GONCHAR: WE NEED TO BE 100% READY ALL THE TIME

The most experienced defenceman of the Russian hockey team and four-time participant of the Olympic games Sergey Gonchar comments on Russia vs. Slovakia match.


Following Russia’s loss to Slovakia Gonchar answered several more questions.

"It’s hard to say something right after the match besides the fact that our special links should improve their play", he said. "We have two days to find our reasons of our failure and prepara for the game against Czech Republic".

"It will be very difficult match, because Czechs play in similar manner with Slovakia. While we don’t convert our opportunities, our performance on power play leave much to be desired, but we have no right to give up".

"We mentioned several positive moments, but what is more important is that result was negative. It menas that we will think it over for two days and work on getting rid of our mistakes. The task of our special links was to score goal, so we need to analyze and say what was wrong".

"Maybe we should have improved our play in the third period. It’s clear that when team plays in two consecutive days, players have to spend more strength and energy, but we didn’t use this opportunity".

"I am waiting for the meeting with my former partner Jaromir Jagr, because he is really great player. No matter how old he is, his technique is always his strong side. And when he is not injured, he is very dangerous".

"Olympic tournament is so great event with the world’s strongest players, that one match can topsy-turn everything. And it’s necessary to be 100% ready all the time".

FEDOROV: LET’S SUPPORT OUR PLAYERS AND COACHES

Viktor Fedorov watched Russia vs. Slovakia match from the stands of Vancouver’s Canada Hockey Place and summarized the game after the final whistle.


"First of all I would like to ask Russian press not to dramatize this failure", said Fedorov after Russia suffered a loss in a shootout series. "Nothing bad happened, and sometime shootout losses give more food for though than 8:2 victories".

"Specialists, coaches, fans saw that we have enough room for improvement, so let’s support our players and coach".

"Olympics is the most unpredictable competition in the world hockey. Here are six almost equal teams, each of which can produce a surprise. Swiss team proved this statement several hours before our match against Slovakia, when they posed serious problems to Canada".

"I didn’t have any doubts that it would be very tough game, because Slovak team is not comfortable opponent for us".

"You know, our goalkeeper was wonderful and I have no claims to Bryzgalov unlike our forwards. When the team with four strongest links scores only one goal in the match, it’s not normal thing".

"Ilya Kovalchuk has big far going potential, however his exchange to New Jersey unsettled him and it was seen in matches for the Devils".

"Maxim Afinogenov is not very noticeable, but I believe in him. Believe me that speed is very significant trump card in matches against North American teams first of all, who unlike Latvia or Slovakia don’t play the second violin and give their rivals space for attack".

"Czechs’ style is similar to Slovakian style, as they play defensive hockey. If our links are balanced, I am sure it will bring positive result".

SLOVAKIA SHOCKS RUSSIA

In a day of surprises in Men’s Hockey that started with Canada’s continued problems with Switzerland, Russia was shocked with a 2-1 shoot-out loss to Slovakia 2-1.


With many pointing to the ultimate of finals, that being Canada versus Russia, few expected the problems they both had on Thursday evening but now both nations must adjust quickly or facing extreme disappointment.

Though Slovakia tend to play a lot stronger in big games than their world ranking would suggest and dealt Russia a similar loss in Torino, Jaroslav Halák walling up, particularly with in the shoot out with two saves on Alexandr Ovechkin was far beyond expectation.

The story of the night was Russia's inability to deal with the Slovaks hard checking defence and hot goaltender Jaroslav Halák. After Russia took the lead with Alexey Morozov's goal in the second period, the Montréal Canadiens goalie was impossible to beat. Russia's sloppy play forced them to kill off too many penalties as well as looking oddly leg weary before midway of the third period, Pavol Demitra set-up Marian Hossa in the slot for a one timer the send the game to overtime. Unable to settle things during the overtime, Jaroslav Halák took over with notables’ saves of Evgeni Malkin and Alexandr Ovechkin twice before Pavol Demitra beat Ilya Bryzgalov to give the Slovaks the win.

Russia will now turn its attention to Czech Republic in what has turned into a "must win" situation.

YAKUSHEV GIVES HIS PREDICTIONS

Legendary Soviet player and former head coach of the Russian hockey team Alexandr Yakushev gives his predictions for the second round of the Olympic hockey tournament.


Belorus vs. Sweden 1:5

I have no doubts that Sweden will set for this match like for the meeting against Russia or Canada, since didn’t forget their defeat to Belorus at the Games-2002 quarterfinal. I expect an overwhelming victory of Swedish side.

Czech Republic vs. Latvia 4:1

Having beat Slovakiv, Yagr and company proved hockey world one more time that it’s early to ignore them in the gold medal race. As for Latvia, they showed worthy hockey in the second period of the match against Russia, however Jaromir Jagr team’s class will be crucial today.

Finland vs. Germany 3:1

Finland is traditionally one of the most rational teams of the tournament. They are dangerous on power play and in episodes when they have space for their attacks. They will easily beat Germany.

BONDRA: SLOVAKIA CAN SURPRISE EVERYONE

The general manager of Slovak hockey team Peter Bondra talks about match against Russia in Vancouver.


"We really have team of veterans", said Bondra. "We are not going to make experiments at the Olympic games. When we were to choose the squad, we staked on experienced players".

"I cannot say that we don’t have talented youngsters, but stake on players with rich experience is evident. They are professionals, who have been playing in the national team for a long time. All our best players are in Vancouver now".

"It’s pity that Slovakia doesn’t have such talented youngsters like Ovechkin and Stamkos. Slovakia’s population is only five million, while there are five thousand hockey players and 250 juniors in the country. If we have no young talents of Gaborik’s level, we cannot fill in the void".

"I am not joking when I say that any team can beat us in Vancouver, even Latvia, but we can beat them too. Of course we will try to win in all matches, however let’s be unbiased. It’s necessary to demonstrate our best hockey when it’s necessary most of all. Slovak team can surprised everyone at the Olympics".

"I like the scheme of the current tournament, as we always have a chance to correct our position. Maybe Canada doesn’t like this system because they are expected to win in all games, but it’s their business. Slovakian team is not under pressure and we have nothing to lose".

"I perfectly remember how we defeated everybody in our group in Torino – Russia, Americans and then Sweden, though it was a strange game. Unfortunately we didn’t show our best hockey in that quarterfinal match".

"At that time Alexandr Ovechkin was a rookie, while he became a real superstar then. That victory was a shock for everyone. I don’t say that we can’t beat Russia in Vancouver, but in order to do it we need many factors to help us do it".

"I hope that our players from KHL will perform here not worse than in their clubs, but their roles will change in the national team. Each player knows his area of work, so they will have enough time to show their best qualities here".

FEDOROV: WE HAD NO RIGHT TO RELAX

Russian veteran Sergey Fedorov shared his impressions from Russia’s opening match of Vancouver Hockey competition against Latvia.


"We made a good start, but we had been waiting for the third goal little longer than we wanted", said Fedorov after the match. "We knew that Latvia is well organized team with fantastic coaching staff. I know Oleg Znarok as I played against him in Soviet times, and we had to right to relax against his team".

"I managed to play the way it was necessary and I helped my team with two assists. It was very pleasant to play with Viktor Kozlov and Alexandr Radulov. Before that I played with them only one period at the First Channel Cup".

"I felt well, though I didn’t understand why there were so many Russians on the stands. There were many Canadian flags and I didn’t expect that this match would gather so many Russian fans".

BYKOV: OVECHKIN IS LIKE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

Russian hockey team head coach Vyacheslav Bykov commented on Russia’s Olympic games opening clash against Latvia.

"Players entered the ice in perfect emotional mindset and it was easy to feel since the opening seconds of the match", said Bykov at press conference.

"We asked them play constructive hockey in order to find mutual understanding in the links easier. We had some problems with power play, but in general I am satisfied with the game and result".

"Many people say that we have strong attack and weak defence, but we will try to improve our statistics. I don’t think that we will face serious problems with it".

"It was important to let players enter the tournament in the opening game, so it’s necessary to give them enough playing time. All our players are top-level professionals, who want to play more. We will use potential of such players as Ovechkin, Kovalchuk and Malkin in the next matches".

"Potential of Alexandr Ovechkin is enormous. He is like nuclear power plant. These guys play hockey of the next generation, but since Alexandr played four games in recent five days in NHL, it was necessary to measure out the workload".

"All our four links are very strong and it’s very important that each player uses his playing time in maximum".

"Discipline in the team is very good. I gave playing more playing time so that they get pleasure and establish better understanding of each other".

"I was not surprised at all by the perfect play of the 40-year-old Sergey Fedorov, though I had some concerns because he played the last match on 5 February. But his brilliant display proves that he is a real master".