Press Conference «Neftekhimik– Lada» 10/2/2025
02.10.2025
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 1–4 loss to Lada.
– We faced an organized team. They played with discipline and took only one penalty. We had a rough idea of what the gamewould be like. We tried to explain to the players what kind of team we were up against. We tried to break through their defense, but they played tough, pressing hard. They often counterattacked and took advantage of our mistakes.– Did you underestimate your opponent?
– Our team isn't in a position to underestimate our opponents. Generally, I think that happens very rarely, because in every game, our players play to win. Yes, we created a couple of good chances early on. Perhaps the guys thought it would continue like that. But our opponents were able to adjust, sometimes seizing the initiative, and scoring some hard–fought goals."
– Towards the end, four minutes before the end of the third, you pulled your goaltender, even though you had the power play. Perhaps that sixth man was unnecessary?
– We discussed this after the game, too. Yes, overall, we have a good power play percentage. But in recent games, that format hasn't worked out particularly well, which is why we went all-in. We secured the zone late in the game, but it seemed like we could use another player in front, so I decided to pull the goalie.
– We have a home game against Avtomobilist coming up. It's our third game against a team from Yekaterinburg in 10 days. Do you have a specific preparation plan for that opponent?
– We have a tight schedule, with games every other day or two. So we have a specific preparation plan for the games. We don't prepare a plan for a specific opponent, because all the teams in the league are strong.
Lada Head Coach Pavel Desyatkov:
– Discipline played a key role in today's game. We only had one penalty, and the players were selfless, blocking shots .I can't help but mention our opponent. Neftekhimik is a good, tenacious team. They play an interesting game, demonstrating attacking hockey.
