MALKIN: DO NOT MAKE OVECHKIN OF ME

This week the regular NHL season is to start. Prior to this event one of the best Russian ice hockey players, forward of Pittsburg Evgeniy Malkin shares his plans for the season.


When Malkin arrived in NHL in 2006 he was very shy and despite great achievements he always stayed in shadows behind his peer Sydney Crosby and his coyness.

The Malkin of the autumn-2010 is completely different – he became a media star ready and eager to contact with the press.

"Nothing extraordinary has happened to me," said the forward. "There is no big news: no wife, no children. Though I had a very good holiday. Moreover, I trained well in August and am ready for the championship."

"I cannot say that I am worried about anything now but of course I want to start the season well at once not seeking the play during several matches. I want to make a strong start – to score a beautiful and an important goal from the first minutes, make an assist and win in the very first match. Hopefully it will come true."

"Do not worry that I am a winger in the line. Look at how Crosby plays. Nominally he is a centre forward but spends plenty of time in the corners, behind the goal. Partners stand by him in these episodes."

"This is the general system of our game and there is nothing tragic about my playing on the wing."

"But do not do an Ovechkin of me – I will never become a classical winger and will never shoot for a hundred times per game. I will remain myself!"

WHICH LEAGUE IS BETTER?

Yesterday a Russian club defeated an NHL club for the first time in twenty years when SKA outplayed Carolina Hurricanes 5:3.


SKA vs. Carolina – 5:3 (2:0, 1:3, 2:0)

Scorers: Panov, 1:0. Rybin, 2:0 – PP. Ruutu, 2:1. Dwyer, 2:2. Yashin, 3:2. Skinner, 3:3 – PP. Sushinsky, 4:3 – PP. Sushinsky, 5:3 – PP.

Goaltenders: Nabokov – Ward (Peters).

Three stars: Yashin (SKA), Sushinsky (SKA), Skinner (Carolina).

The star forward of SKA Alexey Yashin speaks about the anxiety with which people across the Atlantic experienced before the match.

"Many journalists called me, including those from New York and from the native for Carolina state, and asked me about the match," confessed Yashin.

"I offer you to concentrate only on ice hockey itself, without looking at great banners and headlines. For example, the game against Minnesota in Helsinki is much more important for Carolina, because it is a part of NHL regular season."

"I am against the desire to draw conclusions that the team that is to lose in the match represents the League where people cannot play hockey."

NABOKOV: CAROLINA FOUGHT AS IN NHL

The goalkeeper of SKA Evgeniy Nabokov and the forward Maxim Sushinsky comment on the performance of their team in the yesterday’s clash against the Hurricanes.


"Today was the first match in KHL when I saw really passionate and powerful support of our fans," said tired but happy Nabokov after the clash.

"On our home ice walls really helped us and SKA had a sixth player on the ice. Such manner of support is typical of NHL but it turned out that in Russia people could support in the same way."

"The importance of victory over Carolina? We were given an entire day-off, laughs the goalie. But we are not going enjoy this success for half a year."

"Though I think that for our team such a symbolic victory was important in order to unite feel self-confidence, feel that we are able of great achievements."

"Actually I expected that the NHL team would be ready to fight in any given moment. They were playing not in a pre-season manner at all."

"That is why never listen to analysts who will say that for Carolina it was only an exhibition game. They were combating as in a typical match of the NHL championship."

"At the moment Carolina can lament about anything – big sizes of the rink, new refereeing system, acclimatization," said the forward Maxim Sushinsky.

"But it will never call off the fact that our team was stronger than the NHL one. Especially in terms of technique. You all saw in what manner we scored the last, fifth goal."

SUMMANEN: JAGR’S PASSION HELPS AVANGARD

Avangard head coach Raimo Summanen is set to win the KHL championship with his team.


"I am ready to listen to people’s praising words only after victory in the final of play-off series", Summanen said to sport press. "I’ve never considered the second place as success".

"When Avangard managers offered me to head the team, our main target was clear as I was supposed to help the club return to the leading positions in the Russian league. In order to do it we just needed to reform the team before the season".

"It was even better that we began creating our team from the very beginning. When players went on vacations in spring, we were occupied by strengthening our squad. I always told our players during the trainings and trial matches that they should work fingers to the bone. We made good start of the season mainly thanks to their hard-work".

"Jaromir Jagr was doubtful about his future career in spring, while I needed his services. I am convinced that teams-champions can’t be formed without so top-class players like Jagr".

"And one more thing made me happy when the Czech star signed a new contract with us. I see inspiration in Jaromir’s eyes. He won the Olympic gold medals and Stanley Cup, but he also wants to win the title here in Russia. Ambitious teams urgently need such players. His passion helped his national team win the World Championship and now it helps Jagr be key figure in Avangard".

"Two years ago and last autumn I was ready to think over offers from KHL clubs, but those clubs chose other candidates. I don’t remember details of negotiations with Omsk team but I can say that after signing the contract I was the luckiest person in the world".

MOROZOV SET TO BREAK HIS RECORD

Ak Bars captain Alexey Morozov added one more achievement to his rich collection, as he scored the 200th goal in uniform of Kazan team in the match against Traktor.


"That evening was successful", Morozov said. "I managed to score my record goal and watch the Champions League game between Rubin and Barcelona".

"I have already missed one record goal in Minsk, where I scored the 250th goal in the Russian championship, but people told me about it the next day. After that I decided to pay more attention to statistics and I didn’t miss my record goal for Ak Bars".

"It’s pleasant to become the league’s record holder. Moreover I would be glad to break this record and reach the mark of 300 or 400 goals".

"All my goals are important for me, but most of all I remember the goal, which I scored in Gagarin Cup-2009 in crucial seventh match of the final series against Lokomotiv. Our team grabbed 1:0 victory and became the first champion in history of KHL".

CAJANEK: I SHOULD HAVE SCORED MORE GOALS

One of heroes of SKA vs. Spartak match Petr Cajanek, who scored two goals, answered sport press’ questions.


"The match was very important for us and for our opponents, so we were very happy that we won", Cajanek said. "Frankly speaking I didn’t think about our next match against Carolina, because the coming game is the most important for us".

"We created a lot of scoring chances and I could have scored approximately five goals. It’s good that we have scoring opportunities and I hope we will convert them into goals oftener".

"In hockey you can’t seal victories one by one easily. Hockey is always a fight and you need to prepare for the next clash".

"It’s pleasant that so many our fans came to the stadium to support us as it was great to play in so warm atmosphere. I know that matches against Spartak are special for our fans and I want to thank them for their support".

YASHIN: I AM HAPPY FOR SKA AND MY PARTNERS

One of the most popular Russian hockey players Alexey Yashin comments on the fact that he stays sidelined from SKA squad in recent matches.


The 37-year-old SKA leader was unexpectedly left in reserve in Monday away match against CSKA (4:3 SO). "You are better to ask coaches why I missed our two recent matches", Yashin said to sport press.

"I work hard during the trainings and fulfil my professional duties, and everything depends on the coaches’ decision".

"I understand everything, but according to conditions of my contract I have no right to comment on the decisions of the coaching staff. Moreover in this situation critics of coaches would be interpreted as a blow on SKA management".

"So let’s better talk about SKA’s latest achievements after we won in Riga and Moscow. For me it’s not so important whether I played or not, because my team won and it’s the main thing".

"I am happy for SKA and my partners. I suppose that I am still an important member of the Army team even now".

"I agree that beginning of the season was not very successful for us, but maybe only mass media waited perfect start from SKA. Players are in process of adaptation, as they learn to understand each other better. I am sure that we will improve our display during the championship".