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."

NABOKOV JOINED SKA!

One of the best goalkeepers in the world Evgeniy Nabokov signed a four-year contract with SKA yesterday.

KHL president and chairman of SKA board of directors Alexandr Medvedev commented on Nabokov’s move.

"Nabokov’s move to KHL is great event for SKA and the whole Russian hockey", Medvedev said to sport press. "Our country still remembers his wonderful play at the World Championship in Quebec. I have no doubts that he will be one of the main candidates to position of Russia’s first-choice goalie".

"Our agreement is designed for the whole Olympic cycle – four years, and we hope that Nabokov will play for the Russian team in Sochi".

"I hope that his decision to join us will influence Ilya Kovalchuk".

"We keep an eye on Russian players in NHL, so when it became known that San Jose decided not to extend contract with Nabokov, we informed Evgeniy that we wait for his return to KHL".

SKA INTERESTED IN KOVALCHUK AND NABOKOV

Yesterday it became known that SKA holds talks not only with Ilya Kovalchuk, but with one more NHL superstar Evgeniy Nabokov.


"Nabokov is really one of the candidates to a place of SKA first-choice goalkeeper", SKA general manager Andrey Tochitsky said to sport press. "Of course he has other offers from NHL".

"It’s hard to judge whether talks with Kovalchuk’s agent are close to finish. We discuss terms of the agreement, but it’s hard to say when they finish".

Meanwhile according to sport press information Ilya Kovalchuk is close to signing a contract with SKA.