Nikita Khoruzhev: «We will try to win at home ice!»
05.01.2026
Neftekhimik forward Nikita Khoruzhev speaks with the media after a following 1–2 loss against Salavat Yulaev.
– Unfortunately, this game did not go well for us, and to sum up our road series, we are coming back without getting any points. We will try to win at home ice!
– It is not a first time when we outshot the opposing team, put pressure on their defense, but lost a one–goal game. Why?
– It is a combination of factors: we need to improve our power play, and when playing at even strength, we have more scoring opportunities, creating more danger in front of the opponent's net.
– You scored a goal just before the break. It usually energizes the team, but it seems like that momentum did not make it to the third period...
– I do not know, we played to win, as usual. There is no real reason why it happened. It is good that we managed to tie the game up, but unfortunately, it was our only chance.
– On what kind of things did the team focus on before this game?
– Basically, it is not our first time playing against this opponent. Here, only the factor of the opponent's or home ice determines the tactics for the game, otherwise, in principle, everything is the same.
– It is not a first time when we outshot the opposing team, put pressure on their defense, but lost a one–goal game. Why?
– It is a combination of factors: we need to improve our power play, and when playing at even strength, we have more scoring opportunities, creating more danger in front of the opponent's net.
– You scored a goal just before the break. It usually energizes the team, but it seems like that momentum did not make it to the third period...
– I do not know, we played to win, as usual. There is no real reason why it happened. It is good that we managed to tie the game up, but unfortunately, it was our only chance.
– On what kind of things did the team focus on before this game?
– Basically, it is not our first time playing against this opponent. Here, only the factor of the opponent's or home ice determines the tactics for the game, otherwise, in principle, everything is the same.
