Press Conference «Neftekhimik – Lada» 9/23/2026
23.09.2026
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 7–3 win over Lada.
– It was a good game, I would not say we held an overwhelming advantage. The opponent scored effectively, outshot us, and created plenty of scoring chances. We managed to score in various situations – at even strength, on the power play, and being shorthanded. The guys did a great job; after two very poor games, they put in the work – reviewing video and discussing what needed to be done to improve. They really listened to us. Today, they executed the game plan brilliantly and secured a solid victory.For my coaching staff – or rather, for Maxim Alexandrovich Krivonozhkin and myself – this marks our first victory over Lada. We had faced them previously while competing in the Supreme Hockey League (VHL) and last year we had two unsuccessful games against them. It is gratifying that we managed to turn that trend around today.
Lada Head Coach Pavel Zubov:
– For the first ten minutes of the opening period, we stuck to the game plan – playing precisely and keeping our shifts short. Then, we started doing things we should not have been doing. The guys began overstaying their shifts and trying to do too much individually. Everyone needs to understand their own strengths, how to play to them, and how they can contribute to the team. We conceded some very soft goals. What is more, this keeps happening every other game. We simply cannot seem to play decently or put in a good performance.
