SKA - CSKA. Press-conference

HC CSKA Moscow head coach Igor Nikitin:

- It was a good game. There weren't any goals for a long time, both teams knew that there were a lot of quality players on both sides. We're satisfied with the victory, we think that we deserved it.

- Do you have any new emotions after winning here last year?

- It's always nice to beat such an opponent at a large arena. The fact that so many fans came is great for the image of the KHL.

- How hard was it for your team after travelling from Latvia? Did the rink size have a effect on the match?

- I don't know. I think that the amount of goals scored has reduced since we switched to the smaller ice. The opposite effect has happened: almost all Russian players have grown up using the bigger ice. We held two training sessions on the rink size, so we were ready.

- How is Mario Kempe?

- He's fine. Mario is a professional athlete who understands the KHL. I think that he will play in the next game.

HC SKA head coach Alexei Kudashov:

- First of all, I would like to thank the fans for coming to the match, there were lots of supporters here today. Igor said it all: the goal depended on one goal, one mistake. We made that mistake.

- Are there specialities competing at a stadium like this?

- Starting from the second period, the ice wasn't as good, so we tried to play in a more simple manner. The puck kept bouncing, we couldn't make accurate passes. Of course, everything was different, the ice, lights and the arena itself.

- When will we see Sergei Plotnikov on the ice?

- He is skating at the moment, but not at 100%. Will we see him in the next match? Let's see, we have two days.

- The Green Derby in the KHL, Ak Bars - Salavat Yulaev, is played on the same day.

- It's been this way over the course of the past few years.

- You both played like Russia and Finland today.

- Finland competed in a different manner. Yes, both teams tried not to make any mistakes, but the Finns have their own style of game.

- Magnus Hellberg conceded three in the previous KHL match.

- He made some good saves today, only conceding the one goal.