TORPEDO vs. TRAKTOR – 5:2. Press-conference after the match

Karri Kivi, Traktor head coach:
I can only praise the opposing team who played a perfect game tonight. As far as Traktor goes, I think tonight’s game is a great chance to evaluate what we have right now and what we should work on to improve our game.

Peteris Skudra, Torpedo head coach:
Two periods were great – almost everything went well, at least for the first high-level game after a long break. I didn’t like, however, the timid play by Torpedo in the final twenty. We lost our focus after the three goal margin was set. Nonetheless, my boys got together and finished the game on a high note.

Question to Kivi: Did you expect that much pressure from the opponents?
Kivi: Absolutely. I watched many KHL games during the offseason, so I know the pace of the game here. What I did not expect was how Traktor looked tonight. We were not even close to the level we should be at and did not fulfil the needed requirements.

Question to Kivi: There is a saying that a team plays as good as their opponents allow them to.
Kivi: It’s not about our opponents, it’s about us. Yes, Torpedo played a great game, and we have lots of work to do.

Question to Kivi: You said your players did not fulfil the needed requirements. Do they not completely understand your coaching system or did you ask them to play differently tonight?
Kivi: We are in the preseason. There are things we work on during the training sessions, but it’s been only three weeks. Of course players know what I demand, every game is important, and if the players do what I want them to, it’s all good, if not, we take three steps back. Then again, it’s just preseason.

Question to Kivi: Please a couple of words about Andrey Popov. How serious is his injury? Was it the turning point in this match, in your opinion?
Kivi: No, I don’t think was. Andrey has a minor injury. You can watch the video by yourself and see whether the elbow hit Andrey’s head or not. In any case, I think he will be fine.

Question to Skudra: You said you had been at times dissatisfied with your team’s performance. Is it true?
Skudra: I was dissatisfied with simple mistakes my players made. Of course it’s understandable that we are in the process of constructing a team with good chemistry, but the players always have to a have a basic understanding of what they do on the ice.