Alexander Dergachyov: «Games like these are tough to play»
12.02.2026
Neftekhimik forward Alexander Dergachyov speaks with the media after a following 3–5 loss against Sochi.
– It was an interesting game. We were trailling and tried to catch up. Sometimes we had the initiative, sometimes our opponent did. There were a lot of penalties. Games like these are tough to play, and of course, it's better to see them through to victory. Overall, we conceded some truly stupid goals—there's no other way to describe it. And to make up for them, we had to dig deep, and we still came up just short. In any case, we'll focus on the positives, because even after 0-3, we still created chances, and we took control of the game. That's also worth it. It's important to play hard, regardless of the score, and fight to the end. That was a bright spot today.– Did the goaltender change affect the way your team played, especially since you scored an early goal afterward?
– These moments happen often—the goal is to energize the team. Sometimes a goaltender change works, sometimes it doesn't. Today, it worked; we got back into the chase, so to speak.
– After the goal, we had three penalties. How decisive was that factor today?
– Yes, overall, penalties aren't exactly the best idea. During that period, you still need to control your stick, and especially your emotions, because there's not much time left, and those moments in the game can impact the outcome. The fewer penalties you have and the more you use your feet, the greater the advantage your team will have. The opponent shouldn't be able to gain possession and control of the puck. They sense it, start to loosen up, and then the game can go against us.
– Comparing this game to the last one, you already played much better; you were faster. Will you be able to carry that attitude into the next game and win the game?
– Yes, well, what can we do? We're going on a tough road trip now. We'll analyze our mistakes, take the positives, and go into battle. There's no time to be sad or cry here, so we'll go in and build on the positives, and that's it.
