SKA - Dinamo Minsk. Game one. Press-conference

HC Dinamo Minsk head coach Craig Woodcroft:

- We had a great first period. In the second, however, SKA took the initiative. In the third period, we played really well and had chances to equalise. I'm proud of how my team fought on the ice, now we need to analyse this match and prepare for the second game on Thursday.

- Dinamo Minsk haven't been in the playoffs for a number of years. How did your players deal with the occasion?

- As I have already said, we played brilliantly in the first period. Overall, I am pleased with our performance. There are things which require improvement, though.

- How would you summarise your performance on the penalty kill?

- Our penalty killing was great. We know that this is an important part of the game.

HC SKA head coach Valeri Bragin:

- We found it tough during the first period, the opponents had an advantage. However, we subsequently changed our approach. We had a great second stanza, and in the third we managed to see the game out.

- Why did SKA start poorly?

- We had too many emotions. During the first intermission, we managed to calm the guys down.

- SKA couldn't score on the 5-on-3 powerplay.

- The opponents changed their penalty-killing tactics. We now need to change our approach.

- This was your first playoff match as a head coach.

- That's not true, I coached knockout matches with the Russian junior national team. It's tougher at international level, you are knocked out of the tournament if you lose one game. Here, it's easier because it is a series.

- Will you put Vasily Podkolzin back in one line with Ivan Morozov and Kirill Marchenko?

- Let's see. Vasily is playing really well at the moment, but Emil Galimov is playing excellently in that line.

- Was Yaroslavl Dyblenko included in the line-up as a means to combat Dinamo Minsk's physical style of game?

- No, he had played well in our last three matches.

- SKA held a 3:1 advantage after 40 minutes. How did you prepare for the third period?

- We conceded a goal in the first period because of a poor mistake. It was important to continue playing well in the third frame.