Artyom Serikov: «We need to prepare in a right way»
20.03.2026
Neftekhimik defenseman Artyom Serikov speaks with the media after a following 3–2 shootout win over Spartak.
– Congratulations on this win! We played really well, but we did not score so many goals...– Actually, our game today wasn't like our usual. I think we were not able to "wake up" so to speak, but we won, so that's good. We probably messed around a bit, but we have some serious games ahead, and we need to prepare in a right way.
– Today's game didn't decide anything for us or Spartak in terms of our standings. Did this fact affect the way we played or did it have any impact on the game at all?
– It's hard to say. For us, our standings certainly weren't at stake, but heading into the playoffs, we still had to show our best game and win. As for Spartak, I'm sure their goal was to win to move up, because they have a serious opponent up there now, who might be tougher for them than others.
– In just a few days, we'll be playing Avangard in the playoffs, and today's victory will surely give us something to think about and some good emotions.
– Reaching the playoffs gave us a boost, so now, basically, we need to get ready. Avangard is one of the strongest teams, maybe even the strongest in the league. They've got a very precise approach to everything on the ice; you could say they play like robots: they follow the coaching staff's instructions precisely. They have a Canadian style: they essentially don't spend much time with the puck in their own zone, they try to play forward, put more pressure on the goalie, close him down, and score like that. So, they're a tough opponent, and we need to prepare for them, analyze them, and watch videos.
