Ilnar Misbakhov: «The team worked hard»
02.10.2026
Reaktor Head Coach Ilnar Misbakhov speaks with the media after a following 2–3 overtime loss against Sputnik.
– We started the first period looking a bit stiff – perhaps we were just tired of having lost two previous games to Sputnik despite playing well. We had lost out on scoring chances, shots, and faceoffs. We came out for the second period with a different mindset – we were confident. The opponent was taking a lot of penalties, and we needed to capitalize. We outshot them and had the edge in scoring chances – 10 to 4. We scored a goal and could have had more; Gizyatov missed an open net. We went into the break trailing 1–2.We created plenty of chances in the third period, too. It was an evenly matched game with some good opportunities. We scored to tie the game and could have scored again. But in overtime, Gizyatov forgot the red–line rule that applies in junior hockey. We lost the face-off, and that was it – the chance was gone, and they scored against us. The team worked hard, though not everyone was fully ready; we had many players who were either just recovering from illness or currently sick. Everyone gave it their all. The goaltenders on both teams played well. We were just a bit unlucky today, but the guys put in the work.
