Press Conference «Neftekhimik– Barys» 10/2/2026
02.10.2026
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 4–5 overtime loss against Barys.
– Everyone wanted a high-scoring game. We delivered one, so everyone should be happy–except us, naturally.– It was an exciting game played at a high pace, but we scored one goal fewer than the opposition. Did that goal conceded with 12 seconds left rattle the guys?
– Not really. You always prepare for overtime. By and large, I even have my forward lines set. Naturally, during the game, I watch how everyone is performing. Today, things went according to plan. The first line was supposed to go out and win the face-off—and Zhenya Mityakin did win it. But after that, there were errors and a lack of self-belief; instead of using their legs to push forward, they started just dumping the puck away, and we paid the price. We keep saying we need to be aggressive and proactive, not play passively in our own zone. We shouldn't have conceded with 12 seconds remaining; there was a mistake there, too. We really should have won it in regulation.
Barys Head Coach Mikhail Kravets:
– This is a very important victory–especially after three losses and some rather lackluster performances. It had been a long time since we last won here. Neftekhimik is one of our key rivals in the race for a playoff spot. I’m glad the guys showed character. It was unfortunate that we took so many penalties–far too many that shouldn't have happened. But the team did a great job; our penalty killing was solid, which is crucial. They kept trying and believed until the very end. It wasn't easy trailing by two goals, but we fought our way back and managed to beat the opponent. I’m happy we won; congratulations to the players and the fans.
