SKA - CSKA. Press-conference

HC CSKA Moscow head coach Igor Nikitin:

- Congratulations to SKA. We had chances to keep ourselves in the game. We were lacking experience of these matches, but you have to be fully concentrated against such opponents. Nevertheless, the guys did a good job and we will become stronger.

- Mikhail Grigorenko scored with Kirill Kaprizov. Will they play together?

- He has his own linemates. We need to give the players a chance to build up a mutual understanding in their respective lines before we change things.

- Will Konstantin Okulov play in the next match?

- Yes. We can't give all of our players a chance in the same game.

- When Ilya Kovalchuk scored, one of your coaches brought out a laptop from the bench. Is this something new?

- No, coaches all around the world do that. If we have the opportunity to look at the replay immediately, why not make use of it.

HC SKA head coach Oleg Znarok:

- It was a difficult first game. We were nervous and made mistakes, but we’re happy that we won. Thanks to the fans for making it a full house for this match. We’ll prepare for the next game.

- Ilya Kovalchuk picked up the Opening Cup. Generally, captains don't do that. Did you speak about this before the game?

- Do you think that we were sure that we were going to win? We played against a really good team that made some great transfers during the summer.

- In the second period, Maxim Karpov and Alexander Barabanov played in the first line. Was this because Sergei Plotnikov was struggling?

- Yes, he needed some medical attention in the dressing room.

- On August 17^th, SKA won the Nikolai Puchkov tournament. Are trophies important to build confidence?

- Yes, but it doesn’t mean anything yet. It’s a long season.

- Will Mikko Koskinen be SKA’s number one goaltender?

- I don’t know. Our goalkeeping coach decides who plays.