SKA - Yugra. Press-conference

HC Yugra Khanty Mansiysk Pavel Ezovskikh:

- What can I say about the game...SKA deservedly won. We were unsure at the beginning of the first period, but then we got into the game midway through. We were poor in the second period, and against SKA you cannot play open hockey. We weren't organised, and they scored on the counterattack. We were good during the third, but you have to play all 60 minutes. I congratulate SKA with their win.

- Why didn't Vitaly Sitnikov play?

- He asked for a day off to see his daughter being born. We decided to let him go and see her. Today at 12 he took his wife and daughter home.

HC SKA head coach Sergei Zubov:

- We didn't get into the game in the first period. In the second we played with pace and desire. The first couple of goals gave us confidence. After that, we controlled the game for the large part. I want to pick out our young defencemen: they had a good match. Overall it's a good team victory.

- Why do SKA trade high scoring matches with games with no goals?

- Hockey is unpredictable, that's what makes it interesting.

- Dmitry Yudin scored a beautiful goal today. Are you giving him any advice about being an attacking defenceman?

- No. If he is talented in attack, it will all happen for him.

- Where is Vyacheslav Voynov?

- He is ill, he had a temperature this morning. Hopefully we will soon return and will train with the team during the Euro Hockey Tour break.

- Why did you change your first line?

- These players have played together for quite a long time. There's nothing surprising - we are simply rotating the squad. It's our game plan.