Press Conference «Metallurg Mg– Neftekhimik» 11/5/2026
05.11.2026
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 1–8 loss against Metallurg Mg.
– You know, on my way here I figured you would ask for an assessment of the game – but nothing really comes to mind. We always struggle to play here; our games in Magnitogorsk just never seem to go our way. Today was one of those games.– As someone who manages a game well and you have a very coachable, high–tempo team, did you try to work out why everything suddenly started to fall apart?
– Simply put, the home team was much better than us today. We ran into a fierce, highly motivated Metallurg Mg a team with a high level of skill that had also just taken a real beating in its previous game. I mean, when a player like Silantyev is willing to block a shot with his own body with two minutes left on the clock and the score at 8–1... what is there to even say?
– Your team lost 6–2 here today, and 9–6 last year. Given that, what did you try to focus on?
– The rink here really suits Metallurg; it is larger than the ones at most other clubs – similar to the one at Lokomotiv, and perhaps a few other places. It is incredibly difficult for us to play here against a team that skates so well, has such strong individual skill, and excels at passing, moving into open space, and receiving the puck. There is just more room for them to execute those maneuvers.
– You tend to have much more success against Metallurg when playing at home...
– The rink is smaller, so there is less space. We are able to stay tighter defensively.
– You called a time-out. What did you say to the guys? Were you trying to calm them down?
– Exactly, we were trying to calm them down. We were being punished for every single mistake, especially in the second period. One mistake – one goal against. We urged the guys to settle down, but it did not really work out.
