Press Conference «Neftekhimik – Sibir» 2/22/2026
22.02.2026
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 1–0 win over Sibir.
– I think our team played well. They were very reliable, played well defensively, and compelted our task. They transitioned well from defense to attack, had some good attacks right off the bat, and there were a lot of positional attacks. Again, we just couldn't score. I don't know what it is, maybe we didn't play well in front of the net at certain points. But we still tried to help the players figure out where to position themselves and how to move. Thank goodness we managed to score. I think we deserved to win today in regulation time.– I would like to mention the second period, which was great. Shots made 18–5, blocked shots 4–11, and not a single penalty was taken. How did we manage to have such a good period?
– I don't know, maybe we were in such good shape. The guys were playing well, and they did everything right, including setting up shifts. There was a good moment where we held the puck in the offensive zone for a bit – that probably gave us a good boost. Right now, everything depends on the condition of the players and the team. I know the opponent took a long time to get there; they had some trouble getting there, so maybe they weren't very fresh. We didn't skate this morning; we practiced yesterday. I think the guys were hungry for the ice, and we enjoyed playing.
– Andrei Belozyorov got injured today. How is he?
– He said he'll be ready for the next game. We have it in three days, hopefully. Andrei came out after the injury, but he felt a little uncomfortable and didn't want to risk it. We'll find out tomorrow.
– It was a very disciplined game with only two penalties taken. Did you focus on not taking any penalties becuase of opponent's power play?
– Of course. In previous games, when we played in Novosibirsk, and in general, against this opponent, we rarely get penalties. The guys did a great job, only getting two penalties. And the second one, I hate to say it, was unnecessary. We should have played differently, more simply, in the moments leading up to that penalty. We lost the puck and ended up getting a penalty. We played great defensively. Naturally, we analyzed how the opponent played, their strengths. The guys played aggressively, well done, they did everything right.
– If it's not a secret, who got the best player's helmet?
– Sevastyan Sokolov got the best player's helmet today. The guys gave it to him because he's actually playing more and more confidently. We're very pleased that our young player is earning a spot in the lineup with his play. He plays calmly, confidently, and reliably, and has chances in every game. I think the moment when he should finally score a goal is not far off. So, well done, the guys gave him the helmet today.
Sibir Head Coach Yaroslav Lyzenkov:
– One nil—that's the score, a football score. You could say one mistake decided the outcome of the game. Unfortunately, we didn't score. There are questions for the forwards; after all, there are twelve of them; they should at least create something.
– Before the game, it became known that our main competitor, Khabarovsk's Amur, had defeated Avangard. Did that affect the game?
– No, we don't really watch other games on game day. Of course, everyone checks the scoreboard, but we prepared specifically for this game.
– Today was a fairly disciplined game, but we still had two good power plays. Considering you're among the leaders in power play scoring, why didn't it work out today?
– Well, it's hard to say right now. A good pass here and there, a missed opportunity there. We didn't have the scoring shot.
