Barys vs. Traktor 3:6. Press-conference after the match

Valery Belousov, Traktor’s head coach:
It was a great match with a lot of goals and goal-scoring chances and no surcease whatsoever. Our forwards did a great job tonight, very well done.

Vladimir Krikunov, Barys’ head coach:
Very unfortunate first period for us, we allowed two goals that we should not have allowed. These two goals left my players somewhat stunned, and we got lucky that we got away with only a two-goal deficit after the first period. However, we picked up the pace in the second, but several ridiculous mistakes rendered team’s efforts null. Four of Traktor’s six goals was the result of our own mistakes.

Question to Krikunov: Some experts say that once the lockout is over, Barys’ game will not be as bright as it is now. Do you agree?

Krikunov:I don’t think it will only concern Barys. Plus, we don’t have a lot of NHL players on the roster except Antropov and a couple of others. So no. I don’t agree with that statement.

Question to Krikunov: What’s your goal for this season as a coach?
Krikunov: I have a certain task for this season, and that is to build up the national team via Barys. However, we don’t want to sacrifice Barys’ results for the sake of national Kazakh team. We’ll try to take into consideration the interests of both the club and the national team, and I think we can do it.

Question to Krikunov: What result is going to make you satisfied?
Krikunov: We have to accomplish three tasks this year: get into playoffs with Barys, win the qualifying Olympic tournament and be back to group A at world championships.

Question to Krikunov: What is Krasnoslobodtsev’s medical status at the moment?
Krikunov: He is cleared to begin training, but he cannot appear on the ice thus far.

Question to Krikunov: What do you make of Poluektov’s performance as of late?
Krikunov: He’s good! Whenever he appears in the net, he performs really well without a whole lot of mistakes.