SEVERSTAL vs. TRAKTOR – 4:6. Press-conference after the match

Valery Belousov, Traktor head coach:
After three quick goals we calmed down a bit. There were a lot of penalties in the second twenty, and Severstal got a couple of goals back. This is what our season has been all about; zero goals, six goals - what a seesaw.

Igor Petrov, Severstal head coach:
I have never seen D-men as experienced as ours make such ridiculous mistakes. Of course we were decent on the offensive end, which brought us four goals, but one way or the other, our opponents were more focused tonight. As far as my team goes, a good half of it was not ready for the match, and the reason behind it I will never know.

Question to Belousov: Traktor garnered two many penalties tonight. Why and what are you going to do about it?
Belousov: When the team is ready to go at it, penalties are inevitable, although some of tonight's penalties could have been avoided.

Question to Belousov: How seriously is Traktor affected by the absence of Kuznetsov?
Belousov: It's an open secret that both he and Bulis are key players, and now that they are both sidelined, we, just like throughout the whole regular season, have to find other combinations of players. By the way, Bulis will be back right after the New Year while Kuznetsov will hit the ice in three weeks.

Questionto Petrov: What happened to Stolyarov?
Petrov: Injury. Another injury, like we don't have enough of those right now. It's really hard to navigate our way through the season with so many injuries.

Question to Petrov: Are you planning on bringing somebody from Izhstal (Severstal farm club - translator's note)?
Petrov: We certainly are, but there are several setbacks there as well.

Photo courtesy of Severstal Press Office