SKA - Dynamo Moscow. Press-conference

HC Dynamo Moscow head coach Vladimir Krikunov:

- The two goals scored by Juuso Hietanen played a major role in our victory. We scored first, defended solidly and played well on the counter-attack. However, the goal which we conceded in the second period complicated the situation. It's good that we scored the empty-netted in the third period, there wasn't enough time for SKA to come back.

- Juuso Hietanen and Artyom Sergeev are switching on the powerplay.

- Sometimes, one is playing better than the other.

- Are you satisfied with how Dynamo are playing at the moment?

- Yes, we're preparing for the playoffs.

- What is your secret against SKA this season?

- These things happen sometimes, last season we lost all of our matches against Saint Petersburg. The same thing had happened against Jokerit in the past too. We understand how to play against any team, but it's not easy to always make it happen on the ice in actual matches.

HC SKA head coach Valeri Bragin:

- It wasn't a great first period from us, but we improved in the second. It was like a playoff match with lots of physical battles. In such games, character is the most important thing. Dynamo protected their lead after going 2:0 up.

- Did SKA lack character in the first period?

- Yes, we didn't play in the correct manner. The opponents played in a physical way, but we should have been the ones pressing.

- You used your time-out in the second frame.

- Our players were tired in that shift after Dynamo had protected the puck in our zone for a long time. Overall, it was a great performance from us in the second period.

- However, you couldn't use your time-out in the third period.

- We knew how to play 6-on-5. The issue today was that we didn't score on the 5-on-3 powerplay in the first period, that was the key moment. Had we scored, it would have been a different game. We will work on our powerplay, we'll be ready for the type of ice hockey which we'll see in the playoffs.