chances, we'll stop losing matches. The small details are deciding the outcomes of our games. In terms of our performance level, our organisation and commitment, we have no issues with the guys.

- Why were both goalkeepers substituted during the opening frame?

- The referee, who is vastly experienced in the KHL and even used to work in the NHL, told us that the goaltenders broke the rules by skating to the bench when the red lamp wasn't on. In this situation, we were told that we had to swap our goalkeepers.

HC Ak Bars Kazan head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov:

- It was an interesting, tense game. Both teams played with desire and commitment. Not everything went as planned for us, but the guys tried. I'm grateful to them for their commitment.

- SKA pinned you inside your zone during the first period. Why couldn't you clear the puck?

- The hosts played with a lot of speed and aggression, they trapped us in our zone. We needed time in which to adapt to the situation on the ice. We had prepared for their pressing, but we have to give SKA credit.

- You were missing Alexander Radulov and Vadim Shipachyov, but your players still managed to compete in the required manner.

- We missed those two players, they're key guys for us who achieve positive results for our team. However, it was important for the other players to show their capabilities today and emerge victorious.

- Is this Timur Bilyalov's win?

- It's a team win! Everyone fought hard with commitment, the players put their bodies on the line to block pucks. Timur was solid in our net, of course.

HC SKA forward Marat Khairullin:

- We gave this game away. We played well, created plenty of scoring opportunities, but we couldn't finish. Did Ak Bars surprise us? No. Throughout the match we held the initiative, however we could not take advantage of our chances. My first game since my injury? I had really missed playing at the Ice Palace, the atmosphere is fantastic here! Hopefully, we will make our supporters happy in our upcoming matches.