Nikita Khlystov: «The main thing is not to give up»
30.03.2026
Neftekhimik defenseman Nikita Khlystov speaks with the media after a following 2–5 loss against Avangard.
– Do you think you can get back into the series?
– There's no point in going out on the ice if you don't believe in success. Anything is possible. We tried to show something today, but it didn't go well from the start. It's okay, the main thing is not to give up.
– What are your overall impressions of the series? Why is your team trailling 1–3?
– Their power play is better in some areas, and their scoring skill is better. We have plenty of scoring chances. We just don't score, and they take advantage of their scoring chacnes. That's their main advantage. Otherwise, I don't see us losing in speed or physicality. Again, back to scoring: how many opportunities did we have today? Evgeny Mityakin had an empty net. If he had scored then, the game would have turned out differently.
– Is the next game a do-or-die situation?
– Yes, exactly. There's no choice. I don't want to go on vacation; we've just gotten a taste of the playoffs. I want to bring the series back to my hometown.
– There's no point in going out on the ice if you don't believe in success. Anything is possible. We tried to show something today, but it didn't go well from the start. It's okay, the main thing is not to give up.
– What are your overall impressions of the series? Why is your team trailling 1–3?
– Their power play is better in some areas, and their scoring skill is better. We have plenty of scoring chances. We just don't score, and they take advantage of their scoring chacnes. That's their main advantage. Otherwise, I don't see us losing in speed or physicality. Again, back to scoring: how many opportunities did we have today? Evgeny Mityakin had an empty net. If he had scored then, the game would have turned out differently.
– Is the next game a do-or-die situation?
– Yes, exactly. There's no choice. I don't want to go on vacation; we've just gotten a taste of the playoffs. I want to bring the series back to my hometown.
