SKA - Dinamo Riga. Press-conference

HC Dinamo Riga head coach Artis Abols:

- We prepared carefully for this game against SKA, knowing that they had dropped a heavy defeat against Ak Bars. We expected SKA to come our strong, and our task for the opening minutes was not to concede. It's obvious, that we built our game on a solid defence with counterattacks. I am happy with how we held the game together, however in the second period we had a couple of two on ones, a penalty shot, and couldn't score. When you're playing against a team with such firepower, it's very hard, if not impossible, to hold on to a 1:0 scoreline. The game was good, I congratulate SKA with the win, but even if you play well opponents won't give you points.

- How will the board and fans feel if you don't make the playoffs?

- Bad. No one will be satisfied, if we don't qualify for the playoffs.

HC SKA head coach Vyacheslav Bykov:

- We knew that Dinamo had to win to keep their playoffs hope alive, and as a result we expected them to play with discipline. The previous game against them was also tough. It's interesting to play with a team that likes to play, however we are trying to resolve some issues while preparing for the playoffs. In the first period we failed to get into the game. Starting from the second we began to play better, although sometimes we weren't lucky, and on other occasions their goaltender performed excellently. We are satisfied with the result, and with how we showed our character.

- What has happened to Artemiy Panarin? And how hard was it without him?

- I don't know how his condition is. Tomorrow we will find out how long he will need to recover. After he went off, our forwards played more on the wings. We have enough players to cover all lines. They can all replace each other. It's very hard to replace Artemiy with his style of play, but the guys tried.

- Is this match more helpful before the playoffs than say CSKA's game against Slovan?

- I don't look out for how others are playing. Today's game was important for us - Dinamo had to win, while we are preparing for the playoffs. We are satisfied with how today's game can help us for the playoffs.

- There is a growing opinion that SKA are playing more for their fans, than for the result, and there was a lot of drama today. Are you hoping that SKA can score a lot of goals in the playoffs?

- Were you at the game today? It seems as though we were watching two completely different games. In the playoffs any type of victory is important. It was a good game for the fans today only because there was a lot of drama. We tried to play in a disciplined manner, and today the players did just that.

- Speak about Ilya Kovalchuk's penalty in the second period.

- Ilya showed his character and tried to fire up the team in his own style. I am not going to blame him for this penalty. It happens. It showed that we wanted to change the course of the game. It's hockey, there were emotions today. Emotions were important, as all members of the SKA family appeared on the ice after the match. It's good and important, that everyone saw how you can get such a hard fought victory. Today's showing of the entire SKA family was also an important event.