PETROV: SEMIFINALS ARE UNPREDICTABLE

Famous former forward of HC CSKA and Soviet national team Vladimir Petrov commented on the coming Gagarin Cup semifinal series.


"Taking into consideration teams’ skills, Lokomotiv is supposed to have advantage over HC MVD", he said. "But I wouldn’t make any conclusions, because both teams are famous for their self-organization and players’ self-commitment".

"I think that result of the series will depend on teams’ functional readiness. Goalkeepers are also important factors in this rivalry and to my mind HC MVD has some advantage, because Lokomotiv goalie Gelashvili is not very reliable".

"Many people consider the second semifinal series between Salavat Yulaev and Ak Bars as early final ,since these are two strongest clubs of Russia, however I don’t share this point of view. It will be just final of the Eastern Conference and that’s all".

"I want to remind that it’s very difficult to predict the final result in the ongoing play-offs, so we will see two unpredictable series where any team can celebrate victory".