SKA - Lada. Press-conference

HC Lada Togliatti interim head coach Artis Abols:

- We played a good game, I can't blame my players for anything. We lacked quality in some moments, and we should have scored when playing six on five. Nevertheless, I can't be angry with the players. We played well, but you don't get points for that. I am sure that we are moving in the right direction, the team is playing better. We lost Alexander Bumagin in the second period, and if he is injured he will become the sixth to be forced out. We'll look forward to those players' return.

- You were more emotional than usual on the bench.

- No. I was simply unhappy with some of the referee's decisions.

- You knew how to stifle SKA's play when coaching HC Dinamo Riga. Did you use the same tactics today?

- Like authors, coaches have their own styles. If I become a coach of a top club, then I will have to change the way I work. Here I work in the same manner that I did in Riga.

- Would you like to give SKA's interim coach some advice?

- I am also an interim manager. I think that Sergei has his own assistants for that.

HC SKA interim head coach Sergei Zubov:

- It was a tense game, both teams had a lot of chances. We got a bit lucky, and killed a late penalty. Everyone gave their all, and this victory is down to their efforts.

- Compare your emotions to winning as a coach here and as a player in the NHL.

- Hockey is the same anywhere, even in the NHL. The emotions are the same too. I try to control them more here however.

- How did you feel on the coach, and how are your emotions now?

- Everything is better now, thank you.

- Were your nervous before the game?

- Of course, if you don't get nervous you aren't bothered about the result.

- In the dressing room the players' jerseys hang with the club logo in front instead of the names and numbers. Was that your personal decision?

- We made that decision together as coaches. We are trying to change how the players prepare for matches.

- Why wasn't Evgeny Artyukhin in the squad?

- Rotation.

- In one of the periods, Anton Belov stopped taking to the ice.

- He has a small injury. We hope that he will be ready for the next fixture.

- Before this game, the board stated that they are not actively looking for a new head coach. Do you feel their support?

- I feel the support of the whole collective.

- Are there certain guidelines when coaching?

- We follow a specific system.