Matvei Nadvorny: «It was a great game»
26.12.2025
Neftekhimik forward Matvei Nadvorny speaks with the media after a following 4–3 overtime win over Shanghai Dragons.
– It was a great game, a double-edged we can say. The teams weren't sitting on the defensive; they played for the fans, and there were plenty of scoring chances. It was interesting, I think, for the fans.– How much was today's win a breath of fresh air, considering we've lost five games in a row?
– Yes, of course, it's very important for us. We've been a bit unlucky in the last few games, playing against top opponents. And today, too, we fell a bit short in the third period, so to speak, but thank God we won—that means we were stronger.
– You haven't played in three of the last five games. Can you share the reason?
– Just rotation; there are no health issues.
– Why do you think we couldn't hold on to our lead in the third period when we were up two goals? What happened?
– I don't know, I think we gave up some of the advantage, stopped playing in the offensive zone, and maybe even started to push the puck away a little. And so our opponent took advantage of our, so to speak, shortcomings and capitalized on our opportunity.
– The last time you scored a goal was October 27th. How nice was it to get back on track? What were your thoughts?
– 100% nice. My sister and her husband also came, so I really wanted to, and thank God it worked out that way.
– Overall, Shanghai is an unusual opponent: they have a lot of big North Americans. How would you rate this club? What strengths have you identified? You've already played both games, what can you say?
– Probably the best thing about the North Americans is that they start the game very actively: everyone's running, shooting. The most important thing is not to sleep through the start. And it's so obvious that they always have a player in front of the net; they shoot from every position, without making anything up. The rinks are small, and they're showing the same thing here.
– Today, you and Shanghai had 16 penalties between them. What do you think is the reason for such emotionality?
– North Americans always play like that, so it's impossible to avoid clashes with them.
– You have one match left this year. How would you sum up the first half of the season? Are you in peak form, or is there still room for improvement?
– There's always room for improvement, especially now, as I said, playing in this league. I look at players who are much more skilled and see where we need to and can strive. That's why I never stop working, working every day, and I want to reach the level of the top players one day.
– What can you say about Igor Vladimirovich as a coach? What's the overall experience like under his leadership?
– It's great working with him. I think he really helps young players develop—that's the most important thing. He lets them play, and he exudes, so to speak, trust, even in the most challenging situations. He plays young guys, including me, which definitely sets him apart from many coaches, because not every coach would play a young player for what's, so to speak, a crucial part of the match.
– Overall, what are your personal and team goals for the rest of the championship?
– In any case, making the playoffs. And if we get there, we'll fight and try our best. We have a competitive team; I think we'll have a good fight.
