Nikita Khlystov: «I will do everything I can»
21.01.2026
Neftekhimik defenseman Nikita Khlystov speaks with the media after a following 2–1 shootout win over Dynamo Msk.
– Nikita, today is your 500th KHL game. Congratulations! Have you been keeping track of this milestone?– Thank you very much! Honestly, I haven't been keeping track of the number of games, but I knew I'd reach that figure soon. Just yesterday, I came in to ask how many games were left. I saw 499, and I was surprised. It's really nothing special; guys play for seven hundred, even eight hundred. Hopefully, my health will be good enough, injuries will be avoided, and the team will win. I will do everything I can to prolong this hockey life.
– What do you think about the game?
– It was a good game in terms of getting two points. In terms of content, we probably could have done better with fewer difficulties, because everyone saw we had a lot of scoring chances – I counted five, if not six – on a five–on–three power play. Moments like these will come, of course, especially in the knockout stages – they're like an ace up your sleeve, so you need to take them to their logical conclusion and capitalize on them. Having moments means you have a game that will give you confidence going forward.
– The last few games have been ending with one–goal lead. What's the reason for that?
– The teams are finding their game, the goalies are doing their best, and everything is being analyzed, learning from their mistakes. Everyone wants to give their best. Now, the closer the playoffs get, the more intense the game gets, so everyone is trying to avoid mistakes, and that means the scores aren't as big.
