SKA - Traktor. Press-conference

HC SKA head coach Roman Rotenberg:

- We understood the level of the opponents. Taking into account the large amount of opportunities which we created, we could have scored a lot more goals. The fact that we're creating so many chances shows that we're moving in the right direction. This is an important win for us. We now have to prepare for our next important match on Saturday. When we 100% follow the game plan like today, we win our games.

- This season, SKA's achilles' heel is conceding goals against the run of play. How can you overcome this?

- By working hard and following the plan. As a consequence of individual mistakes, we've conceded unnecessary goals. We'll win our matches by large scores when we stop committing individual errors.

- Zakhar Bardakov and Alexander Kadeikin missed this game. Was this because of injury?

- Yes, we do have injuries. Nevertheless, on a more positive note, both Stepan Falkovsky and Johan Mattsson were both in the line-up again after a long period on the sidelines.

As you could see, Stepan is in excellent form and even scored a hugely important goal for us. When all of our players return from injury, we'll be able to follow our game plan even better. By the way, if you hadn't already noticed, Bardakov has been added to our list of injured players on the KHL's website.

- In the first period, a banner stating "The system isn't working" phrase was displayed by the SKA ultras. It was subsequently taken down. What are your thoughts on this incident?

- I was on the bench, I didn't see the banner. As you know, there is a lot of provocation against SKA at the moment. There is also provocation coming from within the club. Someone wants to undermine us. However, this won't happen. We must continue working together with a friendly atmosphere. In Saint Petersburg, the local journalists like to criticise SKA instead of supporting the team.

- But is your system working?

- What do you mean?

- A system should allow your team to achieve positive results.

- Are you talking about our playing system? And are you from Saint Petersburg?

- Yes, I am.

- Right, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Local journalists here are only interested in criticising our team. Even when we won the Continental Cup and occupied first place of the standings for the entire campaign last season, you were still criticising us. You can criticise me as much as you want, but please leave the team alone.

- There are rumours that Spartak Moscow and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod would like to host KHL games at open-air arenas. Will SKA follow suit in the future?

- We held matches outdoors a couple of years ago here thanks to the brilliant support offered by Gazprom. Due to the fact that the roof at the Gazprom Arena closes, it's convienent to stage a game at that particular football stadium. To my knowledge, Spartak want to organise a match at the Otkrytie Arena where the isn't a roof. We'll be happy to play against any opponent, we're always ready.

- Tolchinsky's winning goal in the final second of overtime was unique.

- As you saw in our last game, you have to play with maximum concentration from the first to the last second. The referees made the correct decision, it was a clear foul against Tolchinsky while he was skating clean through.

HC Traktor Chelyabinsk head coach Alexei Zavarukhin:

- We proved just what a great team we have. Unfortunately, although we wanted to extend our winning streak, we're only leaving with one point.

- Zach Fucale gave up a lot of rebounds. Was he feeling fatigued after earning a shutout against CSKA in Moscow on Tuesday?

- I wouldn't say that. Zach kept us in the game today, he had a lot of saves to make. I have no issues at all with his performance.

- A penalty shot in the concluding second of overtime is unique. What do you have to say about that incident?

- I won't say anything, instead I'll leave that for the experts who feature on the programme about refereeing decisions on the KHL's official television channel.

HC SKA defenseman Stepan Falkovsky:

- Traktor have a strong, attack-minded team. It's disappointing that we conceded late in the third period, but I'm happy that we subsequently won in overtime. My goal? I saw a pocket of space open, and I then managed to score after receiving a pass. Given that I had long been on the sidelines, I needed a bit of time to settle into the game, after all you can't replace actual matches with training sessions.

HC SKA forward Sergei Tolchinsky:

- I think that the fans enjoyed this match, it was a tense game which included plenty of exciting moments. Did I expect a penalty shot to be given for the foul committed against me at the end of the extra frame? I did look at the referee to see whether he was going to indicate a penalty shot. I didn't feel the pressure, I knew that even if I missed I'd have another chance in the ensuing shootout. We're not converting our chances in front of goal? This is a problem which we're encountering in practically every game. Why do I often do laps of the zone with the puck? Opposing teams use man-marking systems, so therefore I like to retain possession until I see a pass open up.