Press Conference «Neftekhimik – Avangard» 3/30/2026
30.03.2026
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 2–5 loss against Avangard.
– I don't know why – we had a very aggressive attitude before the game, but somehow we practically lost the start of the game. The opponent was both faster and more brazen. We took a long time to make a decision, and they had more of the puck possesion. In the end, they scored a quick goal. Then we seemed to recover, evened out the game, and started creating chances, but unfortunately, we conceded a rather unpleasant goal at the end of the first period. It's not that it derailed us, but it's not very pleasant to concede goals at the end of a period.We didn't give up, we tried to get back into the game. Sometimes we were unlucky, sometimes the opposing goalie made great plays. There were moments when we could have turned the game around. The opponent caught us in our mistakes and capitalized on everything – that's the result.
– What did you tell the team after the loss?
– I went into the locker room, and the players were talking like they wanted to come back here for Game 6. We didn't say much; we asked the guys to fight to the end, but it didn't work out. We'll be focused on this crucial game.
– What do you think about Pastukhov's fight?
– I never ask players to force a fight; I've never asked anyone in my career. The guys decide everything themselves; it happens spontaneously. I don't make any such suggestions. The fans enjoyed the fight; it's part of the game. Ilya did a great job, even though his opponent was a big guy and taller than him. Ilya showed great character; he looked great in that fight.
– How important was it to give the team a boost?
– There were constant scrums, starting from the first game. This fight was simply the most exciting. We need to talk less and do more.
– What was the team's mental state the day before the game? How did you get them ready for the game?
– We got ready, went to the gym, and did some functional and restorative training for the game. Everyone was talking; there was no sense of despair. We never put pressure on each other; even when we lose, we try to stay together. The game unfolded today – that's why I said I was surprised we started the game poorly. Even just in terms of movement, our opponents were faster and more aggressive. Maybe the guys burned out, but it was noticeable that our opponents were more relaxed early on.
– In the KHL, only 3% of teams managed to win the series after trailling 3–1.
– Last season, my team was down 3-0 in the first VHL playoff series against Buran Voronezh. We ended up winning the series. It would be great if there was a correlation between this situation and the VHL. We'll try to improve a few things; we have some mental preparation tips that we used last season in a similarly challenging situation. We'll try to replicate that and see if it works.
– Some people believe Neftekhimik has gone above and beyond and has already accomplished its goal for the season.
– Fans and journalists divide teams into favorites and non-favorites, but the game starts with a 0-0 score, it's a 50-50 situation. And then, as they say, it's a matter of who will outplay and outwork the other. Yes, the overall level plays a role, but it's not the deciding factor.
– Did you see Nadvorny take the winning puck?
– I don't know what kind of superstition that is, but it's true. We shouldn't be playing with that puck in Omsk. But hockey players have their own superstitions.
Avangard Head Coach Guy Boucher:
– It was a tough and competitive game; we achieved the goal we expected from the away series.
– A question about the most memorable moment, at least for the fans, regarding the fight. How would you rate Dolzhenkov's performance and the entire game?
– Dolzhenkov worked very hard, gave it his all, and waited for his chance to play. He played two good games.
– The previous games were a close race in terms of scoring, a cat-and-mouse game. Today, we were able to build momentum right away. How important is that mentally for Game 5?
– Right now, we're still in the present moment. We're enjoying our victory today, then we'll regroup mentally and move forward, because we're taking it step by step, game by game. And we've had this approach since the very first day of preseason training.
