RIHA: FOURTH MATCH WAS DECISIVE

HC Spartak head coach Milos Riha commented on the outcome of his club’s rivalry against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.


"We were not lucky because we set the team for a different game", he said to sport press. "We were not lucky because we created the first scoring opportunity, which we didn’t convert into goal, while Lokomotiv scored in the counterattack".

"After that we conceded the second goal after a rude mistake. We didn’t have enough strength to fight back against this well-organized team".

"In general both teams played wonderfully in the series. Almost all games were held on high level, but we lacked something for victory".

"The fourth match of the series was crucial, because we lost with three minutes before the end. We wouldn’t have let Lokomotiv win, if we had taken 3-1 lead. The outcome of the series was determined on Tuesday".

"Lokomotiv experience helped them, while we couldn’t boast it. Moreover we lacked Slovak guys, who were not in their best form. I cannot say that they are to blame for everything, but I have some claims to them".

"Spartak made progress comparing with the previous season, however we didn’t make the final step to success. We lacked a strong player of Vasicek’s level, who is ready to take responsibility to him on powerplay and on penalty killing".

ZAKHARKIN: TEAM’S PSYCHOLOGY IS IMPORTANT

Salavat Yulaev senior coach Igor Zakharkin commented on course of play-off series against Neftekhimik and other evens in quarterfinal series.


"Only two goals have been scored in last two matches of our quarterfinal series and I was mot surprised by it at all", Zakharkin said to sport press. "Ahead of the start of the series we expected that teams wouldn’t present a feast of goals".

"Neftekhimik is hard working team, which stakes on discipline in defence and quick switch to counterattack, that is the main strong point of well-known specialist Vladimir Krikunov".

"We guessed that nobody would complete with Salavat Yulaev in open hockey. In this respect the first match with many goals was surprising".

"After Vancouver games we pay more attention to factor of the team’s psychology. Contact between coach and player becomes crucial in modern hockey".

"I suppose that with 1-2 score Salavat played like a team with perfect psychology. Having occurred in difficult situation we gained valuable experience".

"Specialists call Neftekhimik goalie Ivan Kasutin as the breakthrough of the series. I can agree with them, though we were aware of his potential before".

"On the other hand, we know situations when Kasutin is not always able to save his team. Our task is to play our players’ attention to these moments".

"I watch other play-off series a little bit, though failures of Dynamo and especially SKA came as big surprise for our coaching staff".

"Saint Petersburg club was one of the main favourites of the competition, plus all breaks for Euro Hockey Tour tournaments and Olympic games helped them a lot".

"It’s hard to understand why this big club came out of this favourable situation as a loser. Maybe they faced serious problems with training process".

"As for Dynamo, I think that coach’s plan was not reason of their mistakes. The team began the series against Spartak brilliantly, but when the score was 3:0 something happened and they failed the whole series. It turned that they didn’t manage to create a stable team".

"Spartak is interesting team. Milos Riha is wonderful coach, who sets his players for all games and presses their opponents and even referees. Maybe Spartak roster is weaken that Dynamo’s squad, but thanks to Riha’s energy situation has changed".

"I like Lokomotiv too, as they are very effective in play-off every year and don’t depend on coach very much despite Petr Vorobyev joined Yaroslavl one month before start of play-offs and had enough time to present his playing models".

RIHA: I AM SURE WE WILL RETURN TO YAROSLAVL

Having beat Spartak in Yaroslavl Lokomotiv took 3-2 lead in the series to be one step from Gagarin Cup semi-final series.


Lokomotiv – Spartak 2:1 (1:0, 1:1, 0:0)

Best players: Kiryukhin (L); Kochnev (S); Vasicek (L)

Score in the series 3-2 (5:1, 2:3 OT, 2:3, 4:3 OT)

"We began actively, but our defeat was caused by mistake, which led to the first goal, and too many suspensions," said Spartak head coach Milos Riha. "Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to compete with the team, which is perfect on power-play".

"But nothing is lost now and I am sure that we will return to Yaroslavl".

KHL: LOKOMOTIV LEVEL THE SCORE IN THE SERIES

Owing to overtime victory Lokomotiv levelled the score in the quarterfinal series against Spartak.


Spartak – Lokomotiv 3:4 OT (1:1, 0:1, 2:1, 0:1)

Best players: Vasicek (L); Obsut (S); Mikhnov (L)

Score in the series 2-2 (1:5, 3:2 OT, 3:2)

"Our team play worse than in the previous game", said Spartak head coach Milos Riha. "Maybe players couldn’t believe that they can beat so strong club in three straight matches and lost concentration".

But they played much better in the third period, though they made a lot of mistakes.

SHALAEV: WE ARE READY TO HELP UKRAINIAN TEAM

The KHL vice-president Vladimir Shalaev spoke about plans of the league’s enlargement.


Yesterday the meeting of representatives of KHL, Russian Hockey Federation and 26 clubs was held in Moscow. After it the league vice-president Vladimir Shalaev spoke about perspective of the league’s enlargement next season.

"With minor reservations infrastructure of Hradec Kralove meets the league’s requirements", he said. "But like it often happens in Europe money question is more important, while their financial guarantees didn’t convince us".

"At the same time Yugra from Khanty-Mansiysk convinces us more and more. Businessmen from Kyiv responded with a perfect offer and we liked their plans of creation of big hockey club in Ukraine. If they work hard, Budivelnik will turn to a real candidate to joining KHL".

"Kyiv representatives have absolutely clear business-strategy and transparent financial basis. Our close neighbours are ready to invest money to big hockey".

"Budivelnik has huge desire and serious support for creation of the club, which will be able to join KHL. In our turn, we are ready to help them develop their infrastructure".

KHL: SPARGARNETT: ONE TARGET IS TO WIN GAGARIN CUP

HC MVD goalie Mike Garnett states that he is set to win Gagarin Cup.


Mike Garnett parried 42 strikes out of 43 in two home matches against Riga side and played the first game without conceded goals for the first time in KHL play-off series. After the second match he spoke to sport press.

"Our team has made good deal of work by reducing Dynamo’s scoring chances to minimum", Garnett said. "I had almost no serious burden except several episodes".

"I agree that the first match was more difficult for HC MVD despite bigger goal-difference. When you are behind, it’s uneasy to fight back in play-off series".

"I suppose that our main target for play-off is to win the trophy, playing one round and then slipping out of competition is not for me, because I want to grab Gagarin Cup".

"If you think how to win several games, it won’t help you achieve any successful result".

AK BARS TOOK 2-0 LEAD OVER MAGNITOGORSK

Ak Bars took 2-0 lead in KHL play-off quarterfinal series against Metallurg Magnitogorsk in Eastern Conference.


Metallurg Magnitogorsk – Ak Bars 0:4 (0:1, 0:3, 0:0). Saturday, 20 March

Best players: Morozov (A); Vehanen (A); Kapanen (A)

Metallurg Magnitogorsk – Ak Bars 2:3 (0:0, 0:1, 2:2). Sunday, 21 March

Best players: Morozov (A); Vehanen (A); Chistov (M)

Score in the series 0-2

"When your team is behind, you should do something", said Metallurg head coach Valeriy Belousov after the second match of the series. "Changes in the lineup helped a little bit, but in play-off it’s important when goalkeeper saves his team. Goalie has no right to concede goals, like it happened today".

Salavat Yulaev - Neftekhimik 6:2 (3:1, 1:1, 2:0). Saturday, 20 March

Best players: Radulov (S); Kir. Koltsov (S); Kalinin (S)

Salavat Yulaev – Neftekhimik 1:2 OT (0:1, 1:0, 0:0, 0:0, 0:1). Sunday, 21 March

Best players: Kasutin (N); Yakutsenya (N); Radulov (S)

Score in the series 1-1

MOROZOV: IT WAS NOT EASY VICTORY

Ak Bars captain Alexey Morozov became the main hero of the first games of KHL quarterfinal series between Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Ak Bars.


On Saturday Alexey Morozov completed the hat-trick and scored the winning goal yesterday. After the first match of the series Ak Bars captain didn’t escape interview with journalists.

"I wouldn’t say that the game was easy", he said. "The first goal on powerplay helped us a lot".

"Moreover we played safely in defense and caught our rivals on counterattacks. We didn’t give them any space for attack, as we knew that Metallurg has perfect attack and defensemen can effectively join attacking actions".

"We shouldn’t give them any chance to score, so we fully fulfilled our plan for the match".

"So crushing score in match of two almost equal teams is not a big surprise. It is not victory with one or two goal lead and not overtime win, but it’s hard to call it too crushing score".

"Of course, it’s great that we won, because it let us play more calmly in the third period and save our strength for the next game".

"We just fulfil coach’s plan, trying to play simpler, as play-off series differ from the regular championship. Of course, it’s pity that Danis Zaripov is absent because of injury, but other players also want to help the team".

"I always try to show my best play, work for the team’s success and be helpful. Sometimes it happens that I cannot score at all and sometimes it happens very easily. In any case I don’t lay special emphasize to this match".

"It’s necessary to forget about this victory, because our opponents are ready to fight with us as hard as they ca and we should prepare for it".

MIKHNOV: WE SHOULD HAVE SCORED MORE GOALS

Author of Lokomotiv winning goal in the KHL series against Atlant Alexey Mikhnov expressed his point of view on the series.


On Sunday Lokomotiv Yaroslavl won the fourth match of play-off series in overtime 2:1 and advanced to quarterfinals. Author of winning goal talked to sport press.

"As for the series, I think we deserved this victory", Mikhnov said. "We concentrated on defense more in the first games, created a few scoring chances, but anyway we won. And after that we fully controlled the situation".

"My link and I didn’t spend much time on the ice in the fourth match and coaches gave other players more playing time. That is why when I entered the game in overtime, I was fresh and absolutely calm".

"Vorobyev staked at attacking hockey and we should have scored more goals, but Atlant goalkeeper was on a high. We created many scoring opportunities and sooner or later it should have been converted into goals, and so it happened".

"We lost both matches to our future opponents Spartak this season, and we will try to rehabilitate".

NAZAROV: I DIDN’T KEEP MY WORD

Traktor head coach Andrey Nazarov feels pity that his team has to finish the season so early after losing KHL play-off series to Metallurg Magnitogorsk.


"On one hand, Traktor reached play-offs for the third consecutive season under my reign and sealed the first cup victory", said KHL youngest coach to sport press. "On the other hand, we have a feeling that we didn’t manage to find out Metallurg’s weakest sides and play better against this super club. We don’t want to finish the season so early, because the team is in excellent form now".

"We were weakened by injuries of our leading defensemen plus our top scorer Skachkov was suspended. In general we are one of the youngest clubs in the league consisting mostly of products of our own school, that is very important for development of the whole Russian hockey".

"Traktor had been conflicting with our fans during the season, but they saw off the team with ovation. This situation increased people’s interest in our club in the whole country".

"By the way, even despite our budget is one of the lowest in the league, Traktor and fans will always set for maximum goal".

"To be honest, I didn’t keep my promise to our fans because we didn’t advance to the second knockout round though we were very close to fulfilling our task".

UFA AND MAGNITOGORSK REACH KHL QUARTERFINALS

Gagarin Cup first play-off round was completed with two games as Salavat Yulaev and Metallurg Magnitogorsk advanced to the next stage of the tournament.


Avtomobilist – Salavat Yulaev 1:8 (0:3, 1:4, 0:1)

Best players: Radulov (S); Toresen (S); Blatak (S)

Score in the series 1-3

Traktor – Metallurg Magnitogorsk 2:3 OT (1:1, 1:0, 0:1, 0:1)

Best players: Platonov (M); Alistratov (T); Kuznetsov (T)

Score in the series 1-3

"It was very difficult and good clash", said Metallurg head coach Valeriy Belousov. "Traktor played wonderfully and we lost the second period completely".

Thus the following clubs will face each other in KHL quarterfinal series:

Salavat Yulaev – Neftekhimik

Metallurg Magnitogorsk – Ak Bars

Lokomotiv – Spartak

HC MVD – Dynamo Riga

GOLOVKOV: IT WAS A SHAME

HC Dynamo Moscow president Mikhail Golovkov commented on the KHL first knockout round series against Spartak.


President of one of KHL favourites Dynamo Moscow, which was knocked out of the fight by their city rivals Spartak, expressed his point of view on the series.

"Our display this season is fully unsatisfactory", Golovkov said. "It is the worst performance during my work here".

"I have no words to describe what has happened. The team has so many strong players and they should have played much better".

"After the match I went to the locker rooms and told players that it was a shame. They must come up to our fans and apologize".

"So now we will think about changes, maybe we will change the club policy. Khomutov’s contract will run until 30 April, so after that we will decide whether to extend it or not".

SPARTAK EASES PAST DYNAMO

On sunday Spartak outplayed Dynamo Moscow at Luzhniki to win play-off series 3-1. They opponent in Gagarin Cup quarterfinal will be Lokomotiv, which knocked out Atlant.

Spartak – Dynamo Moscow 1:3 (0:2, 0:1, 1:0). 13 March, Saturday

Best players: Eremeev (D); Yachmenev (D); Weinhandl (D)

Spartak – Dynamo Moscow 4:0 (1:0, 3:0, 0:0). 14 March, Sunday

Best players: Kochnev (S); Cibak (S); Lapenkov (S)

Score in the series 3-1

"I thanked players for their work", said Spartak head coach at post-match press conference. "They have done everything like we asked them to. They calmed down and played with better discipline, that told upon result immediately".

"We lost play-offs in the first match of the series when we held 3-0 advantage and possessed initiative for most part of the game", said Dynamo head coach Andrey Khomutov. "That result told upon all Dynamo players".

"I consider our hockey in play-offs unsatisfactory and I want to apologize to our fans, who waited good game from us".

Lokomotiv – Atlant 4:3 (2:1, 2:0, 0:2). 13 March, Saturday

Lokomotiv – Atlant 2:1 OT (0:0, 0:0, 1:1, 0:0, 1:0). 14 March, Sunday

Score in the series 3-1

TIKHONOV: CSKA LACKS EXPERIENCE

On Saturday HC CSKA became the first club to slip out of Gagarin Cup play-off series, by losing to HC MVD in three matches. Legendary Russian coach and CSKA honorary president Viktor Tikhonov summarized results of the series.


"The team prepared for the season perfectly and demonstrated good hockey and result at the beginning of the championship", Tikhonov told Sport Express. "But later CSKA just lacked experience, that was the first reason of the club’s failure in play-offs".

"Players’ inexperience made them make unnecessary mistakes. They were too emotional".

"The second reason is insufficient experience of the head coach Sergey Nemchinov, who worked his first season independently. I suppose that our opponents’ head coach fully outplayed Nemchinov in the series against HC MVD".

"Several misfortunes settled uncertainty in our players and they became confused. And again it is caused by lack of experience".

"I am sure that coaches’ decision to part with Schastlivy and Kulyash was wrong. In any case I wouldn’t have parted with these players. I agree that Kulyash has very difficult character, but it was necessary to work with him, because I don’t see any best players in the team now".

"Everybody was afraid of Kulyash’s strike and after his quit CSKA had problems of realization of powerplay. When there are so many suspensions, you can make result on powerplay".

"I know that Nemchinov conducts many theoretical exercises, but theory cannot replace practice and team’s discipline leaves much to be desired in this case, because players don’t have skills which are worked out during trainings".

"I see brilliant future for CSKA. Coaches can work with their youngsters, who are very ambitious. The only thing I would do is to add several top-level forwards, since young players cannot lead the team for the whole season. And of course the team needs another captain".

"My attitude to foreigners is negative, because with their arrival to our hockey we stopped developing our reserves in all clubs".

ACCIDENT IN EKATERINBURG

On sunday on the 17th minute of the KHL eightfinal match Avtomobilist vs. Salavat Yulaev the local fan climbed over the subs’ bench of the Ufa team and strongly hit the goalkeeper of the guests Vitaliy Kolesnik on the head. That could have turned a tragedy.


According to correspondent present at the match everything started with dispute between one of the supporters of the first row next to the subs’ bench and the reserve keeper of Salavat Vitaliy Kolesnik.

After that an enraged spectator got over to the bench and had a hockey stick in his hands with which he struck the goaltender on the head.

Kolesnik was brought off the arena with a transsection and heavy brain concussion and the match was cancelled for twenty minutes.

"It is difficult for me to comment on this game," said the head coach of Salavat Yulaev Vyacheslav Bykov.

"You know, when at the Vancouver-2010 a Georgian luger died I was shocked. And I experience the similar feelings at the moment. We have avoided a tragedy by miracle."

And here it is what Kolesnik himself answered on the matter after he spent an hour testifying to an investigator who is to launch a criminal case.

"I am sorry but my head aches very much so I can answer only a few questions," said the onslaught victim.

"Some supporters were very aggressive from the very beginning. Some players and I tried to calm them down but to no effect."

"Then suddenly my eyes caught sideways that a man approached the bench and took a hockey stick. I managed to dodge the first blow but the second hit me right on the head. What came next I do not remember clearly."

"The doctors put in several stitches and bandaged my head. I put on a baseball cap and returned to the team."

"I am not sure that the hooligan was of sound mind. The doctor of Salavat noticed that his pupils were unnaturally broad."

"Nothing of the kind has ever happened to me before, neither in NHL nor in Russia. By the way according to the doctor I was extremely lucky – had this man struck a bit sideways I would become an invalid."

SKA AND DYNAMO: TWO GAMES DOWN

Yesterday favourites of KHL Western Conference SKA and Dynamo Moscow lost their second matches of play-off series, while Dynamo Riga and Spartak are one step from advancing to the quarterfinals.


Dynamo Moscow – Spartak 0:1 (0-2 in the series)

"Ahead of the first match of the series I promised that we will play better and better", said Spartak head coach Milos Riha. "It’s good that we’ve done everything for our victory before the third period".

SKA – Dynamo Riga 1:3 (0-2 in the series)

SKA St. Petersburg surprisingly lost the second game of the series against Dynamo Riga. "Attack is the key of success, but we don’t score", said SKA star Maxim Sushinsky.

"Most likely the main reason of it is psychology. All journalists wrote that we are already in the final, but in order to reach the final game, it’s necessary to win the first round".

"Pressure will be even bigger in the third match of the series, but we have nothing to lose".

"We began the match well and kept on playing our hockey in the second period, however we made several mistakes and conceded two goals in short period of time", said SKA head coach Barry Smith.

"Though we created many scoring opportunities, we were not lucky".

HC MVD – CSKA 4:2 (2-0 in the series)

Atlant – Lokomotiv 4:3 OT (1-1 in the series)

KHL PLAY-OFFS KICK OFF TODAY

The first matches of Gagarin Cup first knockout round will take place today in KHL Western Conference.


SKA (1) – Dynamo Riga (8)

First match – Saint Petersburg, 19-00 MSK

SKA’s chances are much higher, as they overcome their rivals both in class and motivation. All that Julius Supler’s team can do is to win one or two home matches.

HC MVD (2) – CSKA (7)

First match – Balashikha, 19-30 MSK

Judging by the regular season, CSKA is not very comfortable opponent for HC MVD, that is why there is no clear favourite of the series.

Dynamo Moscow (3) – Spartak (6)

First match – Moscow, 19-30 MSK

Dynamo is capable to defeat Spartak only if players’ mindset is maximum. The Red-and-Whites have already proved that they are cup team, which compensate their disadvantages by extreme self-efficiency.

Atlant (4) – Lokomotiv (5)

First match – Mytischi, 19-30 MSK

Most likely the outcome of the series will depend on coaches’ rivalry. Lokomotiv experienced coach Vorobyev should beat his young colleague Borschevsky.

KASPARAITIS WAITING FOR SKA VS. SALAVAT FINAL

Last weekend it became clear that season is over for SKA defenceman Darius Kasparaitis, as player didn’t manage to gain his best form and won’t play this spring despite desperate efforts to return to ice.


"This decision has been made collectively", Kasparaitis explained. "Pain didn’t disappear, and moreover I missed one year and I am not fully fit for the games now".

"Barry Smith and I discussed the situation and decided that I mustn’t return to ice after long break, especially when the team is well prepared and is in brilliant form".

KHL PLAY-OFFS FIRST CLASHES TOMORROW

On Sunday the KHL regular championship finished with 12 matches. And the first clashes of the Gagarin Cup eightfinals in the Western Division are to be held tomorrow.


The pairs of the Round of 16 are the following:

West: SKA (1 spot in the Division) vs. Dynamo Riga (8); HC MVD (2), CSKA (7); Dynamo Moscow (3) vs. Spartak (6); Atlant (4) vs. Lokomotiv (5).

East: Salavat Yulaev (1) vs. Avtomobilist (8); Metallurg Magnitogorsk (2) vs. Traktor (7); Ak Bars (3), Barys (6); Neftekhimik (4) vs. Avangard (5).

Many experts predict the two derbies to be the most interesting in the first play-offs round – the Moscow one, namely Dynamo vs. Spartak, and the Ural one, Magnitka vs. Traktor.

Will there be an intrigue in these matches? It depends not on the clear favourites – Dynamo and Magnitogorsk but on the troublemakers – Spartak and Traktor. Their head coaches eyed the coming derbies yesterday.

Milos Riha, head coach of Spartak: "Actually we did not care with whom to play in the first round whether it is Atlant or Dynamo. Both teams are strong opponents and matches against them always turn principal and dynamic."

"We have played Dynamo four times this season and they know perfectly well every Spartak player. This series is seems to be interesting. I only wish it will be fair play."

"We have won three matches out of four in the regular season against this opponent and of course it gives us a bit confidence but nothing more. In the play-offs everything starts from scratch and we must be prepared to anything."

"And I treat Dynamo favourites of the pair. After all it is not for nothing that they are to claim the Gagarin Cup."

"The last matches of Dynamo were held on the road and their supporters will expect a lot of them on the home ice. That should prove an additional psychological burden for the team. On the other hand this load may come in handy as it provides the players with great motivation."

"But we also want to advance to the next stage! The last year’s play-offs when we outplayed SKA showed that we are able to compete with serious opponents."

Andrey Nazarov, head coach of Traktor: "I feel that this season the team has not yet realized all its potentials and we reached the play-offs with a five-loss series. So all my thoughts now concern the possible solution of the situation."

"Magnitka is a machine-team without weak points! Everything is ok with the speed, transmission, drag and design."

"It is not good time to disclose our secrets about the way we are going to resist Metallurg but our coaching staff has something up its sleeve."

"We should pay special attention to the entire team. To Sergey Fedorov, to their cunning Czechs headed by Marek, to the excellent goalies, to the experienced defenders. And do not forget about the coach."

"We have good youth though they do not win a lot in MHL. But in the play-offs the veterans are to lead to the battle – Nikolishin, Piganovic, Sazonov, Alistratov who is already a long-term resident despite his youth."

"We could have played against Salavat Yulaev in the eightfinals but I cannot say that would have been better. I see that the coaching staff of the Ufa team is under great pressure after the Olympics but that could be a stimulus."

"I think our derby will be very interesting, a real hockey battle. I hope that in the play-offs we will improve our statistics."


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NEMCHINOV: I GUESS THERE WILL BE FIVE GAMES IN OUR SERIES

Representatives of KHL Western Division clubs participating in Gagarin Cup first play-off round shared their feelings on the coming matches.


SKA (1) – Dynamo (8)

Barry Smith, head coach of SKA: "Dynamo Riga play very good hockey. Even on Sunday match with Salavat Yulaev they held three-goal lead, so our coming rivalry with this team will be a tough test for us".

Julius Supler, head coach of Dynamo Riga: "We have already fulfilled the first task of this season, that was to reach play-offs. But it doesn’t mean that our goal for the first knockout round will be worthy play against SKA".

"Our management has already set the next target for us and we will need to advance to the semifinals of our conference. We stole only one victory from Barry Smith’s team out of four games in the regular championship, so we will have to invent something new to beat them".

HC MVD (2) – CSKA (7)

Andrey Safronov, general director of HC MVD: "Our managing staff was afraid to face Dynamo Riga in the first play-off round. At recent meeting of the KHL clubs’ managers Dynamo’s representative said that playoff series between our clubs would provoke considerable public excitement".

"But it doesn’t mean that we underestimate CSKA, because there are no weak teams in play-off. We lost twice to the Moscow side in shootout series and I am concerned about unpleasant statistics".

Sergey Nemchinov, head coach of CSKA: "If someone thinks that our team got lucky ticket by escaping meeting with SKA in quarterfinals, he is wrong. HC MVD is well-organized team, which deservedly won the top place in the Tarasov division".

"Our opponents have many strong sides – perfect team-play and excellent goalie. I would also mention brilliant work of their head coach Oleg Znarok".

"In order to achieve success in the series against this club, we will need to stick to strict discipline. Much will depend on our power play".

"Our team came to play-off series in ideal form, as only Dimitrakos is slightly injured, but I think he will be able to play against HC MVD. I guess the series will be very difficult and we will need five matches to determine the winner".

Dynamo Moscow (3) – Spartak (6)

Andrey Khomutov, head coach of Dynamo: "When it was clear that we would play Spartak, I though that it would be a perfect opportunity to take revenge on them for our three losses in regular season. To my mind it will be additional motivation for the team in Gagarin Cup quarterfinals".

"We need to recall our mistakes, which didn’t let us defeat Spartak in regular championship. First of all we will stake at defence".

Atlant (4) – Lokomotiv (5)

Nikolay Borschevsky, head coach of Atlant: "The coming series against Lokomotiv will be very interesting and tense. I don’t want to guess how many games we will play".

"The fact, that we will have little advantage because of home arena, is pleasant, but it won’t be enough for victory".


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THE PLAY-OFFS PAIRS ARE NOW KNOWN

The biggest surprise in the last day is that Avtomobilist was able to win SKA therefore taking the last Play-off spot in the eastern conference, since Sibir wasn't able to deal with Vityaz.

So there are the play-off pairs:

West:
SKA - Dinamo Riga
HC MVD - CSKA
Atlant - Lokomotiv
Dynamo Moscow - Spartak

East:
Salavat Yulaev - Avtomobilist
Metallurg Magnitogorsk - Traktor
Ak Bars - Baris
Neftekhimik - Avangard


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3 NEW TROPHIES WERE INTRODUCED TO THE LEAGUE

+ Regular season winner trophy, called the Continental Cup (same function as the Presidents' Trophy in the NHL)

+ Conference West final winner trophy (same function as the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl in the NHL)

+ Conference East final winner trophy (same function as the Prince of Wales Trophy in the NHL)


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KHL 03 Mar 2010 ROUNDUP

Dynamo Riga became the last club in KHL Western Conference to snatch the spot in Gagarin Cup play-offs.


Following surprising failure of Torpedo in home match with Sibir (1:4), confident 5:3 victory over Avangard secured Dynamo Riga with a spot in playoff series. Moreover Riga side displaced CSKA from the seventh place after Moscow club sensationally lost the home clash with Metallurg Novokuznetsk.

Meanwhile the race for the spot in playoffs is still in action in Eastern Conference, as Sibir and Avtomobilist still keep chances to advance to the next stage of competition.

Salavat Yulaev guaranteed the first seed sport in the conference, while Metallurg Magnitogorst is the second and Barys is the sixth.

Spartak – Ak Bars 1:3 (1:0, 0:0, 0:3)

Best players: Badyukov (A); Emelin (A); Kochnev (S)

Avanhard – Dynamo Riga 3:5 (2:2, 0:0, 1:3)

Best players: Hossa (D); Averin (A); Sprukts (D)

Salavat Yulaev – Dynamo Moscow 3:0 (2:0, 1:0, 0:0)

Best players: Kolesnik (S); Radulov (S); Toresen (S)

SKA – Traktor 7:5 (4:1, 0:3, 3:1)

Best players: Rybin (S); Skachkov (T); Trubachev (S)

Lokomotiv – Lada 5:2 (1:0, 2:1, 2:1)

Best players: Gayduchenko (Lok); Vasicek (Lok); Drugov (Lada)

Torpedo – Sibir 1:4 (0:1, 0:2, 1:1)

Best players: Mirnov (S); Klyuchnikov (S); Tarasenko (S)

Severstal – Metallurg Magnitogorsk 1:2 (1:0, 0:2, 0:0)

Best players: Koshechkin (M); Marek (M); Tikhonov (S)

CSKA – Metallurg Magnitogorsk 1:3 (0:0, 0:2, 1:1)

Best players: Bobrovsky (M); Tatarinov (M); Parshin (C)

HC MVD – Neftekhimik 3:2 (1:0, 0:1, 2:1)

Best players: Kokarev (M); Pestushko (N); Garnett (M)

Barys – Dynamo Minsk 5:3 (1:2, 2:0, 2:1)

Best players: Rymarev (B); A.Spiridonov (B); Dallman (B)

Vityaz – Amur 2:1 (1:0, 0:1, 1:0)

Best players: Simon (V); Koznev (V); Borisov (A)

Atlant – Avtomobilist 3:2 SO (0:1, 2:0, 0:1, 0:0, 1:0)

Best players: Zubarev (At); Epachintsev (At); Magogin (Av)


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ZAKHARKIN: CANADA SURPRISED US IN VANCOUVER

Igor Zakharkin gave a detailed interview to russian sport press following Russia’s painful loss to Canada in Vancouver.


"I still cannot forget that awful atmosphere in our locker-room after the match with Canada", Russian team’s senior coach said. "It was the most unpleasant moment in my life".

"The best Russian hockey players were sitting with their heads down and they didn’t understand what had happened. Vyacheslav Bykov went to the press conference in this deathly silence".

"We were aware that people were watching us closely. Some our opponents waited for our defeat in Quebec and Berne, and we gave these people food for talks by losing to Canada".

"Now people criticize Russian hockey team for 3:7 loss to Canada, but we have something to respond to critics. We are ready to analyze all our matches at the Olympic games, including one against Canada".

I don’t know who initiated talks about our coaching staff’s inability to offer their Canadian counterparts something new in tactical way. Maybe they were those people who say that Bowman knows all six hundred NHL players, while we don’t know them at all. In reality we had much information not only about them, but about the same number of KHL players too".

"We possessed detailed information about all players from Canada’s Olympic roster. Ahead of our head-to-head match we showed videotape with key moments of their game, so we analyzed their hockey style".

"Ahead of one of our matches Sergey Gonchar came up to us and said that they watch many videotapes about each of their opponents in Pittsburgh, and we used this information. In particular we prepared 18-minute video, which we showed to our links".

"We paid great attention to goalkeepers, because we were afraid that Canada would feature their best goalie Brodeur against us and it would be almost impossible to fire in a goal behind him".

"Luongo was Canada’s first-choice goalie and we assessed this possibility as very high".

"Summarising everything I said before I should admit that despite our thorough preparations, Canada managed to surprise and press us".


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SEASON OVER FOR ZINOVYEV

Russian national team and Salavat Yulaev forward Sergey Zinovyev will pass through medical surgery .


Zinovyev picked an injury during the Olympic hockey tournament match against Czech Republic. Forward has already returned to Ufa from Vancouver and immediately made for Europe.

Preliminary diagnosis states that player suffered tear of knee ligament. The season is likely to be over for him and he won’t be able to help his club in Gagarin Cup fight.

Meanwhile Salavat Yulaev defenceman Oleg Tverdovsky has shaken off his injury. He is 100% ready for participation in the last games of the regular championship.


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KOZLOV: I COULD MOVE TO KHL

Outstanding Atlanta Thrashers veteran Vyacheslav Kozlov requested a trade as he is set to waive his no trade clause.


"Everything began at the start of the season", the 37-year-old veteran explained. "I understood that I wouldn’t play in Atlanta next season".

"Nobody offend me, but the team slowly drives me out and in general I don’t put blame on someone. I’ve played eight years here, but now I think that it’s time to change the club".

"My contract envisages no trade clause, but I control the situation [player can waive no trade clause in case he is satisfied with the offer of the new club]. If I find a team which I like, I will change the club with pleasure".

"Of course I would like to find a club, which will take part in play-offs and of course which will have European players, mainly Russians, because it’s much easier to play with our compatriots. If not, I will stay here".

"It’s early to quit hockey as I don’t suffer injuries and my health lets me play. I think I will wait for July 1. I want to play in good team with good partners, and I don’t exclude variant of moving to KHL".

"I was negatively surprised when Atlanta managers said after Ilya Kovalchuk’s quit that they hadn’t won any cup match in eight years with this player. Kovalchuk has done a lot for this team and I was hurt by these words. It means that it’s time for me to leave the club too".

"They can be offended by Kovalchuk because he didn’t sign the contract (eleven years and 102 million), but it is his right to do it. It’s a big sum of money and I think that if Ilya made this decision, it is absolutely right".

"Atlanta coach likes playing in four links, while I think that it’s impossible to play the whole match this way as we simply lose the rhythm. Ilya and I tried to explain that it’s necessary to change picture of the game sometimes.

"In order to catch the rhythm it’s better to play in two or three links, but Anderson doesn’t feel it. Maybe he is inexperienced or maybe he sticks to his own directions after he won the cup in AHL".

"I played both in AHL and NHL and these are absolutely different leagues. Not all coaches, who won something with the farm-club, can achieve something serious in NHL, and vice versa".

"Speaking about the Olympic games, I have contradictory feelings. We were beaten by Canada in all respects, but I don’t want to talk only about bad things. All played did their best.

"I see that our team is criticized severely in press, but it’s up to the coaches and managers, not up to journalists, to search for errors. We can say that team failed the Olympic games, but it happened not only because of players’ mistakes, but because of coaches’ mistakes too".

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DO YOU WANT TO SEE NHL PLAYERS IN SOCHI?

At night on Sunday MSK the Olympic ice hockey final took place in Vancouver with Canada snatching gold and Russia failing in the tournament all along.


The final was very much like a real movie. What a plot it was! USA was down 0:2 and heroically equalized with only 24 seconds till the final buzzer.

After that in overtime it was Crosby, who hardly scored during the Olympic tournament and was doing hard work for the team, turned not very convincing play of Iginla at the board to the golden goal.

Such matches at such a level bring sport on a new curl of popularity. And this hopefully will positively affect the decision of NHL concerning the participation of its players in the Sochi Olympics.

Russian sport press asked the head coaches of Canada and USA Mike Babcock and Ron Wilson respectively as well as chief executive of the Maple leaves Steve Yzerman one question: "Would you like NHL players take part in the Sochi Olympics?"

Ron Wilson: "I hope that NHL players, especially my young team will have the chance to go to Sochi. I am sure that is essential and very important for ice hockey. To my mind we are to pay back our debts to supporters of the whole world. We are doing exceptionally good work stealing best players from other countries and that means we owe their supporters a chance to watch a tournament like Olympic Games with their own eyes."

"If we are to go to Sochi NHL should give us a couple of days off more taking into account a long flight. Moreover I hope that matches will be held on narrow rinks. The game on such ice is so much better!"

"Today’s match [USA vs. Canada final] had great tempo and was intensive and this is an example of modern hockey. I am proud that my team was playing the way they should have. And not with trembling knees and defensive tactics in order not to concede. My teams always try to play differently. Though it is not very successful with Toronto yet but I try to teach them to play valiantly."

"I teach them to play right hockey. Not the way Czech Republic, Slovakia or Russia play who sit in defence and wait, wait, wait for a mistake. Today it was great hockey where the result was of course of utmost importance but satisfaction from the game was also important."

"This game where initially everybody thought about offensive actions was created in Canada. And I think being their neighbours we can justly play and train in the same way. I hope Mike will agree with me."

Mike Babcock: "I absolutely agree with Ron. I also think that best players in the world have the right to play for their countries, competing for the Olympic gold and that is what they really want. Moreover it is a big advertising event for NHL and today’s match proved it. People will talk about it for a long time."

"The final was splendid. But the entire tournament turned fantastic. I also agree with Ron about small arenas. They do the Olympics better! But at the same time I do not want you to think that I dictate terms: if for the hosts it is very important to play on big ice we will play there. And I do not think that is a big problem for NHL to make a season two weeks longer."

Steve Yzerman: "Firstly I am not sure whether NHL decides positive about its players’ participation in the next Games. As for my personal part the Canadian Hockey Federation tries to maximum develop the game bringing up young players, coaches, managers. And they are to make the decision. But if the Federation gives me a chance I will very pleased. I am admired with my Vancouver experience though it turned rather stressing. But it is great honour and if I receive an offer to go to Sochi as chief executive of the Canadian national team I will not doubt."


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KASATONOV: RUSSIA NEEDS PEOPLE WHO WORKED IN NHL

The two-time Olympic champion Alexey Kasatonov believes that Russian hockey team needs to strengthen the coaching staff for Sochi-2014 preparations.


Prolific defenceman and current head coach of Krylya Sovetov Alexey Kasatonov watched majority of Olympic hockey tournament matches from the stands of Canada Hockey palace.

"Naturally we need some time to analyze mistakes which were made in Vancouver, in order to avoid them on the team’s preparations for Sochi-2014", Kasatonov said. "I suppose that it’s necessary to strengthen the coaching staff. To my mind we need to involve people, who played and worked in NHL".

"Bykov and Zakharkin lend credence to people after Russia’s two straight victories at the World championships. At bad times it’s necessary to unite and move forward and everyone should help each other, moreover when we talk about hockey".

"Besides reinforcement of the coaching staff, we need to analyze the situation concerning our closest reserves. Four-year term is a long period".

"Young American team is very ambitious and they didn’t feel so high pressure like Russian side. Everyone was waiting only gold medals from our players, taking into account that Ovechkin, Datsyuk and Malkin are one of the best players in the world nowadays".

"Unfortunately our weakest line – defence – worked badly in Vancouver".

"But again it’s a question of tactics and strategy. Defencemen needed help of forwards, while all links should have played as the united team".

"Situation ahead of quarterfinal match against Canada was not favouarble for Russia. Canada failed qualification stage and moved on to additional match against germany and they were angry about it".

"On the other hand this game made hosts more self-confident and they began the quarterfinal fight with maximum self-efficiency".

"Russian had a chance to make hockey as number one sport in our country. After our collapse in football people expected our hockey players to perform absolutely different".

"I communicate with our fans and I know that many of them left Vancouver after our team’s loss to Canada. It means that people like hockey and they are ready to invest money in its development. Youngsters will play hockey with pleasure".

"The main task now is to unite. We shouldn’t search for people, who are responsible for our failure".

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ZUBOV: NOT PLAYERS MAKE UP STRATEGY AND TACTICS

The best defender of KHL Sergey Zubov who refused to go to Vancouver in the reserves, commented on the performance of the Russian team at the Olympics.


One of the ever strongest defenders of the Russian ice hockey, played 17 seasons in NHL, at first refused to sum up the results of the Olympic tournament.

"What results? There are specially trained people in Russia who will professionally study out everything and make right conclusions," said the 39-year old defender of SKA.

"I am ready only to share my personal views. Views of an ice hockey player who knows something about this game and understands a bit."

"Let us start from the beginning. At the start of the tournament my inner voice told me that everything must have been ok. The team rolled into the tournament quite well – crashed such an uneasy team as Latvia."

"Moreover I liked our display in the next two matches as well despite the fact that we lost to Slovakia. So everything seemed to be running to plan."

"And that is why when my wife woke me up on the Thursday morning and said that Russia lost 3:7 to Canada I would not believe her. I did not watch the game online for, as you understand we have a training process in SKA and being under pressure it is difficult to stay up all night."

"At first I was shocked at the score. Then when I started to watch the replay I was disappointed with the game itself. I was torturing myself for two periods and then impulsively turned the video off, as everything was clear."

"I was amazed that our players were not ready to start the match correctly. Look Canada is a country with great hockey history."

"The trademark of the North Americans is hidden in the first ten minutes of every match. To bewilder, trample and provoke – are the philosophy of the Canadian start. Especially in the competition with Europeans."

"In the Soviet times we knew it quite well that if you withstand these dreadful ten minutes the situation turns over and you get some trumps. And we could win Canadians because of this."

"And now in Vancouver I was amazed that our team seemed not to know about it at all. For me, the player who studied Canadians throughout it was a shock."

"And it does not matter that a dozen of our players perform in NHL clubs for different people are responsible for tactics and strategy."

"It was evident that Slovakia was more ready to fight Canada in the semifinals than we. They did not risk in the first period and conceded only 2 goals. Then in the third period they have almost won back the three pucks."

"Canada outplayed us not only because of their start but of luck as well – they managed to score quick goals. Moreover it caught my eye how wisely Canada closed out our leaders."

"They squelched Ovechkin, Malkin and Volchenkov with power but hardly touched Datsyuk for example. Probably because if make Datsyuk flare up he will ignite the whole lineup."

"And who could know it better than Mike Babcock, the head coach of both the national team and the Detroit team."

"I think that they just studied thoroughly every player of Russia. After the loss in Turin, two consecutive failures in the World Championships’ finals they had nowhere to retreat."

"Had they lost to us again the country would have made mincemeat of them. That is why they did their best at the Games. That match showed that every player had his own record ready with all his strong and weak sides."