Press Conference «Neftekhimik – Avangard» 3/28/2026
28.03.2026
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 1–2 against Avangard.
– It was a good, an even game like a true playoff game. Both teams have already studied each other and learned their lesson. Both teams know what each other is capable of and are trying to make as few mistakes as possible. Our opponents may have played more in our zone today because they were playing a dump and chase tactic, where their big forwards were supposed to get a puck possion. We counterattacked well, had some chances, and were able to take the lead. Unfortunately, it was either due to lack of concentration or just our heads spinning, but we had a man-up, and we were penalized. Even though we say before every game that one of our opponents' greatest strengths is their power play, we still gave them an extra opportunity to play on the power play, which is what we got. Then we made another mistake breaking out of the zone and couldn't come back. Then our heads started spinning, and instead of trying to come back, we were penalized twice.– All these penalties you described, don't you think, are the result of mental 'issues'?
– No, they're issues of simple concentration, simple responsibility. Of course, you could stand there as a coach on the bench, with a cooler head, and discuss why there's a manpower violation in a simple situation, why push someone in the back when you don't have to. It's hard to explain. And we always point out: there are no good or bad penalties, but there are stupid penalties. And when it's a push in the back, I think it's a stupid penalty. Because when a player is facing the boards and the puck is there, pushing him in the back makes no sense at all. Well, a manpower violation—that's a total penalty... I don't know how to explain it. Perhaps the guys are too immersed in the game, they want to do something quickly, play more aggressively, and emotions prevail over reason.
– How much pressure did the guys put on the start of the home series?
– I don't think there was any pressure. We played well in both games in Omsk, winning the second. On the contrary, we had a desire to build on our success at home, as the hosts. I don't think the guys were burned out.
– All three games in the series were fairly evenly matched. Can we say we managed to instill in the guys from the very start that they could play on equal terms with this opponent?
– We're not in a position where we think they're stronger than us. We had a lot of wins in the regular season against teams that were supposedly stronger than us. On the contrary, all the guys want to show their best. The stronger the opponent, the better.
– You played fun, attacking hockey at the beginning of the season. Now it turns out you even have a Plan B—with the playoffs you've been playing. How satisfied are you with the team's performance?
– We wanted to attack more, but again, our opponents allow us to. Two teams play, and there are many factors at play—something about execution, some about technical elements, passing accuracy, timing, and so on. Physical qualities, functional fitness. Nothing has really changed. We've been setting the guys up for the same style of hockey, both at the beginning of the season and now. You have to attack when you have the opportunity. If you have to defend, then you have to defend well. Transition quickly from defense to attack. And what happens, happens.
Avangard head coach Guy Boucher:
– We moved well today, no doubt about it. You just have to kill penalties, when a lot of your top players do not play, they lost their momentum as well as legs, so that is why we needed to move well. We have to give credit to Neftekhimik's goalie; we could have scored more. Opponents are trying to get under our guys' skin, and some players did not let it go. But this is the playoffs, and that's what characterizes – it will be going to get even worse in that regard; the emotions will only increase. But compared to what I've seen in my career, nothing special happened in our series against Neftekhimik. So it will be tougher, and we're ready for it.
