Press Conference «Metallurg Mg – Neftekhimik» 12/22/2025
22.12.2025
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 2–3 shootout loss against Metallurg Mg.
– This is the fourth game this season between our teams. We have studied each other thoroughly. We prepared specifically for this game, and overall, we came out well, doing everything well. We lost focus at some points in the second period… We conceded a stupid goal on the power play, a completely stupid one, when one player beat four of our players and scored. It kind of broke our nerves for a moment, and we even had to raise our voices a little in the locker room during the second intermission. We came out for the third period determined to fight, to come back, and, in fact, we managed to come back… And we held out for almost half the period shorthanded, even though we conceded a goal there, yes, on the third penalty, but we earned a point. Well, in the shootout, the opponents were superior.– It is clear that your schedule is not exactly enviable right now: after three straight losses, how hard was it to get the guys going again?
– Just ten days ago, we weren't scoring much – and that, certainly had an impact. We actually created chances in previous games, but we couldn't score. This game also had plenty of chances, and thankfully, we scored three. Three is a more or less normal result. Naturally, when you're not scoring, but chances are created, it puts pressure on everyone, both the coaching staff and the players. Well, we're still trying to relieve the guys' mental strain in that regard.
– Did Ozolin appear in the shootout because he's a better goalie for shootout series?
– Well, basically, yes. This isn't our first shootout. There aren't many of them, but we used that combination in previous games, and we actually won with that rotation. But today, the opposing forwards were more skilled."
– Timur Khairullin saved his first goal for the twenty–first game of the season. Does he always play like this, or was he just in a good mood today on familiar ice?
– Timur is improving, he's playing better and better every week, every game, well done. He's gaining confidence, we're happy with his performance and very happy that he scored today. He had a really good chance in the second period, and thank God he managed to score in the third. Well, that will probably give him even more energy.
