Press Conference «Neftekhimik – Salavat Yulaev» 11/7/2025
07.11.2025
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 1–0 win over Salavat Yulaev.
– It was a tough and energy–consuming game. We were playing against a fast opponent who forechecked well. Our guys also had to move quickly. We did well at first, but after that, we started taking penalties, which is why we gave up the initiative. The guys were probably mentally prepared for aggressive hockey, which is why we started takinnng penalties. In the third period, we were often shorthanded. The guys defended well, and Fillipp played brilliantly. It is great that we were able to bring the game to a win.
– Which victory is better 1–0 or 5–4?
– I have always said that I prefer victories with high–scoring goals. Fans come to see goals, and they get a lot of emotion. But I think even if you win with 1–0 score, the fans are still happy. They see the team playing with dedication. Overall, any victory is valuable, but it is better to score as many as possible.
– We have a game against Ak Bars coming up. How can the guys recover before the crosstown rivalry?
– All the opponents in the KHL are tough. We have got a tough month ahead of us; we will play 12 games. There is very little time to recover. The most important thing is for the guys to rest and be in good shape emotionally. So we will do everything we can to ensure they are in good shape for the game.
– We spent a long time trying to get into the offensive zone before scoring a gola. The other team could have given the puck away and play on a power play, but your players fought to the very end.
– I think any team with a delayed penalty will try to make the most of it by not giving the puck away. The guys did a great job in that regard; they kept the puck and saw it through to the end. Basically, that is what our training process is built around; we have to value the puck possesion. Yes, games unfold differently. Sometimes you have to play differently. But that was not the case today; we were not afraid to lose the puck.
– Which victory is better 1–0 or 5–4?
– I have always said that I prefer victories with high–scoring goals. Fans come to see goals, and they get a lot of emotion. But I think even if you win with 1–0 score, the fans are still happy. They see the team playing with dedication. Overall, any victory is valuable, but it is better to score as many as possible.
– We have a game against Ak Bars coming up. How can the guys recover before the crosstown rivalry?
– All the opponents in the KHL are tough. We have got a tough month ahead of us; we will play 12 games. There is very little time to recover. The most important thing is for the guys to rest and be in good shape emotionally. So we will do everything we can to ensure they are in good shape for the game.
– We spent a long time trying to get into the offensive zone before scoring a gola. The other team could have given the puck away and play on a power play, but your players fought to the very end.
– I think any team with a delayed penalty will try to make the most of it by not giving the puck away. The guys did a great job in that regard; they kept the puck and saw it through to the end. Basically, that is what our training process is built around; we have to value the puck possesion. Yes, games unfold differently. Sometimes you have to play differently. But that was not the case today; we were not afraid to lose the puck.
Salavat Yulaev Head Coach Viktor Kozlov:
– We did not play the first period the way we wanted to. At the same time, we played well the rest of the game: we moved well, used forecheck, and created scoring chances. Vyazovoy played well, making a couple of good saves. The key to games is the power play. We were playing 5–on–3 and should have scored. Who knows how the game would have gone if we would taken advantage of the power play.
