Press Conference «Neftekhimik – Barys» 1/24/2026
24.01.2026
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 3–2 win over Barys.
– It was another game against Barys, which is not different from previous games against the Astana team. We saw open hockey, with plenty of scoring opportunities for both teams. However, the score was modest once again. After all, both we and our opponents played well defensively, and the goaltenders did a great job! We managed to open the scoring and then double our lead. But we created a problem for ourselves at the end...– Today you changed the lines...
– We changed the line order. We decided to try Seleznyov on a line with Nikolishin and Zaseda. In the last game, we tried that line during the game, and they managed to score. So today we changed the lineups, although we reverted to the previous lineup after the first period.
– We have a six–day break coming up. How will you prepare?
– Just like before the last break, we'll practice in the gym tomorrow. Then the guys will have two days off and spend time with their families. And on the 28th we will get together and begin preparing for the away series.
Barys Head Coach Mikhail Kravets:
– Once again, we suffered a disappointing defeat. Although I think today it could have been better. But it's hard to win when you make mistakes on the power play. Coming into the third period, you're focused on good movement, on fighting, on actions that will lead to a power play. We basically did all that. But, unfortunately, a mistake on the 5–on–4 led to a conceded goal. I think that goal decided the outcome of the game. Nevertheless, the team didn't give up and kept fighting. It's a shame our goal didn't count at the end. Although, I think we deserved to play in overtime.
