2012/2013 Playoffs. Game 2, Avangard vs. Traktor – 0:3. Press-conference after the match

Valery Belousov, Traktor’s head coach:
We continued to employ the strategy we used in game 1. We knew Avangard would try to reestablish themselves, so I asked my players to be extra careful in the neutral zone and focus on counterattacks, which we successfully did.

Petri Matikainen, Avangard’s head coach:
We had a slow start tonight again. All in all, game 2 was better than game 1, but not what it should be against a team like Traktor. Besides that, if you can’t score, you need to defend better and not give any opportunities. Instead, we keep allowing lousy goals; you can’t win like that. I want more heart, more discipline and more battling from my team. Traktor, on the other hand, is in the lead now and playing perfect hockey.

Question to Belousov: Is it possible to say that right now Nichushkin is doing what Kuznetsov should be doing? Like scoring goals, leading the team by example etc.
Belousov: Let’s not get ahead of ourselves with comparisons; the fact that Valery scores in second straight game is great, no doubt. You see, Avangard has an experienced coach who understands how dangerous the leading line could be, so our opponents pay double attention to it; maybe that’s when Nichushkin gets his chances.

Question to Matikainen: Tonight Avangard looked on par with Traktor in terms of skating and movement, but constant dump-ins of the puck don’t seem to be working. Do you consider using a different strategy?
Matikainen: No comments on that one.

Question to Matikainen: Avangard doesn’t seem to be as emotionally charged for the series as the team should be. How do you plan to solve this problem?
Matikainen: Well, we have two days to do something about it.

Question to Belousov: Did you expect the score like this tonight?
Belousov: Of course no one expected the score to be like that in either game; tonight one puck could have decided the game. All in all, we were luckier at times; plus, every winning score is a good score.