Press Conference «Neftekhimik – Sibir» 10/4/2026
04.10.2026
Neftekhimik Head Coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 3–2 win over Sibir.
– Yes, everyone saw it. It was such an interesting game – lots of chances, quite open, with errors on both sides. But the guys had the right mindset from the very start: we could not afford to lose today. That is actually a positive thing worth noting, because a team with any self-respect should not really lose more than two games in a row. It is gratifying that this is the second time we have avoided the kind of losing streaks we had last season – where we would drop three or more games consecutively. It shows the team is maturing, toughening up, and gaining confidence. The guys did a great job. And that goal – well, Grisha took a risk, and it paid off. It is great that he took that chance and fired the shot. He created the opportunity and broke away. That is fantastic. It is so pleasing when players pull off moves like that and get rewarded for it.
– Speaking of that third goal – it was actually credited to Viktor Andreychenko after the fact. It was his first goal, and the game–winner, too. How did you congratulate him?
– Unfortunately, we did not keep the puck itself, since it was not clear at first that he had scored it. But we always give out a can of beer for achievements like that. That rule has not changed. So, that is what we did.
– Third period. The score is tied 2–2. Then they play your favorite song. And right after that, the team scores the winning goal. Coincidence?
– Of course not. I was saying back last season that we should play that song at our games. I would not say it is strictly my favorite song, though – there are plenty of others. The coaching staff, for instance, always listens to "Hotel California" before heading out for a game. I suggested playing this song during breaks last season. Many teams have such traditional songs – everyone knows exactly which song plays in Nizhny Novgorod, for instance, and in other cities too. Our Kama River is a perfect fit for this; after all, the song is about the river – the Kama, or Kamushka. At first, I was told no one would sing along because no one knew the song. But I argued that if we played it – and played it frequently – people would learn it. In fact, a lot of people do know it. Well, a year has passed, and they finally played it. I hope it becomes a tradition at our games.
– Regarding the two goals conceded and the individual mistakes: did the players fall victim to Neftekhimik’s attacking style, where you cannot simply get rid of the puck?
– Well, perhaps that is true to some extent... Let me comment on the first goal. Timur Kola had the puck taken off him – or "stolen," so to speak. We demand active play from our defensemen in our own zone. If there is no passing option – nowhere to move the puck – you have to use your legs and skate the puck out. You should not spend too much time playing inside your own zone. We do not want to just hold the puck there; we want to exit the zone with possession. But as I say, if there is no passing option, use your legs, start the attack, and look for a moment to simply clear the zone. It seems Timur took that instruction quite literally. Although, before he lost the puck, a couple of forwards were offering options – he could have pushed the puck forward, and they would have exited the zone easily. But for some reason, he did not take advantage of that. It looks like he decided to skate out on his own. He probably wanted to follow the coach's instructions, but it backfired. As for the second goal... well, it was the same story as the first one. You should not be passing the puck from player to player while standing still in your own zone – it is risky. Mistakes like that do not happen all the time, but when they do, it is at the worst possible moment.
Sibir Head Coach Yaroslav Lyuzenkov:
– It was such an interesting, good game. Unfortunately, we scored one fewer goal and lost.
– In terms of physicality, your team was outplaying the opponent during the first two periods. What happened in the third? It seemed like the players were running out of steam.
– Then the guys stepped it up again and got back to work. You see, we are at a point where we had envisioned and sought different leaders for the top line. Right now, some of those players are injured. The guys are getting a chance to prove themselves and step into those roles. But it does not always work out right away. Sometimes a lack of confidence or other factors get in the way. After all, they have mostly played in the VHL. We are being patient for now. They are certainly trying, but unfortunately, they are just falling a little short – whether it is scoring a goal or making the right play in a crucial moment. It comes down to experience.
