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."

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".

KOVALCHUK:There is nothing bad in SKA’s poor start of the season.

New Jersey forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who was hero of almost two-months summer saga concerning his contract with the NHL club, gave an interview to sport press.


"I tried not to think about summer problems with my contract", Kovalchuk said. "I was in Moscow at that time and I was concentrated on trainings and pre-season preparations. But in general I agree that this situation was unpleasant".

"I would like to say that assistance of New Jersey owner Jeff Vanderbeek and general manager Lou Lamoriello helped me a lot. They called me almost every day saying that everything would be all right and the league would approve my contract. I appreciate their help very much".

"I think that if you begin something, it’s necessary to finish this business. That is why I didn’t want to make harsh decisions and signed a contract with SKA".

"SKA was one of the most probable variants of continuing my career, if I failed to stay in New Jersey. I kept contact with Saint Petersburg club until the last moment and SKA management was interested in our cooperation".

"I am thankful to the president of the club and KHL Alexandr Medvedev who supported me in this tough situation".

"There is nothing bad in SKA’s poor start of the season, because they played only several matches. They forfeited their squad with new players, who need time to get used to each other".

"I feel that they are top-class players and the team has strong character. So I am sure that SKA will catch up with the other teams soon and restore their leading positions despite pressure from the side of journalists and fans".

"For example Ufa and Metallurg Magnitogorsk spend big sums of money for new players, however they are not so pressed by mass media. I want to wish good luck to SKA management and players"

SUSHINSKY: JUST BE CALM

SKA captain Maxim Sushinsky tries to explain his team’s unsuccessful start of the season.


"One of the reasons of our unsuccessful start of the season is mass media, because there is too much negative around SKA", Sushinsky said to sport press. I" have a feeling that we are former CSKA, which got the best players for free and won twelve consecutive championships. Our team hasn’t won anything yet".

"People always pay more attention on big prosperous clubs and expect success from them, but I don’t see the same attitude to Omsk or Ufa for example. I try not to read reviews in Internet, but my partners discuss it and say that each our game causes a lot of comments. On the other hand, nobody can win Gagarin Cup on 21 September".

"We are a little bit concerned because we lost four matches out of six. We have very good team, and all players understand our problem and work hard".

"Absence of injured Petr Cajanek is a big loss for us, because we have been playing together for the second season and understand each other without any words. It’s clear that everybody is waiting for his comeback, but besides that leaders need to be calmer".

"I don’t understand what is the reason of journalists’ hate to SKA. We have never won anything, and suddenly became target for critics. Nobody kept us in mind when we were in background. Now when we are able to reach success, people criticize us severely".

"To my mind we just need to be calm".

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.

SUSHINSKY: I HOPE I WILL PLAY IN VANCOUVER

SKA forward Maxim Sushinsky earned 5 (2+3) points in latest two games of the regular season to head the KHL top scorers’ list with 38 points overall.


"I didn’t think about reasons of my so successful performance, as everything goes well for both my club and me", said Sushinsky. "I am in good form, I have wonderful partners so it helps us achieve high results".

"I often mention time when everything goes not well for me, and I don’t pay special attention to positive moments".

"My leadership in the top scorers’ list is mainly achievement of my partners. I haven’t achieved the same results during last two years and it happened because I didn’t have partners of so high level before".

"After the break connected with the Euro Hockey tour SKA began showing the same hockey, which we played at the start of the season. We had a negative series of games in November, as our match schedule was very challenging. But after the break we caught our usual playing rhythm and became even better".

"We need to continue showing hockey which we show now, and plus it’s necessary to improve in several components of the game".

"I prepare and hope that my own hockey and figures of my effectiveness will help Russian national team’s coaches make the final decision according to the side’s roster for the Olympic games".

"This season helped me understand that it’s early to finish my playing career. When your team wins, when you understand your partners without words, you want to play hockey more. It helps me improve myself and find something new in my game".

SUSHINSKY: SPARTAK IS UNCOMFORTABLE RIVAL

SKA captain Maxim Sushinsky commented on his club’s loss to Spartak.

"I think that Spartak is very uncomfortable opponent not only for us, but for other teams too", said SKA captain Maxim Sushinsky. "Absence of Cajanek is a great loss for us, as he always undertakes great deal of work".

"We conceded a silly goal and it was the beginning of our misfortunes. We were not at our peak physical form and it was hard to play when the score was equal and we could nothing with it".

"Our opponents played perfectly during almost the whole match, while we were far from our best form".

SMITH: I AM HAPPY TO WORK WITH YASHIN

SKA head coach Barry Smith comments on the first match of his team after KHL break.

SKA outplayed Vityaz Chekhov 4:1 and the head coach of the St. Petersburg club expressed his point of view on the game.

"I liked both quality of hockey and character of my players", said Barry Smith at post-match press conference. "I was afraid that team would lose our peak form during nine days of break, but I was mistaken. We played wonderfully in the first period".

"Our opponents improved in the second period. Unfortunately our victory was darkened by injuries of two players. I hope that these injuries are not serious".

"One of our leaders Konstantin Gorovikov had flu and there was no sense in letting him play for the national team at Euro Hockey Tour in Helsinki. His teammate Zubov missed this competition because of injury and was not ready to play a week ago. I can only thank him that he recovered so quickly and played on high level against Vityaz".

"Alexey Yashin was not included to list of candidates to the national team, but he is not the person who will complain on it. He is professional player and he is always fighting as hard as he can. If coaches don’t want to see him in their team, it’s their right, but I have a different point of view on it. I am happy to work with this great player".